7 Queen St N + 354 King St W | 77.2 & 41.7 m | 12 & 25 fl | Under Construction

[TheRitsman]

Originally Posted by drpgq

It's Kabuki. Wilson wants to be able to say she opposed it to her constituents, although its ironic Wilson is for transit and against boundary expansion.

Wilson is a staunchly behind doing the right things the right way. She has been supportive and even fought back on NIMBYs in the past, but those projects were being done correctly. This is the definition of doing everything the wrong way. Wilson will never support good things being done the wrong way, she's too honest, too focused on doing things right. When you do things like this and sneak changes along the way, you lose the trust of the community you're building in. Whether you agree or disagree with NIMBYs (I'm usually disagreeing with them) you can't argue that these developers aren't significantly changing the fabric of these residents. If you want to do that and get backing from them, you need to go through the proper channels and engage them. Many developments in this city have had support of the neighbourhoods surrounding them, but those developers went out of their way to connect with the community even if they didn't have to.

[TheHonestMaple]

Whens should we expect a decision to be made?

[SteelTown]

If city staff hasn't made it's decision within the 120 days timeframe and wins it's case to OLT (very likely since it follows provincial policy), wouldn't the city be liable for legal cost?

In the long-run it would probably make more financial sense to hire more staff. However, I know there's a huge vacancy as people aren't applying for jobs like the pre-pandemic era.

[ScreamingViking]

Vranich has always done things the way he wants to do things.

Didn't he sit on lots of properties for years before doing anything with them? I give him credit for finally developing them and being among the "pioneers" downtown, but nobody should expect him to do something the right way unless it suits his own needs.

[Innsertnamehere]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

If city staff hasn't made it's decision within the 120 days timeframe and wins it's case to OLT (very likely since it follows provincial policy), wouldn't the city be liable for legal cost?

In the long-run it would probably make more financial sense to hire more staff. However, I know there's a huge vacancy as people aren't applying for jobs like the pre-pandemic era.

The OLT very very rarely awards legal costs, usually only in particularly vexatious cases.

There is huge growth pressures in the development industry right now, there aren’t a lot of planners around to hire.

[Innsertnamehere]

Originally Posted by TheHonestMaple

Whens should we expect a decision to be made?

Probably at least a year.

[TheHonestMaple]

A year? Why did Vranich put up that crane last week?

[urban_planner]

Originally Posted by TheHonestMaple

A year? Why did Vranich put up that crane last week?

I'm Sure he will start before as he knows full well it will be approved.

[ScreamingViking]

He's got 6 floors he can put up, as approved. So there's that.

[bigguy1231]

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

Vranich has always done things the way he wants to do things.

Didn't he sit on lots of properties for years before doing anything with them? I give him credit for finally developing them and being among the "pioneers" downtown, but nobody should expect him to do something the right way unless it suits his own needs.

But he is doing it the right way going through the proper channels. The city hasn't done their job so he is taking it a step over their heads. All within his right to do so. Nothing wrong about it.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by bigguy1231

But he is doing it the right way going through the proper channels. The city hasn't done their job so he is taking it a step over their heads. All within his right to do so. Nothing wrong about it.

Yes, he is.

But it's a rigged game. THAT is the issue.

[bigguy1231]

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

Yes, he is.

But it's a rigged game. THAT is the issue.

That may be the case, I doubt it, but that is a political issue not a developer issue. He is playing by the rules as set out.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by bigguy1231

That may be the case, I doubt it, but that is a political issue not a developer issue. He is playing by the rules as set out.

Definitely political.

The municipalities, as "children" of the province, have to abide by parental rules. It's easy for the parent to change them, as parent-party changes. It's less easy for the kids to adapt, and they have a longer game to bear in mind. And they're also limited financially in doing so.

Hamilton has a legacy of municipal-culture issues that it's still trying to change, but if the lack of enough planning staff to meet the more recent development demands is an issue, I've gotta go back to the provincial whims on this. Want to streamline the tribunal process? Sure, that may make sense. But do ensure that the "public" side of the process can hold up, or be extended to meet the demands the province is dictating. Otherwise a government that has said it's "for the people" really isn't.

[HamiltonBoyInToronto]

A second crane went up (seems like overnight) over the hotel portion

[TheRitsman]

Crane showed up from nowhere. If they get the McMaster crane up in the next week, before Platinum comes down, we'll see 4 cranes within a 500 metre radius. More panels on site, so the hotel looks to be started back up in full swing.

[HamiltonBoyInToronto]

Originally Posted by TheRitsman

Crane showed up from nowhere. If they get the McMaster crane up in the next week, before Platinum comes down, we'll see 4 cranes within a 500 metre radius. More panels on site, so the hotel looks to be started back up in full swing.

And I'm assuming that the Mac build will have 2 cranes as well

[TheRitsman]

I count 12 floors. Is this topped out? Did they stop at 11 illegally or?

[Innsertnamehere]

the building will be 13 storeys from that elevation, the lowest level is actually the "P1" level.

The 12 storey count is from King St.

[TheRitsman]

Last floor going on today

[johnnyhamont]

credit to Barbara Mead on Facebook