Tribunal gives green light to ‘Television City’ twin towers over Hamilton objections
Developer Brad Lamb originally pitched a 40-storey tower in Durand neighbourhood, but later settled for two 32-storey buildings in a compromise approved by the Ontario Municipal Board
https://www.thespec.com/news-story/9...on-objections/
A provincial tribunal has approved a contentious Television City condo project that will add two 32-storey towers to the Durand neighbourhood over the objections of area residents and the city.
The $360-million, 618-unit project is slated to be built on the longtime CHCH TV property on Jackson Street West. The historic mansion on the site is supposed to be maintained with the current parking lot converted to publicly accessible green space.
Developer Brad Lamb originally wanted one of the towers to be 40 storeys, but later pitched two 32-storey buildings in a settlement effort rejected by the city last year. The updated proposal also included a commercial podium and increased setbacks between the east tower and the street.
Nearly a year after the hearing, Ontario Municipal Board approved the revised proposal in a decision released Feb. 21.
Ward Coun. Jason Farr called the board decision "a tough one to swallow," noting many neighbourhood residents attended meetings and sent letters opposing the project.
City planners — and a unanimous council — opposed the original project over shadow impacts, but also neighbourhood compatibility and street setbacks. In its ruling, the tribunal noted the project is slated for a neighbourhood with "abundant highrises" and that impacts related to privacy, sun and shadow are "reasonable."
It also noted the project, which is located a short walk from the city's best bus corridor, is "transit-supportive" and should provide a "range of housing."
Not all nearby residents will agree with those findings, predicted Farr.
"I think I heard from more than 100 people who were against various aspects of the project. That's a lot of concerns raised by the neighbourhood," said Farr, who added he planned to reach out to Lamb to ask that he "continue the dialogue" with concerned residents.
Christopher Redmond of the Durand Neighbourhood Association said members are "disappointed" by the decision, but still hopeful the developer will work with residents on aspects like green space and setbacks. "Hopefully we can still reach something we can all live with," he said.
Lamb was out of the country Friday and not immediately available to comment.
But he told The Spectator in January he was still eager to pursue the project — even without the recently cancelled light rail transit (LRT) line — provided the board allowed him the "necessary density" for a successful project.
Prev
Linear Mode
