Demo at MacNab and Cannon

[hmagazine]

The former Toronto-Hamilton Auto-Electric building:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mixedme...on/3546285312/

Wondering a few things:

a: do they have a permit (demo, building, anything?)
b: the guy on the hoist told me they are building a church there - but
in the meantime - a parking lot will go in to raise some funds...

Does this qualify as downtown? No new parking lots right?

Man - this is not an area we need another hole in or more parking spaces...

[SteelTown]

Assuming this is ward 2 there's no demolition permit from either 2009 or 2008. It's on Cannon St? So the address should be something like ### Cannon Street?

[Millstone]

Rebecca St defines the north boundary of the BIA. They just might get away with it if those are the parameters.

[FairHamilton]

Someone should report this immediately to the City! Perhaps the property owners need some 'education' on what can and can't be done at that location.

[hmagazine]

it has a macnab address - located between cannon and vine.

[SteelTown]

I just checked and there no demolition permit for anything along MacNab St from 2009 and 2008. Should report this.

[hmagazine]

Just got the word back they there is a demo permit.

Waiting to hear about the parking lot comment made by one of the crew members....

[realcity]

just no parking lot is allowed on HMP.....

[realcity]

i dont know how much more i can take.... of "The Best City in Canada to Raise a Child">....

[ihateittoo]

"Best City in Canada to Raze a Buliding"

[highwater]

Best city in Canada to park a car.

[adam]

Best urban centre in Canada to have a suburban mindset.

[ryan_mcgreal]

Originally Posted by highwater

Best city in Canada to park a car.

Best city in Canada to "drive thru" without stopping.

[hmagazine]

Just got this:

103 MacNab Street North is in the D5, Downtown Residential Zone (Zoning
By-law 05-200) and is designated Low Density Residential in the Downtown
Hamilton Secondary Plan.

A place of worship is a permitted use in the D5 Zone. A parking lot on
a cleared and vacant site is not. Specifically, Section 5.1a)vi) of
Zoning By-law 05-200 states "Within any Downtown Zone, no new surface
parking lots shall be permitted except where the parking is accessory to
the main use." A cleared and vacant site with no main use cannot have
accessory parking. Furthermore, a Commercial Parking Facility is not
one of the uses permitted in the D5 Zone, so they would not be permitted
to operate a parking lot to raise funds. A Commercial Parking Facility
is defined in Section 3 as "all or part of a parcel of land or building,
other than a street or laneway, used for the parking of motor vehicles
for compensation, but shall not include an accessory parking lot to a
principal use of the property located on the same lot." Where a
commercial parking facility is a permitted use in the Downtown (Downtown
Zones D1, D2 and D3), the zoning regulations require a new one to be in
a structure (i.e. it cannot be surface parking lot).

New surface parking lots are also prohibited in the Downtown area
bounded by Hunter, Queen, Cannon and Wellington streets by the Downtown
Hamilton Secondary Plan's general land use policy (Policy 6.2.3.3.1g)).

[markbarbera]

This is zoned residential? How is it that a auto garage was operating there?

Before everyone gets all worked up more than they already have (if that is possible), lets look at the source of info. Some guy in a hoist, presumably part of the demolition team, makes a comment that it will be parking there. Is this a reliable source? Do we know who the property owner is, or what religious organization will be building the church? Surely they would be a more knowledgable and reputable source of info on what is in store for the site - not some general labourer ripping the siding of the building.

[hmagazine]

There was a house under all that siding. I guess that counts as residential in the city's eyes?

Neat demo I must say. Uncovering a lot out back. Almost looks like the back part was a small industrial building with a smokestack still standing. I think I even made out an old safe in the middle of the rubble - looks unmovable.

I would think the "guy on the hoist" would at least have some idea of what the owner's plans are. The demo looks more pro than the stuff happening up the street at the Lister. They are even stacking up all the brick on skids and perhaps sending to a salvager or *gasp* maybe they'll use it in the new building they plan for the site.

[FairHamilton]

Originally Posted by markbarbera

This is zoned residential? How is it that a auto garage was operating there?

The Pearl Company building is zoned residential. I guess a garage was 'legal non-conforming', as long as they didn't try to sell art or have theatre between the hoists.............