$50 million future condo plan for downtown’s Old Kresge store
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/52...-kresge-store/
A Hamilton developer has big plans for downtown's landmark Kresge's store.
King and Hughston streets use to be the domain of S.S. Kresge, the royalty of the world of the five and dime. The chain arrived in Hamilton in 1930 with the largest single-floor variety store in Canada. And with an addition in 1948, the space stretched back to King William Street. For years, 75 per cent of the store's wares were made in Canada. It had a full-fledged restaurant and lunch counter. Up the marble stairs, a complete bakery operation.
Then the discounters muscled out the five and dimes. Kresge's became Kmart. When the Kresge's closed in downtown Hamilton in 1994, it was the country's last.
Delata Bingo took over the space in 1996. A year ago Sunday, they closed its doors for good.
Within 60 days, Ralph Frisina says, the Frisina Group will present a $50-million plan to the city for comments. It involves knocking down the Kresge store and building five storeys of condo lofts on its footprint. And on the parking lot at the back, off King William, a 20-storey condo tower. Between the two, about 150 units. A model suite would be installed in the old store.
Read the full story by Paul Wilson in The Spectator and on thespec.com Tuesday.