My vision for Sherman Avenue North
On Saturday I got out and decided to walk down Barton Street heading towards downtown. It's been probably a good year since I've been to the mall via this route simply because Bartonville, Jamesville and the downtown didn't offer a whole lot to look at. Well I have to say things seem to be improving. I spotted two maybe three new art stores along Barton, west of General Hospital, some improvements to the quality of used goods stores. Lot less of the Sanford and Son look going on, clean stores with the goods displayed on proper shelves and racks not in a heap. Further down some of the dump bars, full of drunks and druggies are gone. Hopefully the buildings will be occupied by business owners who care.
Making the turn onto James, I counted a couple more new art centres and a book store that catered to Hamiltonian's who are interested in there history. A picture book on the stain glass windows of the old Lister Block caught my eye, I have to go back when I have some cash on me.
After a quick trip through Hart's Department store looking for a new bag to stow both my wallet and electronic gadgets that came up empty, I was famished so it was off to Harvester Burger for the best vegetarian burger in town.
I grabbed a bus for home, and the reality of the inner city came crashing down when I witnessed an attempted mugging of a young girl by two teen female "gang bangers" at the stop at Barton and John. Thank god it was broken up by the male bus driver before anyone was hurt.
Seeing the efforts of the business, home and apartment owners of other neighbourhoods like James, Lock, Beasley and Ottawa to turn the tide of urban decay and bring pride back to Hamilton I thought about what my little piece of Sherman Ave North could look like if the same thought and caring was applied. Along with a heap of cash, which seem to be the biggest problem.
So here is my artists rendering of what could be, as well as what the neighbourhood looks like today.
The centre piece of the block is the old "Playhouse Theatre" which has long shed its Italian porno hut image of old. It would be nice to see a theatre group make this charming brick building their permanent home. Along with the youth services group currently residing in the place, an arts and business leadership based community centre could really help these kids steer towards a fruitful career in the arts or just offer a diversion from the problems that they have in their life.
Next door is a small building that would make a neat little Italian cafe and gelato bar that would keep the ethnic diversity of the neighbourhood in tact; along with the Pentecostal Church tucked in on the other side; while bringing a more respectable crowd to the area.
Next to that is a cute residential building, with a little fixing up could be perfect for a young couple starting out. Next to that is a building that could house apartments upstairs and a trading post type business dealing in slightly used and new furnishings and consignment goods.
The old limestone bank on the corner would be perfect as a medical centre that the neighbourhood sorely lacks. As everyone knows a trip to the hospital for non-life threatening injuries is costly to the heath care system and a waste of time. We need to bring back the community doctor who gets to know his patients and stop the trend of doctors merging together into one "mega heath centre" where you are just a number in a file.
Finally on the SW corner is the once infamous "Britannia". Noteworthy for all the wrong reasons and the wrong people. This narrow corner building reminds a little of the building in Toronto on the triangle where Front, Church and Wellington meet.
Inside both buildings are long and narrow and offer an inviting flow for patrons to come in and visit. While the building in Toronto houses a pub, this jewel of turn of the century architecture would be great as a multi-media art centre slash coffee house where people could browse through a selection of books, sit and enjoy a coffee while listening to a local artist or novelist chat about their craft or browse the net. The place could also double as a learning centre for those who need to improve their computer, resume and job skills.
Today is Victoria Day, I'm just kicking back waiting to hear from my temp agency boss to tell me where I will be placed for Wednesday. Read my previous post to find out what happened at Tomco Steel, but I'm not bitter.
Anyway, I raise a cup of tea towards the vision for a better Hamilton, one that upholds our history of strong "Core Values".
Later,
Kenaz
Making the turn onto James, I counted a couple more new art centres and a book store that catered to Hamiltonian's who are interested in there history. A picture book on the stain glass windows of the old Lister Block caught my eye, I have to go back when I have some cash on me.
After a quick trip through Hart's Department store looking for a new bag to stow both my wallet and electronic gadgets that came up empty, I was famished so it was off to Harvester Burger for the best vegetarian burger in town.
I grabbed a bus for home, and the reality of the inner city came crashing down when I witnessed an attempted mugging of a young girl by two teen female "gang bangers" at the stop at Barton and John. Thank god it was broken up by the male bus driver before anyone was hurt.
Seeing the efforts of the business, home and apartment owners of other neighbourhoods like James, Lock, Beasley and Ottawa to turn the tide of urban decay and bring pride back to Hamilton I thought about what my little piece of Sherman Ave North could look like if the same thought and caring was applied. Along with a heap of cash, which seem to be the biggest problem.
So here is my artists rendering of what could be, as well as what the neighbourhood looks like today.
The centre piece of the block is the old "Playhouse Theatre" which has long shed its Italian porno hut image of old. It would be nice to see a theatre group make this charming brick building their permanent home. Along with the youth services group currently residing in the place, an arts and business leadership based community centre could really help these kids steer towards a fruitful career in the arts or just offer a diversion from the problems that they have in their life.
Next door is a small building that would make a neat little Italian cafe and gelato bar that would keep the ethnic diversity of the neighbourhood in tact; along with the Pentecostal Church tucked in on the other side; while bringing a more respectable crowd to the area.
Next to that is a cute residential building, with a little fixing up could be perfect for a young couple starting out. Next to that is a building that could house apartments upstairs and a trading post type business dealing in slightly used and new furnishings and consignment goods.
The old limestone bank on the corner would be perfect as a medical centre that the neighbourhood sorely lacks. As everyone knows a trip to the hospital for non-life threatening injuries is costly to the heath care system and a waste of time. We need to bring back the community doctor who gets to know his patients and stop the trend of doctors merging together into one "mega heath centre" where you are just a number in a file.
Finally on the SW corner is the once infamous "Britannia". Noteworthy for all the wrong reasons and the wrong people. This narrow corner building reminds a little of the building in Toronto on the triangle where Front, Church and Wellington meet.
Inside both buildings are long and narrow and offer an inviting flow for patrons to come in and visit. While the building in Toronto houses a pub, this jewel of turn of the century architecture would be great as a multi-media art centre slash coffee house where people could browse through a selection of books, sit and enjoy a coffee while listening to a local artist or novelist chat about their craft or browse the net. The place could also double as a learning centre for those who need to improve their computer, resume and job skills.
Today is Victoria Day, I'm just kicking back waiting to hear from my temp agency boss to tell me where I will be placed for Wednesday. Read my previous post to find out what happened at Tomco Steel, but I'm not bitter.
Anyway, I raise a cup of tea towards the vision for a better Hamilton, one that upholds our history of strong "Core Values".
Later,
Kenaz
Labels: artwork, hamilton, sherman ave
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