An extraordinary $117 million in new development is set to transform the heart of Hamilton. Thanks in part to $14 million from the city's downtown residential loan program, 14 new projects will bring 700 residential units to the core.
A landmark car dealership will become a high-end hotel.
Historic buildings, such as the prized Foster-McKay building and Victoria Hall at 66, 68 King Street East, will be restored.
And infamous eyesores, like the Spallacci building east of Denningers, will no longer make you sick as you enter through the eastern archway. It will be burried and become affordable housing units.
Mayor Larry Di Ianni was grinning just as wide about the development boom on Hamilton's horizon. He used to tell people they wouldn't recognize the downtown in seven to 10 years. Now he's down to five.
This is vindication for the city's downtown loans program. Allegations of wrongdoing led to an internal investigation, outside audit and OPP investigation. The program was cleared on all fronts, letting staff focus on their original goals, said Ron Marini, the city's director of downtown renewal.
This is just the latest round of loans for the program which has already invested more than $18 million since its start in 2002. Some of its original projects are built and occupied with all or part of their city loans paid back. The first 14 projects added 952 residential units to the downtown.
The latest round of development is significant, said Marini, because it marks the first time developers are willing to not just renovate existing structures but build from the ground up. The biggest loan of $3.6 million will see a half block on King William Street, bound by Jarvis Street and Ferguson Avenue, converted into a massive 11-storey building, including retail space, four floors of parking and 198 condos.
Hamilton Motor Products, which closed this fall at the corner of Main Street West and Bay Street, will become a long-term stay Hilton Homewood Suites. The 10-storey hotel takes a stab at the city's shortage of quality rooms desperately needed to attract big conventions and tourists. Its location and proximity to nearby facilities will be a huge boost, said David Adames, executive director of Tourism Hamilton.
The city also gave a $1.6-million loan for redevelopment of the Royal Connaught. The bankrupt hotel will reopen to visitors, while also offering retail space and new residential units.
Councillors also moved ahead yesterday with a new loan program to encourage residential development in business improvement areas beyond the downtown. The program, worth $2.3 million, will provide development loans for smaller commercial cores like Barton Village. Projects like, the General hospital expansion which is already underway on the old Stelco Wellington Works property. Production of the mill stopped in 1984, since then it's been an abandon building and numerous fires. Demolition happened last the summer and currently their doing clean up.
This property will become a parking lot as the General hospital is expanding and will use their current parking lot as the Regional Rehabilitation Centre.
Further along Barton St there's a very important and historical property called the Smart-Turner building. It's a 129-year-old stone structure and an example of early industrial heritage in Hamilton. The plan is to convert the place into an adult version of a Ronald McDonald House an affordable place for families of critical care and cancer patients called the Mark Preece Family House. The project could derail if it is found that the site's soil is to contaminated.
Here are the rest of the projects.
At 119 King East, four units will come into the upper three floors of this building. Some work has already begun and, with the massive windows overlooking King, I suspect these will be sharp units in a very cool, slender building.
Not to get lost in the mix is the very important project announced by Hamilton Housing a couple of months ago of a new five storey apartment building geared to Mac students to be built just east of John on the north side of King.
The new 14 storey condo planned for 221 York Boulevard at Hess, the former sight of Premier Fitness. This project at Hess could be a catalyst to start transforming Hamilton's main downtown entrance into the vibrant, mixed-use neighbourhood it deserves.
The building at 4, 8, 14 Forest Avenue and James Street was purchased approximately one year ago and contains mixed-use buildings with a total of 12 residential rental units. The majority of the units are currently vacant and in disrepair. The intent is to renovate the buildings and create 25 residential rental units. The property is listed on the City’s Inventory of Buildings of Architectural and/or Historical Interest.
189 King William Street
This property is owned and operated by a not-for-profit
company known as the Children’s Learning Centre. The property is a semidetached
two storey retail building. The renovation will enhance the second floor
to accommodate one 1,000 square foot unit. The renovation will complete both
sides of the semi-detached buildings. The property is listed on the City’s Inventory
of Buildings of Architectural and/or Historical Interest.
53 King Street East: The developer plans to create 24 rental apartment units in
the vacant 3 upper stories. The ground floor commercial units are to remain (My
Convenience Store & The Salvation Army Thrift Store). The property is listed on
the City’s Inventory of Buildings of Architectural and/or Historical Interest.
12 Ferguson Avenue: The developer plans to convert the entire 3 storey building
to 12 apartment units. Presently, the ground floor is used as a pub known as
“AFB” and the upper floors are used as office space.
119 King Street East: This building will be converted to house 4 dwelling units on
the upper 3 floors of this existing 4 storey building. The ground floor will remain as a commercial use. The property is listed on the City’s Inventory of Buildings of
Architectural and/or Historical Interest.
267 King Street East: The 2 upper floors of this vacant building are being
renovated to contain 7 live-work dwelling units in loft style. The ground floor is
being renovated to contain an artist’s studio and a café.
275 King Street East: This property’s main floor has been renovated and is
currently owner/occupied by Brownie’s Downtown. The second and third floors are
currently vacant and in need of repair. Three units have been proposed which will
bring a positive effect to King Street East. The property is listed on the City’s
Inventory of Buildings of Architectural and/or Historical Interest.
Add these to the projects already in progress like the Downtown Arts Centre that will be at the corner of Rebecca and Hughson Street, the former Salvation Army building. Here is an artists rendering of the project,
A three storey addition is being built onto an old printing factory at King William and Mary. It will be residential space once complete.
Else where in Hamilton, back in January McMaster University unveiled a draft vision for its research park on the old Camco site, which is to become an eco-friendly community for scientists. The plan is to house labs, offices and classrooms for public and private research in eight to 10 buildings on the brownfield site straddling Longwood Road north of Aberdeen Avenue. The park will be 40 metres wide and 350 metres long.
If this wasn't enough downtown Hamilton is set to get a department store again. It’s called Hart’s, a name that means nothing in Ontario. But this Montreal based chain has been around since 1960 and now has more than 70 outlets in small towns across Quebec and the Maritimes. Now they’re pushing into this province. They’ve locked up close to 40,000 square feet — about half the space of a full-size Zellers — in the old Eaton’s Centre, right by the entrance to Jackson Square. The store opens this fall.
Later,
Kenaz
