[SteelTown]

Treble Hall, 6-12 John Street North, Hamilton (L) – Councillor B. McHattie

Councillor McHattie advised that CityHousing Hamilton Corporation is interested in purchasing this property. The owner is a Toronto resident and the building is not for sale and the funding has not been determined so the proposal is very preliminary however, CityHousing has prepared conceptual drawings and the owner has been approached. The City is developing the Kit Kat building which is right next to Treble Hall. The price needs to be negotiated. Staff was requested to include the concepts on the next agenda.

David Cuming advised Committee that after checking with staff of City Housing Hamilton, he was informed that the concepts for Treble Hall are very preliminary at this time. Therefore, staff will include copies of the concepts on a future agenda.

[DC83]

Weren't they trying to purchase it before the new bldg on King even began construction? And the guy wouldn't sell then?

Has this bldg been declared as Historical? Or do these conceptual drawings mean that they'll tear down and build new? This Hall is GORGEOUS and should be preserved no matter what!

[SteelTown]

That came from LACAC so obviously they wouldn't support an idea to demo Treble Hall for any future development.

Problem is the owner is asking for too much, think it was like $750,000.

[raisethehammer]

there's still a 200-300 seat hall on the 3rd floor that would be great for music, theatre, dance etc....
awesome building. the guy from TO is a stiff.
I hope they buy it and redevelop it...that would be HUGE.
I wish I had a camera today..when I got off the bus at King and Hughson I crossed King and looked to the east...a mobile crane was lifting the next floor of the city housing building (kit kat) into place and behind/above it was the Spallacci crane wizzing around. looked very cool.
nice to see work on Victoria Hall too...Gore Park could become a very cool place in the next few years if we can pedestrianize the south side and have these new buildings along with the old ones like Treble Hall restored.

[the dude]

here's a recent photo. it's a real beauty.

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/IMG_0324.jpg
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/the_dude1974/IMG_0325.jpg

[matt602]

That's a building that keeps slipping my mind even though I do value it quite a bit. I do hope something is done in the restoration sense. It's still in a good enough condition that restoration/renovation shouldn't be out of the question. Heck, Pizza Pizza and the computer shop are still using it which would make me assume the rest of the building is most likely heated to some degree as well.

[raisethehammer]

ok...good news.
The city has freed up $1million to go towards the purchase and redevelopment of Treble Hall.
Here's where you come in - the city would like to hear from anyone serious about wanting to locate in that building - a shop, business, cafe, apartment/condo dwellers on the upper floors etc....
the more interest they can drum up, the better.
Apparently once they line up some tenants they will proceed with the deal.

If you're interested or know someone who is interested please indicate so on this thread.
If the city wants to get in touch with you I'll send out appropriate contact info at that time.

[raisethehammer]

anyone know the sq footage??

[DC83]

Man, if they turned the upper floors into lofts (maybe 2 or 3 per floor), I would buy one up in a second!!
Has anyone been in PURE Home Couture on Locke? Wow... I would KILL for a loft like that! I bet Treble Hall is even more impressive (though I've never seen what the inside looks like at all).

What kind of business are they looking for, rth? ANYTHING at this point? Or do they have an idea as to what they're looking for?

[raisethehammer]

right now the door is wide open. If they only get offers from cash chequing and dollar stores I'm sure they'll scrap the idea.
If they get interest from legit businesses, they'll move forward.
Basically they want to prove to the rest of city hall that it's worth spending a million bucks on.

[DC83]

Nice. I really hope they don't allow anymore CashStop/SuperChequing stores to open up in the Gore. It's turning into the LoanShark District!
... stupid Cathy Da Twit!!! She loves em!

Lets hope for some restaurant type places! I love going to My Thai & Capri. Two of my favourite restos. Another resto or two would be very welcome along that stretch! Would fit in well with King William, too!

[Judith Larkin]

Hello The Dude

I live in Hamilton Ontario. My great grandfather John Henry Larkin built the Treble Hall. He sold it to the Treble family. It used to be called the Larkin Hall. Where many dances were held with orchestra's in his time. Thankyou for having your thread here.


Have a grand day!

[matt602]

Wow. Thanks for posting that :)

[SteelTown]

Nice to have you here Judith Larkin! Welcome!

[FairHamilton]

Thanks Judith!! It's really nice to put a personal touch/connection to a historical building.

Some more info on John Henry Larkin: http://home.att.net/~grassie/tree/ps02/ps02_238.html

[the dude]

it's our pleasure, judith.

can't wait to see it redeveloped. it's one of the finest buildings we've got left downtown. if it doesn't happen soon...well, we all know what it's fate will be.

[SteelTown]

I think the owner is willing to let the City purchase the building, think the group is City Housing something - they built that new building Gore Building (they got $1 million to lock a deal).

Hopefully they can redevelop the building into residential units with the first floor as a Hamilton Museum with perhaps a cafe.

[realcity]

Designed by architect James Balfour

[matt602]

Well, at least something of his lives on.

[SteelTown]

Who wants the beast of John North?

Paul Wilson
The Hamilton Spectator
Dec 1, 2008
http://www.thespec.com/Entertainment/article/474889

It used to be the beauty of John Street North. Now it's the beast.

Treble Hall was born beautiful, 130 years ago. Bold Renaissance Revival features, it commanded the stretch of John between King and King William.

It still looms large. But now it's dark, empty, forbidding.

It needn't have been this way. A Toronto man named Abe Wertman has owned Treble Hall some 50 years. He's put little into it. Wishes he'd never bought it.

Every now and then, he puts it up for sale. No offer is ever good enough.

And now another For Sale sign has been tacked to Treble Hall.

So we're checking things out. Will the building finally find an owner who loves it?

Not likely.

Treble Hall, plus the building at King and John that's now attached to it, is for sale this time at one million dollars. For you, $995,000.

"It's an aggressive price," admits realtor Augie Ammendolia. "But I think the owner would entertain serious offers."

We wonder if that's really the case. A call is placed to Abe Wertman, but we don't hear back.

He told us some years ago that he planned no improvements. "I just collect the rents. That's it."

That would be from Pizza Pizza, the Pagoda Downtown Restaurant and the Wintas Digital computer shop.

That amounts to about $75,000 a year after expenses, Ammendolia explains. So without even looking at development possibilities in the largely empty Treble Hall, he says, that's about a 7 1/2 per cent return on a million-dollar investment.

"Well, that's providing you don't have anything go wrong with the building," says developer Harry Stinson. And he thinks many things could.

That said, he likes Treble Hall. In fact, he's the only one who has taken a tour of the place with the realtor. He has even been up on the third and fourth floors, unused for generations. In the 1800s, there were concerts, public meetings, theatre up there.

Stinson sees lots of fire code issues to overcome if this space were to be converted to offices or living quarters.

Besides, right now his attention is focused on the piece of John just south of King.

His development plans were foiled this summer at the Royal Connaught Hotel, where plywood has just been nailed up over the windows, making that stretch of the core look doubly desperate.

But Stinson is beavering away right around the corner, where a yellow-brick veneer hides a handsome 1800s building. He and partners are completing plans for an 80-suite boutique hotel. He expects to go public with full details of the $16-million project in the new year.

Meanwhile, in the shadow of Treble Hall, life does carry on in that indomitable Hamilton fashion.

A few doors from the Hall, Peter Papadimitriou opened the Grumpy Greek last month, where gyros are the thing.

Next to him, Lulu's Shawarma opened last year. Tammy Archer and husband Rizgar serve huge and succulent creations, and business is great. "I love it here," Tammy says. "I love all my customers and I think we have the best location in the city."

Vanh Bouly Kalong likes it here too, and she knows her stuff. With the economy sliding, people do eat out less frequently. But guess which of Vanh's My Thai outlets is holding up best right now -- Ancaster, Burlington or downtown Hamilton?

Yes, the restaurant on this challenged piece of John North is the most consistent performer. Younger clientele, more urban, less mortgaged. "And the Vanier Cup weekend was phenomenal," she says.

Still, she looks across the street with great frustration. "I feel like going over there and shaking people up." The Golden Fortune restaurant has been empty since she bought her property and opened My Thai eight years ago.

Next to it, patients line up at the methadone clinic. "I know those people are trying," Vanh says, but it does hurt the street's image.

By contrast, she points to her next-door neighbour, the venerable Capri Restaurant. It has put on a new stone front with classy black awning and signage. "I love it," Vanh says. "I'm going to do the same thing in the spring."

And then there's Treble Hall. Vanh cannot understand why anyone would just sit on such a property. And what about that million-dollar price tag? "I think half that would be just about right."

[FairHamilton]

He told us some years ago that he planned no improvements. "I just collect the rents. That's it."

That would be from Pizza Pizza, the Pagoda Downtown Restaurant and the Wintas Digital computer shop.

That amounts to about $75,000 a year after expenses, Ammendolia explains. So without even looking at development possibilities in the largely empty Treble Hall, he says, that's about a 7 1/2 per cent return on a million-dollar investment.

And there's the rub, $75K net for no work. Essentially, a license to print money.

The city should purchase it, and make it a community based arts, theatre, meeting space and get rid of a absentee slumlord.

[SteelTown]

The guy has held onto that building for nearly 50 years and he's done nothing. Think of all the rent money he has collected over the years and now he's asking for nearly $1 million for the building.

The city was going to purchase this building but instead they'll buy the strip joint with the $1 million fund.

[matt602]

This Abe guy pisses me off.

[FairHamilton]

Seriously, the city should buy it. Call it Stage #1.

Stage #1 - They don't have to do anything with the property right now, just buy it. Then take rental income (or a good portion of the rental income), and put that back into the up-keep and maintenance of the building. That way the building will be maintained and perhaps slightly improved until there's additional money to go to the next step, Stage #2.

Stage #2 - When money is available (put a time limit/deadline, i.e. 6 - 7 years) then renovate for arts, museum, community hall, concerts, rent the hall to caterers for corporate parties/gatherings, etc. If the money or political will is not present at deadline to start Stage #2 then sell it to someone who has a plan and financing.

Get it out of Abe's hands before it gets willed to the next generation. Who knows they might be a worse slumlord. The devil you know......

[ryan_mcgreal]

Think of all the rent money he has collected over the years

In this particular case, tenancy rent = economic rent = unearned income.

[realcity]

a lot potential with this. but it's the same story with much of the problems with downtown. Too much is owned by Toronto and Montreal... and if it's local it's owned by our do-nothing, no-money-on-the-line, big-talking, home builders/land speculators.

This is slowly changing tho... some good stock has and is being purchased by locals whom intend to do something. Let's hope that's what happens with Treble.

Someone should start a trust. A local REIT... the same way the CFL teams in Winnipeg and Saskatchewan are owned publicly. Buy shares (like a Credit Union) and use the collective money to purchase downtown properties for development. Start with Treble, get 5,000 people to put down $500 = $2.5 mil. Offer the a**hole 500K and invest $2 mil into redevelopment and start making money.

[flar]

Hmm, $1,000,000 for Treble Hall?

I'm selling my 1995 Pontiac for $50,000.

[markbarbera]

Should be renamed Trouble Hall.

[Dundasguy]

Someone should start a trust. A local REIT... the same way the CFL teams in Winnipeg and Saskatchewan are owned publicly. Buy shares (like a Credit Union) and use the collective money to purchase downtown properties for development. Start with Treble, get 5,000 people to put down $500 = $2.5 mil. Offer the a**hole 500K and invest $2 mil into redevelopment and start making money.

This is a good idea.

The problem is that REITs have to be accretive from inception. Alot of these properties would be high risk distressed sales and would need considerable money to turn arround and start making money. This sort of thing would be too risky for a REIT to fly. You would need to provide a 8-9% return to be competitive and attract investors.

[FairHamilton]

This is a good idea.

The problem is that REITs have to be accretive from inception. Alot of these properties would be high risk distressed sales and would need considerable money to turn arround and start making money. This sort of thing would be too risky for a REIT to fly. You would need to provide a 8-9% return to be competitive and attract investors.

Then buy it and operate it as a Co-Operative.

With no (limited) capital investment beyond the initial purchase price provides a 7.5% net return based on the information provided in the article. Co-ops don't require the same return, so reduce the return to 4.0% and go forward.

Based on the current net rental income, you could raise $1.8M and still get a 4% return. That would provide the $1M for the purchase and $800K for fees and improvements, which should increase the rental income. You could make disbursements via dividends which are taxed at a preferential rate to make the return more attractive.

So, for $1.8M you would need 1,800 members at $1K/share, or 3,000 members at $600/share, etc.

My wife and I would buy one share each, so only 1,798 or 2,998 left to go........ If the City Hall limestone falls through I'll re-purpose our pledges and pick-up a 3rd share.

[ryan_mcgreal]

Does anyone have blueprints for Treble Hall?

[Dundasguy]

I don't think blueprints from the 1880s would have made it to fiche. They certainly wouldn't be as detailed as they are today.

[adam]

This is the first time I've agreed with Dundasguy... :shrug:

[11thIndian]

I've been trying to find interior pictures of Treble Hall but the web has failed me. In general, information seems pretty slim.

[realcity]

Then buy it and operate it as a Co-Operative.

With no (limited) capital investment beyond the initial purchase price provides a 7.5% net return based on the information provided in the article. Co-ops don't require the same return, so reduce the return to 4.0% and go forward.

Based on the current net rental income, you could raise $1.8M and still get a 4% return. That would provide the $1M for the purchase and $800K for fees and improvements, which should increase the rental income. You could make disbursements via dividends which are taxed at a preferential rate to make the return more attractive.

So, for $1.8M you would need 1,800 members at $1K/share, or 3,000 members at $600/share, etc.

My wife and I would buy one share each, so only 1,798 or 2,998 left to go........ If the City Hall limestone falls through I'll re-purpose our pledges and pick-up a 3rd share.


okay then don't call it a REIT. I thought I knew what I was talking about.

FairHamilton got the point. Just issue bonds from 5000 local investors for a mere $500. Then turn into a co-op investment or whatever it's called. $2.5 million (minus the purchase price of $500k) could do a lot to that bldg and make it respectable. Heck try for 10,000 investors and consider a tower above it.

Harry Stinson's Hamilton Grand is asking for SEC approval the same way that a REIT would. Even so, just another hurdle, it still doesn't make it impossible or a viable investment, just bc SEC needs to be involved, heck it actually gives credibility to the project.

I'd be in line with my cheque if that was the case. It'd make more money then AIC would do with my $500.

[11thIndian]

I may be doing a viewing of this property of Friday with some partners. I'll report back on condition.

[astroblaster]

I may be doing a viewing of this property of Friday with some partners. I'll report back on condition.

thanks, we appreciate it

[matt602]

I eagerly await your report.

[Duckyboy]

So... does 110thIndian have news from the inside of Treble Hall? I'm on pins and needles waiting to find out ANYTHING about the interior.

[11thIndian]

I will be viewing the property tomorrow afternoon. But some interesting notes have come from the agent.

•Pizza Pizza extends back into the main building, eating up either one or two of the storefronts N of King (where the Hamilton photos are set up I imagine). Meaning there is only one empty retail space on the ground floor.

•Pagoda Restaurant also extends back into the 2nd story of the 4-story portion of the building. Though it's unclear as to how much.

•From what I understand, much of the 2nd and 3rd floors have been broken up into smaller rooms. So there may be no recognizable "Treble Hall" to restore anymore.

I'll have to see for myself. My feeling though is that it's in rough shape...

[hamiltonguy]

To be fair, unless he's allowing the property to decay and affect other businesses, he's not doing anything wrong. He is merely not developing his assets to their potential. Why? Who knows. Maybe he's happy with the $75,000 a year. But I think, while we shouldn't expropriate this, it would be great if the city could help a coop to buy and renovate the building. Ideally, this would involve the coop buying the building and renovating, including an apartment or two and a performing arts centre. Ideally the money for the renovation would come from the city, and the money from the apartments and a minimal rent from arts centre (maybe set at 5% of revenue), together providing an incentive for the coop to allow an arts centre that can not likely pay market rates to be a tenant.

[11thIndian]

Hey all. Here's a report on the state of the building. Sadly, it's really bad.

We entered through Pagoda Restaurant. I'd never been in there before and would never again, especially after seeing the kitchen! The 2nd floor of the building is ENTIRELY taken up by Pagoda, who use it for storage and fridges. The 2nd floor is where the hall would have been, but it's hard to imagine what it would have looked like completely opened up. But it was definitely never a "theatre", just a big open 2nd floor that's now all broken up into smaller rooms.

A small set of stairs lead up to the 3rd floor which was boarding rooms. A mixture of VERY small rooms [barely enough for a bed and a dresser] and larger rooms with washrooms and kitchens built in. I suppose all this could have been in worse shape. Structurally it seems somewhat sound. No sagging floors or collapsing ceilings, but in need of tones of TLC. I never went up to the attic [one of my partners did]. There are two staircases leading up to 2 separate apartments.

The deal is that apparently the owner bought the building for his wife 50 years ago to run. This is why he's been so reluctant to sell. He has some emotional attachment, but is family is pushing him to let it go.

It doesn't suit my or my partner's needs at all. Actually a bit relieved. I had visions of a theatre upstairs and a great opportunity that although at the top of our budget, would have been impossible to pass up. Happily/Sadly that's not the case.

Here are some photos regardless:

http://www.hoverboy.com/IMG_0187.jpg
North End of 3rd story hallway looking South towards king. Boarding rooms on both sides.

http://www.hoverboy.com/IMG_0186.jpg
Room in North West corner of 3rd floor on John Street.

http://www.hoverboy.com/IMG_0188.jpg
Staircase to 4th floor at the South end of 3rd floor.

[urban_planner]

Doesn't look to bad. Happy to hear the owners family is pushing him to sell it. push away.

Thanks for the photos.

[emge]

Unfortunate that it wasn't suited to your needs - at least it's nice to hear there's parties like yourself taking interest in the buildings and that it's structurally sound.

Those little "Keep the Aspidistra Flying" style rooms just chill my blood... especially since many, many people still live in similar conditions here.

[matt602]

Thanks a ton for the pics. Very much appreciated. The place looks like it's in a sorry condition :(

[11thIndian]

After this the agent took us to another viewing. It's was the Hobo Hardware building. It's mammoth, and you could probably get it for $600K. If it was even 1/4 the size it would still be way more space than we would need. Perfect for a small studio, but I would never try that after what happened with Steelworks and the old Studebaker factory. Plus the area is dodgy. You've got the brand new Hamilton General buildings going up just up the street and crummy housing all around.

[urban_planner]

11th indian
thats why you need to buy that building because every positive influence brought in will affect the surrounding areas.

[11thIndian]

Investment in the city is very much on my mind as we look at our options. The lack of development with some forethought in this city drives me nuts. However, while I'm all for making an investment in a "developing" area, I do have to keep the short term in mind with regards to our cliental. The rows of crummy housing right next door just isn't going to work.

If I had unlimited resources, I'd be developing the Century theatre for my purposes, but sadly it's just not in the cards. But there are lots of great property opportunities in the city, and our search is only just begining.

[matt602]

Indeed you must keep that in mind. I'm sure there's still many excellent potential properties, and you'll eventually find the one that's perfect for you.

I really wish Century was more than a possibility. Even if the price was right though, I know first hand that place is nearly ready to fall over. It would require millions just to make the place safe, let alone renovate/restore it properly.

[highwater]

Thanks for the pics and for keeping us in the loop on your search. Sounds very interesting.

There was definitely a theatre on the 2nd or 3rd floor at some point. The former owners of the Staircase scoped it out before they decided on the Dundurn location.

[11thIndian]

If there was ever anything resembling a theatre on the second floor there is no trace of it now. The way it looks the second floor was just a large open "Hall" before the walls were put up. No firm seating or stage in any way, shape, or form. The building is actually fairly narrow east to west. Even as a hall it wouldn't have been very large.

[Dundasguy]

I don't even think you would find a lender that would give you a mortgage on this place. It looks like one big fire trap.


On the upside, Pizza Pizza is a pretty good tenant.

[coalminecanary]

work begins!
http://a.yfrog.com/img619/4567/ioxmw.jpg

[SteelTown]

Excellent!

[matt602]

So glad to see this. I can't wait to watch it transform.

[markhornich]

a friend of mine is closely involved in this project. a rumour is that the second floor is a large hall the new owner wants to restore to a concert hall.

[coalminecanary]

They are covering windows with what looks like an awesome political message:

http://bikehounds.ca/files/treble/IMG00026-20110414-1417_800.jpg

I will transcribe it once it's all up.

[coalminecanary]

Vacant and dilapidated buildings are dangerous both physically and psychologically. A dilapidated building can fall down, catch fire and attract vermin and filth. They make the surrounding area unsavoury and potentially unsafe. Building owners who don't take adequate care of their building, vacant or otherwise, demonstrate huge disrespect to our city, to other building owners and to all people visiting and living here. Dealing harshly with those responsible is worthy of support and praise.

- Howard Elliott, Managing Editor Hamilton Spectator
http://bikehounds.ca/files/treble/IMG00029-20110414-1747_800.jpg
http://bikehounds.ca/files/treble/IMG00028-20110414-1706_800.jpg

[thompsdk]

Brilliant, absolutely brilliant. We need more of this.

[bluevue]

Brilliant indeed. Absolutely!

[thistleclub]

Howard Elliott must be chuffed!

Nice symmetry, too, in that Treble Hall is at the other end of the block that The Spec called home until 35 years ago.

[palace1]

Treble Hall sadly remains mostly vacant and dilapadated, it's just more obvious now that the top two floors of windows are boarded up with this message.

I could understand if this was done to protest the Royal Connaught, St. Mark's Church or the Federal Building. These dilapadated/vacant buildings have uncertain futures and it might put pressure on their owners to do something.

I'm not sure I get the point when Treble Hall is slated to be restored?

[Zipzap]

The point is not to criticize the dilapidated nature of Treble Hall since it is being renovated, but rather it is meant as a statement towards buildings whose owners have no current plans to improve them, like the ones that you mentioned.

[coalminecanary]

To clarify - the message was put up by the people who are doing the Treble Hall restoration.

It is NOT a protest message put up by a third party.

[SteelTown]

http://www.historiarestoration.ca/projects/view/40

[matt602]

They've definitely got their work cut out for them. The insides are in horrible shape. Makes me think of the photos that I took of the inside of the Lister Block. This is definitely a professional job though so I'm really optimistic about the outcome.

[Judith Leah]

Thanks Judith!! It's really nice to put a personal touch/connection to a historical building.

Some more info on John Henry Larkin: http://home.att.net/~grassie/tree/ps02/ps02_238.html

Sorry I have not got back to you in a few years plus lol. This link here does not work on my Grassie family. I guess I was too late huh lol.
Thanks for the effort in posting the link back then. If your even still here. I am back into a little more research once again.

Have a grand day!

[Judith Leah]

http://www.historiarestoration.ca/projects/view/40

I have tried to get into seeing the inside of this building many years ago. I only got as far as inside the barber shop. Now thanks to you. I get to see the inside of my great grandpa's building Treble Hall (Larkin)

[Judith Leah]

Nice to have you here Judith Larkin! Welcome!

Thankyou very much. Just popped back in today to read up so more!

[SteelTown]

http://www.thespec.com/news/local/article/582738--treasure-trove-in-treble-hall

[urban_planner]

Hey Everyone
The Front of Treble halls exterior has had some serious work done to the upper floors. All the mouldings have been restored and it already looks wonderful.I will try and post a shot of it over the weekend.

[coalminecanary]

They have been painted as a temporary measure to stop any further erosion over the winter. They indeed look better than before but the proper restoration is still to come :D

[matt602]

I am beyond satisfied with the new owner of Treble Hall and I truly think wonderful things are in store for it. I've been watching this one really closely.

[IronWarrior]

It's great to see it being restored! What's up with the old Golden Fortune chinese restaurant beside it..? It's been vacant for years... I remember it well from back in the day, I heard it closed up after there was a major health inspection done.

[LikeHamilton]

Hamilton a heritage redevelopment treasure

October 27, 2011

DON PROCTER, correspondent, Daily Commercial News

If buying an old building to redevelop is your thing but big bucks separate you from the Toronto market, consider heading down the QEW to Hamilton, Ont. There is plenty of building stock for sale downtown and it is often going for rock-bottom prices.

Take a 16,000-square-foot 132-year-old architectural gem on a downtown main street in the steel city as an example. The Renaissance Revival style four-storey commercial building (in sound structural shape) and an adjoining pre-Confederation building sold for less than $750,000.
Burlington-based Historia Building Restoration Inc. purchased the two, Treble Hall and the Pagoda Building, with big renovation plans for performance and art space.

Jeff Feswick, president of Historia, expects to spend about $2 million to rehabilitate the development over the next 18 months. He hopes his building will be part of a trend that sees more workspace, entertainment and housing developed in the core.

Treble Hall is a three-wythe brick structure with a wood-framed interior. And it came to Historia free of major structural problems, although part of it had been vacant for about 50 years.

Feswick says the timing for developments like Treble Hall in downtown Hamilton could not be better.

“I think Hamilton is a great city but it has these black eyes here and there (vacant buildings) and Treble Hall was one of them. If we (and other developers) can continue to do something for that strip of John Street it could do a lot for the area, which is plunked right downtown.”


Full Article

http://www.dcnonl.com/article/id47299?search_term=hamilton

[Pearlstreet]

I drove by Treble Hall today and was happy to see the decorated windows still in place, but I still do not see any exterior advancement in restoration. Does anyone have progress pics to show at all? I'm hungry to see a Lister-like rebirth of this place!

[SteelTown]

They are working on the interior. Think there's a planned tour coming soon.

[pEte fiSt iN Ur fAce]

Very exciting. Can't wait to get a glimpse inside. Probably mind-blowing what they've done in there.

[SteelTown]

martinus_g: Windows are going in at treble hall! http://t.co/TqPOlACi

[matt602]

It's gonna look awesome with the windows in, for sure. Glad to see some more exterior work. I hope they will be sprucing up the ground floor storefronts soon.

[markbarbera]

Don't think this will be ready to house retail for another year yet.

[Pearlstreet]

That would make sense to wait for better weather conditions before seeing exterior improvements. Exciting! This is like building a pleasant pathway, comfortable enough that people will want to walk from downtown into Beasley area without getting scared.

Hamilton, I have lived here for four years and you are blowing my mind. It's a new city! You drive through it once and you don't appreciate it, but if you stay here for a while and witness the progression of change, it is amazing.

[CaptainKirk]

Hamilton, I have lived here for four years and you are blowing my mind. It's a new city! You drive through it once and you don't appreciate it, but if you stay here for a while and witness the progression of change, it is amazing.

As a lifelong Hamiltonian, I'd be intereted in reading your story. Where are you from, and what brought you to live in Hamilton, and what have your Hamilton experiences been like for the past 4 years?

Why are you so high on Hamilton?

[SteelTown]

“@martinus_g: #hamont is more beautiful every day.  Treble Hall has new windows!! Thanks Jeff Feswick! http://t.co/fsKCu3XP

[padthai]

“@martinus_g: #hamont is more beautiful every day.  Treble Hall has new windows!! Thanks Jeff Feswick! http://t.co/fsKCu3XP

Now if they could just clean up the ground floor retail - that laptop repair place stands out as an eyesore.

[LikeHamilton]

They are also replacing the windows in the Pagoda/Pizza Pizza building next door/attached.

[ihateittoo]

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/555763_374731009233699_194039600636175_1212826_631805003_n.jpg

Before:
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/189610_194042637302538_194039600636175_526440_2224001_n.jpg

I took these images from the Historia restoration facebook page... it's coming along quite nicely don't you think?

More info and pictures:
http://www.facebook.com/historiarestoration

[pEte fiSt iN Ur fAce]

Whoaaaaaaaa...amazing transformation!! Will it be on the Doors Open tour?

They should hire [what's his name] who's doing all the store fronts on James North.

Thanks for posting that.

[Frankenrogers]

Looks great. I remember back in the early 90s buying my baseball hats from a store there.

[Berklon]

Nicely done indeed. Let's keep the ball rolling.

Agreed about having the same thing done to the store fronts as that guy on James North. These are small changes, but when you do it on a large scale across the downtown - it makes a big difference.

[Pearlstreet]

Beautiful, it looks like a historic building from the streets of Boston, well done Hamilton! Looking forward to the storefronts!

[pEte fiSt iN Ur fAce]

Bingo! I was going to say the same thing about Treble Hall being similar to buildings in Boston or an equivalent American city.

This project shows how much potential there is in Hamilton. It's not about mega projects, highways, power centres. It's about having a plan and seeing it through one street at a time, one building at a time.

Once the ground floor is complete, it'll be mindblowing.

[matt602]

They've started painting the ground floor stores in a grey/black theme. Kinda less work involved than I thought they would do. They are literally just painting over the old wood trim and I'm guessing replacing whatever pieces are missing. I thought they'd end up fabricating an entirely new store front, new glass, doors, etc. They also took some of the boards off the most northern storefront. Hopefully something nice will go in there.

[pEte fiSt iN Ur fAce]

I wonder if it's just a quick fix until they're ready to do something more involved.

But really, a coat of paint is all that seems to be required. Under those hideous colour schemes is an already beautiful storefront.

[drpgq]

There's a sign on the north most storefront that says Beattie's Barbershop now.

[pEte fiSt iN Ur fAce]

Maybe I'll drop by for a trim.

[thistleclub]

The barbershop was active into the 90s, I think. It was the arrival of the methadone clinic on the other side of the alleyway that coincided, for whatever reason, with the hoarding going up on the window. (Also the departure of the optician across the street and the closure of the record store that was mid-block, around where it used to be purple.) That alleyway juncture has been in a surprising number of Hollywood films. (eg: 2:30-2:40 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4ODXKePN3Q&feature=fvwrel), 5:00-6:00 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiGqAK4OzF8&feature=related), 1:55 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnK6ZR78TC0), 0:12-0:15 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_MSMPhGu1c&feature=fvwrel))

[SteelTown]

http://www.cbc.ca/hamilton/talk/story/2012/05/22/hamilton-treble-music-restoration-downtown.html

[drpgq]

Supposedly a coffee shop is going in on the ground floor.

[drpgq]

Moulin Rouge Cafe and Boutique is opening soon (mid February I heard). Looks good from the outside already.