The "Corktowns"?

coalminecanary · #1 Posted: **Jul 5, 2012, 5:50 PM**

Signs just went up on site. This is currently a crappy convenience store.

I'm going to play it safe and assume this is all just a series of pretty pictures aimed at enticing an investor to buy the entire site and develop it. I do not think the current owner has true development intentions. But maybe I'm just a pessimist.

http://corktowns.ca/#!/home

I think the concept is great and I hope they prove my pessimism wrong. The only thing that doesn't excite me is the front parking, but all in all this is in line with the neighbourhood scale.

This google streetview image approximates the current state of this corner (the proposed development will face to the left in this view):

EDIT: the images from their site appear to not be working. Here are some I pulled from their PDF brochure:

LikeHamilton · #2 Posted: **Jul 5, 2012, 6:08 PM**

Nice if it happens!

Frankenrogers · #3 Posted: **Jul 6, 2012, 3:28 AM**

Nice. That looks like what I would want to do with Blanshard Street (the weird alley/street behind Goodness Me on Locke).

flar · #4 Posted: **Jul 6, 2012, 1:20 PM**

That's the residential format I'd like to see for all infill in the lower city.

coalminecanary · #5 Posted: **Jul 6, 2012, 2:27 PM**

THey claim to have deposits on 4 units already and to be starting in 7 months with completion fall 2013

Frankenrogers · #6 Posted: **Jul 6, 2012, 2:38 PM**

I did a quick look around on Google Maps (poor Corktown had them come round on garbage day) and saw that at Walnut/Augusta there is a building advertising the Augusta Lofts. Anything ever happen with that?

coalminecanary · #7 Posted: **Jul 6, 2012, 4:46 PM**

Augusta lofts was pure speculation. Nothing happened for a couple years and then the building (which had deteriorated further) went on the market for 4 or 5 times what the owner paid, based on the renderings (mls photos showed the renderings and not the actual building haha).

It looks like it's changed hands though - all the for sale signs are down and the grounds have been cleaned up and maintained. The previous owner was living in it for a while and the property was a total disgrace before.

matt602 · #8 Posted: **Jul 6, 2012, 5:56 PM**

I think this will actually get built and be a fairly good success. Corktown is very up and coming and could probably support some nice infill like this. The close proximity of the GO station always helps.

Definitely a well fitting project that will blend in nicely with the surrounding area.

pEte fiSt iN Ur fAce · #9 Posted: **Jul 7, 2012, 1:47 AM**

It's an interesting proposal for sure. I really hope that don't have parking right out front like that though. Move it around back if possible.

thistleclub · #10 Posted: **Jul 8, 2012, 3:14 PM**

Something a little different. Wonder about the setback, though. Strikes me that the parking array in front will be fun for pedestrians – the sidewalk will basically have to double as a ramp for the entire frontage, and the southernmost unit may not even be allowed a parking spot because of the crosswalk.

Beedok · #11 Posted: **Jul 8, 2012, 3:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by thistleclub

Something a little different. Wonder about the setback, though. Strikes me that the parking array in front will be fun for pedestrians – the sidewalk will basically have to double as a ramp for the entire frontage, and the southernmost unit may not even be allowed a parking spot because of the crosswalk.

#8 looks like it might have parking in the back.

Pearlstreet · #12 Posted: **Aug 23, 2012, 5:46 PM**

MLS is up with pricing:

http://www.realtor.ca/propertyDetail...Key=-526697483

matt602 · #13 Posted: **Aug 23, 2012, 7:34 PM**

"The heritage rich style "The Corktowns" offer includes comfortable New York style 3 storey townhomes w/rear parking and walkability advantages."

Wow. Private investment in downtown with a sales pitch towards walkability? Hamilton really is turning a corner.

SteelTown · #14 Posted: **Aug 30, 2012, 11:36 PM**

Former musician bringing a little bit of Brooklyn to Corktown

http://www.thespec.com/news/local/ar...yn-to-corktown

The native Hamiltonian was the bass player in Sven Gali, a Juno-nominated metal band whose debut album went gold.

He won an East Coast Music Award for a video he directed for Great Big Sea.

And now, he’s adding townhouse developer to his list of achievements.

His mentor is George Ross, the executive vice-president of the Trump Organization and Donald Trump’s adviser on The Apprentice television show.

Maher’s company is turning a variety store in the heart of Corktown into an eight-unit townhouse complex. Maher says the development at the corner of Young and Walnut streets will bring New York brownstone-style townhouses to Hamilton.

“I got all my ideas from travelling and Central Park and being in New York,” Maher said. “It’s going to be the first of anything like this in the Hamilton marketplace.”

Maher has already secured financing for the project and has sold five of the eight units. The three-storey, 1,400-square-foot townhouses have three bedrooms and three bathrooms each and start at $289,000 to $309,000.

Maher credits much of his success to Ross, his mentor. The pair met after being seated at the same table at a networking dinner in Toronto and hit it off. Ross is guiding Maher in his new line of work.

“I have the same adviser as Donald Trump, believe it or not — and I’m from Hamilton,” Maher says with a laugh. “George took a liking to me and believed in what I could do.”

Maher’s project is one of several high-profile housing developments in the works in central Hamilton. A $20-million, three-building condo has been proposed at the site of the Hamilton Cab headquarters on Charlton Avenue East, at the foot of the escarpment.

Developer Harry Stinson is also planning two condos: the Hamilton Grand building on the corner of John and Main, and the Stinson School lofts.

Stinson said the lofts are about 75 per cent sold — 55 of 75 units — and should be ready to move in by February.

The Hamilton Grand project calls for a $20-million, six-storey, 150-unit long-term stay hotel.

SignalHillHiker · #15 Posted: **Aug 30, 2012, 11:38 PM**

Awesome! If I happen to miss the threads when this starts, PM me! I want to see what it looks like!

Duckyboy · #16 Posted: **Aug 31, 2012, 6:33 PM**

Private.
Investment.
Awesome.

Jon Dalton · #17 Posted: **Aug 31, 2012, 8:01 PM**

The prices for this development are actually very reasonable for the amount of space being offered. At $300,000 for a 3 bedroom, it is competitive with similar sized houses in the area. My house is the same size at 1400 square feet, and while it didn't cost that much, it isn't brand new either.

realcity · #18 Posted: **Sep 2, 2012, 9:56 PM**

The fact that they will be brownstown styled adds several thousand to the value. Brownstowns are rare in Canada and there is a few authentic ones in Corktown.

coalminecanary · #19 Posted: **Oct 3, 2012, 3:28 PM**

I spoke with the developer - the city has approved the setbacks. The parking will now go behind and it's only 7 units instead of 8. I'm trying to find out if they have new renderings

pEte fiSt iN Ur fAce · #20 Posted: **Oct 5, 2012, 1:49 PM**

Wicked news. Thanks for stickin' your nose in there.