Pan Am precinct

[Dr Awesomesauce]

^Yes! For the love of God won't saner heads prevail already??

[coalminecanary]

HWDSB combined with this whole stadium precinct/scott park thing is like the perfect (sh!t) storm. It kinda reminds me of this strip:

[SteelTown]

Request to Designate 1099 King Street East (Jimmy Thompson Memorial Pool) Under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act

http://www.hamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyres/...53PED13182.pdf

[SteelTown]

Is city eyeing land in Pan Am precinct for pitches?

http://www.thespec.com/news-story/42...-for-pitches-/

Soccer fans are hoping a sudden closed-door meeting for city councillors means relief for a Hamilton starved of sports fields.

City officials have been tight-lipped about the reason for the Wednesday committee meeting, identifying the topic as "land acquisition in Ward 3."

The Spectator couldn't reach ward representative Bernie Morelli Tuesday.

Fellow councillor Sam Merulla would only say the meeting is about a "good news" project linked to the Pan Am Games.

"I'm proud to be associated with Councillor Morelli's tireless work and dedication on this city-building legacy project," he said.

It's common knowledge the city is hunting for land near the new Pan Am stadium to replace sports fields.

A recently approved, $17-million plan to build a seniors and recreation centre at Scott Park could displace one or more baseball fields, for example.

The city must also replace Brian Timmis Stadium, a top-flight soccer facility razed to build the Tiger-Cats' new home. A recent public works budget line item shows $2.4 million for a 2016 rebuild, "pending co-ordination with the Stipley neighbourhood development strategy."

City soccer players are anxiously awaiting news, said John Gibson, president of the Hamilton and District Soccer Association.

"I know they've promised a legacy field," he said. "All I know for sure is we need them (new soccer fields) as soon as possible."

[SteelTown]

An announcement will be made at 6pm.

[SteelTown]

$25 million for a rec centre and senior centre. City will buy 10 acre land, it isn't a final deal yet so they won't reveal the property yet.

[SteelTown]

City to build $8m outdoor sports park

http://www.thespec.com/news-story/42...r-sports-park/

The city will spend $8 million building a new outdoor sports park that will include a high-level soccer field near the new Pan Am stadium.

Ward Councillor Bernie Morelli announced the long-anticipated project at a hastily arranged news conference after a closed door meeting Wednesday afternoon.

The new soccer facility will replace the city's former top-flight, 5,000-seat outdoor soccer stadium, Brian Timmis, which was razed to make room for the new Pan Am stadium.

The 10-acre parcel, which wasn't named for legal reasons, will also include other sports fields, potentially soccer or baseball. Splash pads and skate parks are also potential additions.

Morelli didn't name the property north of Barton Street.

City neighbourhood development guru Paul Johnson said it would likely require some demolition and remediation.

The $8 million is expected to cover the purchase price, cleanup and construction of new facilities. The city had already budgeted $2.4 million to rebuild Brian Timmis. Johnson said parkland reserves and area rating cash would cover the remainder.

A frail but pleased-looking Morelli, who has been ill for much of thr year, said he's been pushing for new recreational opportunities — including a planned $17 million seniors and rec centre near Scott Park — for nearly 20 years.

[ScreamingViking]

Around and around she goes?


Morrow wants to reopen Scott Park lands debate
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/45...-lands-debate/

By Matthew Van Dongen

Councillor Bob Morrow wants to reopen the conversation about the controversial Scott Park lands — including the idea of co-locating a school and city rec centre.

The Ward 3 councillor plans to introduce a notice of motion Wednesday at council asking for a high-level discussion of "the future of current Scott Park lands."

That includes a $17-million recreation and seniors centre planned for city-owned Scott Park, the existing Jimmy Thompson pool and the oft-debated site of a new public high school.

The motion comes nine months after council nixed a proposed building partnership that involved the former Scott Park school and adjoining city land.

Council opted to go it alone on a seniors centre and the board is now looking at building a $32-million school on the site of Parkview and King George schools, with the former Scott Park school razed for parking.

"I want to get away from the word partnership, because I think that word has caused a lot of consternation in the past," Morrow said after bringing up the issue at a Pan Am precinct committee meeting.

"But I think it's possible we can come to a new arrangement or agreement with the board that would better meet everyone's needs."

Changing the seniors centre decision would require a two-thirds majority vote at council, said Mayor Bob Bratina, who argued against discussing the motion at Tuesday's Pan Am subcommittee meeting.

Morrow acknowledged the contentious past debate, but pointed to community unease over the fate of King George school, which the city wants to protect with a heritage designation even as the board plans to tear part or all of it down.

Board officials told The Spectator in February members would be open to revisiting a building partnership at the Scott park site.

That feeling hasn't changed, said vice-chair Todd White.

"Maybe we're not talking about a partnership at this point, but in terms of a compromise, I think there are land opportunities that could be discussed," he said.

White said the board could reconsider building on the former Scott Park site if it had more access to surrounding land. He also said the board understands the community has concerns about the fate of King George, as well as the plan to "wedge parking" into the old Scott Park site.

"I think there are enough moving pieces of the puzzle that we would be receptive to a conversation."

mvandongen@thespec.com

905-526-3241 | @Mattatthespec

[matt602]

I have to say that I'm kinda surprised how much Morrow has been involving himself in his role as fill-in councilor. I figured he would have just been answering phones and keeping the seat warm. I'm glad that he's bringing this issue back to be more properly resolved. Unfortunately the board is of course sticking to it's parking first ideology.

[SteelTown]

A new sports park to be built at the former Dominion Glass site. Full release - http://bit.ly/1qiEDoV . #HamOnt pic.twitter.com/4Ql2R33EHM

[SteelTown]

New sports park to be built at former Dominion Glass site

HAMILTON, ON – July 29, 2014 – The City of Hamilton is pleased to announce that the former Dominion Glass property at Lloyd Street and Gage Avenue will soon be home to a new sports park as part of the Stadium Precinct. The sports park will feature a soccer field, green space and additional amenities and programming that are yet to be determined. This new sports park will include the replacement field for the former Brian Timmis Stadium.

The 12.15-acre property just north of Tim Hortons Field is a former brownfield site that once housed a glass manufacturing facility which was in operation until the late 1990s. Following the decommissioning of the site, it has since been used for general warehousing and other light industrial uses.

The City will take possession of the property later this week. Demolition of the existing buildings is expected to begin in November and will take about six months. It is expected that the new park will be completed in two-to-three years.

The new park emerged as part of the Stadium Precinct Planning work initiated by the City in early 2012. A series of public meetings hosted by the late Councillor Bernie Morelli allowed residents in the neighbourhood and across the city to prioritize investments. The Stadium Precinct Plan includes investments by the City in new indoor recreation facilities at Scott Park as well as the new outdoor park at Dominion Glass.

“This sports park and the entire precinct will be a much-deserved amenity for this neighbourhood thanks to the vision and determination of my colleague Bernie Morelli,” said Ward Three Councillor Bob Morrow. “The community will have an opportunity to help prioritize the amenities in the park outside of Brian Timmis Stadium.”

[davidcappi]

Great news! That area could benefit a lot from something like this. Not 100% on the long ass timeline though. Guess it depends on the amount of work they're planning.

[lucasmascotto]

I'm really glad that the city is tearing down such an eye sore of a factory and giving something back to the community but I find the design to be a little lackluster. A nice path-way and some more shrubbery or even a splash-pad would be a welcome amenity to the project. Hopefully the plan is only preliminary.

[Gurnett71]

Originally Posted by lucasmascotto

I'm really glad that the city is tearing down such an eye sore of a factory and giving something back to the community but I find the design to be a little lackluster. A nice path-way and some more shrubbery or even a splash-pad would be a welcome amenity to the project. Hopefully the plan is only preliminary.

The plan is quite lame. Hope they can find the funding for a few more amenities for this park, and maybe lose the parking area? If there is enough parking for THF, then I would imagine there should be ample for Brian Timmis stadium.

[king10]

it clearly says the future amenities will be determined. im sure by the time construction starts they will know what those amenities will be. it already has more public access than brian timmis ever had. does anyone know the grandstand capacity? looks to be about 1000-1500?

[markbarbera]

There are many possible fits for the space. Perhaps another soccer pitch could be placed there, or a baseball diamond. Maybe even a bocce court. Regardless, this additional green space will be a welcome addition to the area.

Personally I would like to see the vacant former Blockbuster site at Barton and Chapple incorporated into these plans.

[SteelTown]

The latest proposal for a new High School



If council agrees it'll than be presented to HWDSB council. If they reject the idea than the "status quo" remains.

[SteelTown]

The recommended configuration includes a two storey 55,000 square foot (approximately) Bernie Morelli Centre along King Street East stretching west from the Balsam Street corner. The new high school would be a three storey building stretching west along Cannon Street East from the Balsam Street corner. The configuration would provide up to 85 on-site parking spaces and additional barrier-free spaces. The remaining land at Scott Park would be green space.

Additional parking would be provided at the current Parkview Secondary School site. The current school would be demolished and an estimated 204 parking spaces would be constructed.

The playing field for the new secondary school would be located at the Dominion Glass site that is currently being redeveloped . It will include the new Brian Timmis Stadium and additional community recreation amenities. The HWDSB will contribute 50% of the costs for the construction of the new Brian Timmis Field.

[matt602]

Over 300 parking spots for a school and a rec. centre. How progressive.

[palace1]

I like this layout much better, it appears to preserve Jimmy Thompson Pool, and King George School (not sure for what use?).

The Scott 'Park' portion of the site is being reduced in area but that can be compensated for by the Dominion Glass site.
Scott Park doesn't really act as a neighbourhood park anyway, just baseball diamonds so hopefully the 'Outdoor Activity Area' can be more of a landscaped park with playground as opposed to an empty space converted to a tailgate zone for Ti-Cat games.

The stadium project is already obligated to replace Brian Timmis Stadium so the School Board's monetary contribution should be put to some other use in the plan.

Is there any talk of replacing the lost Scott Park Hockey Arena?