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  #21  
Old Posted Apr 17, 2009, 2:19 AM
Bob Bratina Bob Bratina is offline
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HMP-Hilton

Vrancor did not originally intend to keep the HMP building. My personal history with it goes back about 40 years, having had cars serviced there, etc. It was a wood-framed brick box somewhat saturated with the ooze and effluence of automotive lubricants and other solvents. Had it caught fire it would have been major conflagration.

Vrancor's architects were present at the LACAC meeting which heralded the saving of the Lister Block, and rather than argue that day for demolition, they agreed to look at incorporating it into the hotel design. You can search the records and find the date of that appearance, and then find the date of demolition approval. You'll see that many months passed as they studied how the HMP building might be retained. The first proposal was rejected because they showed the building attached to the hotel, which was not approved by Hilton. The drawings shown in this thread were the second attempt, showing the building separated from the main hotel structure. While this process was taking place Vrancor built TWO hotels in Sudbury and began constructing another in North Bay, as well as purchasing the Sheraton Hamilton. I do not excuse the parking lot operation, and charges were laid by the City. My understanding is that Vrancor is taking this to the O.M.B.

Site plan work continues with the City planning department, although changes in design and schedule may occur due to the inability of the Board of Education to come to terms with McMaster regarding the proposed Family Medicine faculty and clinic proposed for the Education Centre site. McMaster intends to start the project and wants it located in the core. This could mean utilizing other near-by properties. We have held talks with two property owners in the past week or so, and other potential sites are city-owned. In any case it's fairly certain that significant development will take place in the core, perhaps even a Pan Am stadium.
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  #22  
Old Posted Apr 17, 2009, 2:37 PM
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What is it with the board of education that they can't get this done? Is it basically that senior management want to get away from downtown or what?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Bratina View Post
Vrancor did not originally intend to keep the HMP building. My personal history with it goes back about 40 years, having had cars serviced there, etc. It was a wood-framed brick box somewhat saturated with the ooze and effluence of automotive lubricants and other solvents. Had it caught fire it would have been major conflagration.

Vrancor's architects were present at the LACAC meeting which heralded the saving of the Lister Block, and rather than argue that day for demolition, they agreed to look at incorporating it into the hotel design. You can search the records and find the date of that appearance, and then find the date of demolition approval. You'll see that many months passed as they studied how the HMP building might be retained. The first proposal was rejected because they showed the building attached to the hotel, which was not approved by Hilton. The drawings shown in this thread were the second attempt, showing the building separated from the main hotel structure. While this process was taking place Vrancor built TWO hotels in Sudbury and began constructing another in North Bay, as well as purchasing the Sheraton Hamilton. I do not excuse the parking lot operation, and charges were laid by the City. My understanding is that Vrancor is taking this to the O.M.B.

Site plan work continues with the City planning department, although changes in design and schedule may occur due to the inability of the Board of Education to come to terms with McMaster regarding the proposed Family Medicine faculty and clinic proposed for the Education Centre site. McMaster intends to start the project and wants it located in the core. This could mean utilizing other near-by properties. We have held talks with two property owners in the past week or so, and other potential sites are city-owned. In any case it's fairly certain that significant development will take place in the core, perhaps even a Pan Am stadium.
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  #23  
Old Posted Apr 17, 2009, 7:40 PM
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Should create a little committee where people meet once a month or so and walk around a certain area and list all possible bylaw infractions. After all the required information is collected report to the bylaw office. This way at least the bylaw office is informed and action should be taken.
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  #24  
Old Posted Oct 17, 2009, 2:11 AM
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Proactive Approach of Vacant/Derelict Buildings
http://www.myhamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyre...0PED09031a.pdf
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  #25  
Old Posted Oct 17, 2009, 2:28 AM
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Because it's great to see what's been accomplished is that buildings are not deteriorating any further..

I understand that's better than demolition by neglect, but if people don't even have to bring it up to code by a certain date after buying it, that's pathetic. Why is that OK, especially within the downtown boundaries?

There needs to be some time limits on how long one can own a property downtown without making the entire thing work. No more vacant properties held by speculators and allowed to rot.
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  #26  
Old Posted Oct 17, 2009, 2:50 AM
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Vacant properties should be charged a higher property tax rate, not a lower one.

I think the number of properties is low. I can think of numerous ones off the top of my head.
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  #27  
Old Posted Nov 2, 2009, 12:15 PM
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City eyes garbage crackdown
Full-time bylaw officer, green carts in small businesses, among possible changes

November 02, 2009
Eric McGuinness
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/664929

Hamilton will miss its target of diverting 65 per cent of all city-collected waste from landfill by 2011.

The current estimate is that 55 per cent will be recycled or composted that year.

To do it by then, officials recommend a number of new measures, including assigning a full-time bylaw officer to enforce the one-container garbage limit in 2010.

Eight years ago, the then newly amalgamated city adopted a 25-year solid-waste management plan calling for 65 per cent diversion by 2008.

In 2007, when it was clear more time would be needed, the deadline was pushed back to 2011.

Beth Goodger, Hamilton's manager of waste collection, predicts a residential rate of 47 per cent this year, with an overall rate of 42 per cent when 5,000 small businesses are included.

She admits disappointment at failing to achieve more this year but says residents are to be commended for raising the rate from 16 per cent in 2001.

"We're still doing pretty well as a community; support has been incredible."

Toronto said in 2001 it wanted 100 per cent diversion by 2010, but later lowered that goal to 70 per cent by 2010. It now says it, too, will fall short. The forecast for this year was 46 per cent before a civic workers' strike interrupted pickups last summer.

The municipal numbers don't include shopping malls, big-box retailers, office buildings and industries that hire contractors to take their waste to private landfills, but Ontario Environment Minister John Gerretsen released a report last week inviting comment on proposals to make those who produce consumer products assume more responsibility for recycling them.

The provincial plan would prohibit disposal of designated materials and impose a disposal levy on others to encourage recycling.

In addition to stepped-up enforcement of the one-container limit, a report going to Hamilton council's public works committee today recommends pushing some reluctant apartment owners to start green-cart organics collection, collecting gypsum wallboard at recycling depots, putting green carts in small businesses and encouraging parents to stop using disposable diapers.

There is also a plan to clean tonnes of debris swept off streets to recover grit for use on roads in winter.

While Goodger is pleased most people use blue boxes and green carts, she says too many recyclables and food scraps are still being thrown in the garbage.

The city has relied on education to limit garbage to one container a week but, Goodger says, "in some instances, the friendly approach is not good enough."
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  #28  
Old Posted Mar 23, 2010, 11:00 PM
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City targets property standards violators

Ken Mann
3/23/2010
http://www.900chml.com/Channels/Reg/...spx?ID=1209923

A new tactic is in the works to ensure that property standards are being met.

Hamilton's planning committee has approved an 18-month pilot project, which will involve pro-active enforcement in problem areas.

The initiative still needs City Council's stamp of approval next week, but one focus will be on student housing near McMaster University and Mohawk College, which make up one-quarter of all complaints about things like long grass, illegal dumping and noise.

There will also be pro-active enforcement at apartment buildings and other multi-residential properties throughout the lower city.

Six part-time bylaw officers will be hired to provide the enforcement, funded through the city's parking reserves.
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  #29  
Old Posted Mar 24, 2010, 2:13 AM
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And no mention of the multitude of neglected buildings downtown. Apparently the long grass on people's lawns in Westdale is of utmost importance.
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  #30  
Old Posted Mar 24, 2010, 5:38 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by matt602 View Post
And no mention of the multitude of neglected buildings downtown. Apparently the long grass on people's lawns in Westdale is of utmost importance.
Yup. I don't understand council's inactivity at all. You know things are bad when citizens are spontaneously forming bylaw crawls.
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  #31  
Old Posted Mar 24, 2010, 12:35 PM
coalminecanary coalminecanary is offline
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What a joke. I guess the loudest mouths in westdale are louder than the loudest mouths downtown.
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  #32  
Old Posted Mar 24, 2010, 12:47 PM
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You can't say it's not a problem in Westdale. During St Patrick's day a few homes have literally planted tons of empty beer bottles on the front lawn and a couch. A week later the couch is still on the front lawn.
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  #33  
Old Posted Mar 25, 2010, 1:21 AM
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I did landscaping in Westdale last summer - you would not believe how many times we did a couple hundred bucks of work for a spring cleanup of a property (de-thatching, cleaning up branches, mowing, edging, trimming, removing plants and yard waste, etc).

And when we're done, it looks beautiful... till about ten minutes later trash, leaves, plastic and sticks from the unkempt student house next door is blowing all over the lawn, getting in the flowerbeds, even going back into stairwells and areas where it can clog drains.

That's demoralizing for homeowners who are either too busy - or too old and frail - to do it themselves, and are paying to keep their property in good shape. I understand why they get frustrated.
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  #34  
Old Posted Mar 25, 2010, 11:07 AM
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City targeting lousy landlords

March 25, 2010
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/742210

The city has beefed up a proposal to crack down on bad landlords and illegal lodging homes.

Yesterday, a proposal to hire part-time bylaw officers to monitor rental housing came before the economic development and planning committee.

Instead of waiting for complaints, these new bylaw officers would actively look for property standards violations in the two neighbourhoods.

The pilot project originally called for four officers to monitor student areas around McMaster University and Mohawk College for a year.

The committee is now suggesting six bylaw officers would take on the project for 18 months. The project boundaries were also expended to include the entire lower city and much of the Mountain.

These enhancements would up the price from about $200,000 to about $500,000.

The pilot project goes to council for final approval next week.
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  #35  
Old Posted Mar 25, 2010, 10:35 PM
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Finally the downtown gets some attention
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  #36  
Old Posted Jul 5, 2010, 2:51 PM
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City takes on bylaw busters

July 05, 2010
Jenni Dunning
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/801785

Downtown, it's absentee landlords. In the Mountain Brow lands, it's illegal dumping. Near Mohawk College, it's tall weeds and garbage.

Each area of Hamilton has different hot-button issues to be addressed in a new pilot project that put more bylaw enforcement officers on city streets.

The city has hired six municipal bylaw enforcement officers to beef up enforcement for bylaw busters in Wards 1 to 8.

It's a move several city councillors said they hope will improve their wards' "chronic" problems.

According to a report to be presented to the economic development and planning committee today, the officers were trained last month and will be sworn in at a committee of the whole meeting tomorrow.

"We have a lot of enforcement problems ... related to the lack of manpower," said Councillor Bob Bratina. "We're not doing the best job we can. If more enforcement officers are going to help, then good."

The initiative, dubbed Project Compliance, will cost the city nearly $600,000. About $450,000 will go toward hiring the part-time officers for 18 months, averaging $75,000 per officer.

A temporary, full-time clerk would also be hired at a cost of $90,000 and $58,000 will be allocated to operate three cars.

Fees and fines from the program would go to a city parking financial reserve, which plans to cover the $598,000 price tag.

The officers would focus on particular property standard issues in each ward involved in the project.

Absentee landlords are a "chronic issue" in Ward 2, said Bratina.

One Toronto-based landlord owns 55 Hamilton properties with tenants whose homes are covered in trash, he said.

"Residents are generally fed up with the general lack of response to complaints. Hopefully this is a step forward," Bratina said.

Absentee landlords are also an issue in Ward 4, between Ottawa Street and Nash Road, said Councillor Sam Merulla.

This pilot project will help keep landlords -- and the city -- accountable, he added.

"People expect a certain standard from us," he said. "We have bylaws in place, but we didn't have the resources to pursue the bylaws."

Councillor Tom Jackson said he thinks a recent spike in illegal dumping in Ward 6 along the Mountain Brow lands is backlash from the city's one bag garbage limit.

"I strongly support some additional tools and manpower to target (the dumping)," he said. "It's hurting our image."

Unkempt student housing, including unshovelled sidewalks, garbage piles and tall weeds, is a problem in Ward 8, said Councillor Terry Whitehead, adding he hopes the project will continue past its 18-month trial period.

"Once in a while you need to try something a little different to see if it bears fruit," he said. "Most of our bylaws are reactive, not proactive. It certainly will be a very worthwhile exercise."
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  #37  
Old Posted Jul 6, 2011, 3:00 PM
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Crackdown on bylaw busters

Matthew Van Dongen
http://www.thespec.com/news/local/ar...-bylaw-busters

A beefed-up bylaw enforcement experiment is slowly tidying up some of the city’s ugliest properties, says a new city report.

The city hired six new enforcement officers last July for Project Compliance, an 18-month crackdown on bylaw busters across wards 1 through 8.

The pilot project doesn’t end until November, but in an update to the planning committee on Tuesday, staff reported seeing encouraging signs of “voluntarily compliance” from property owners.

Highlights of the crackdown over the past year include:

• More than 550 city orders to fix property standards violations, with property owners complying about half the time;

• More than 370 orders for yard maintenance and a 60 per cent compliance rate;

• 70 bylaw charges laid;

• Contractors hired to complete cleanup work needed for 38 city orders;

• About $43,000 in fees and fines collected. That represents about 10 per cent of the $413,000 cost of the enforcement program so far.

Planning staff said at the meeting that enforcement officers have had problems getting access to rental units without search warrants.
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  #38  
Old Posted Aug 13, 2011, 1:33 PM
bornagainbiking bornagainbiking is offline
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Vacant building enforcement

Vacant buildings overwhelm Hamilton’s streets


ADRIAN MORROW

HAMILTON, ONT.— Globe and Mail Update

Published Friday, Aug. 12, 2011 9:32PM EDT

Last updated Friday, Aug. 12, 2011 9:35PM EDT

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle2128622/
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  #39  
Old Posted Apr 8, 2013, 6:21 AM
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Hamilton's By-law Enforcement

Recently I called in a lawn parking hand full of neighbours, all of whom blatantly do so and have their cars sinking into their yards or driveways. I am typically not a whistle-blower type, nor would I meddle with other peoples business unless it became neccessary, but this really bugs me.

Want to clean up your 'hood'? Call it in and do us all a favor.


City Contact Information:

Monday - Friday: 8:30am - 4:30pm
80 Main Street West
(entrance on Summers Lane)
Hamilton, Ontario
Phone: (905) 540-6000
Email: parking@hamilton.ca


Vehicles without valid (or missing) plates can be towed.
Vehicle without lawn permit can be towed.
Vehicles on a "driveway" which does not have an approach are not in a driveway, it's a paved lawn.
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  #40  
Old Posted Jun 14, 2013, 1:58 PM
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Why Hamilton ‘needs bylaws with teeth’
(Hamilton Spectator, Jeff Mahoney, June 14 2013)

I stood with Keith Archer in the middle of what was once a thriving, beautifully forested area off Stonehenge Road near the Meadowlands in Ancaster.

We stood where there used to be a frog pond, where cardinals once sang and owls hooted in 100-year-old trees. And where healthy, active squirrel populations spurred the chase instincts of neighbourhood dogs on walks through these erstwhile woods.

That place is no more. Part of it is being turned into a storm management pond, presumably as prelude to new development.

For now, it's simply grotesque. Depressingly so. This former woodland, which provided a handsome fringe for the Meadowlands Fellowship Church, has been reduced to a single survivor, like Ishmael at the end of Moby Dick.

A lone tree remains, inexplicably, right at the sidewalk.

Lying beyond it, the tree's mates, literally hundreds of them, are piled in gruesome heaps that bring to mind some kind of arboreal charnel house or mass grave. Other amputated trees are scattered, like a giant game of pickup sticks, their trunks ripped apart, disfigured, discards of a necessarily indiscriminate process.

When Keith brought me through the aftermath he carried with him a large metal measuring rod.

"This one's 59 centimetres," he told me, laying the rod across the base of a felled tree.

An 81-centimetre diameter hardwood, a 75-centimetre white pine, one fallen tree whose base is so broad it dwarfed the entire measuring stick.

A weeping willow, 110 centimetres across. Weeping? If it could, it would be howling from the hills.

Some of these trees were more than 60 feet tall. This goes on for three, maybe four acres, maybe more.

Here's the thing. It was accomplished in not much more than a single day.
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