City Hall | 34m | 8 fl | Complete

SteelTown · #1 Posted **Oct 30, 2007, 12:49 AM**

As you can see City Hall is fenced off to the public.

Hamilton City Hall is currently under a $68 million renovation. All City Hall employees, councillors and Mayor moved to Hamilton City Centre (former Eaton's Centre). Council Chamber relocated to the Hamilton Convention Centre for the next 3 years I believe. City Hall's renovation is scheduled to be completed by 2010 or 2011.

Talks are underway for the forecourt which could include a skating rink and a new cafe attached to City Hall, one councillor wants a special Tim Horton's to link Ron Joyce connection to Hamilton.

Here's what City Hall looked like when it opened November 21, 1960.

SteelTown · #2 Posted **Oct 30, 2007, 1:26 AM**

The mayor has left the building
Relocation to City Centre while $68-million renovation of City Hall gets underway

Maurice Cacho
The Hamilton Spectator
(Sep 22, 2007)

You won't find any city councillor or the mayor for that matter, in their office at City Hall.

And it's not because they've all gone on vacation. City staff have relocated to the City Centre building while City Hall is being renovated.

This fall, the inside of City Hall will be "gutted" before construction begins in early 2008. The building was constructed in 1960.

When the $68-million renovation is completed at the end of 2010, City Hall will be a "greener" building.

Gerry Davis, Hamilton's senior director of capital planning and implementation in the public works department, said the city is hoping the building meets the LEED silver standard for environmental conservation.

For now, city council and committee meetings will be held in the Hamilton Convention Centre

SteelTown · #3 Posted **Oct 30, 2007, 1:31 AM**

Hamilton's temporary City Hall

vid · #4 Posted **Oct 30, 2007, 11:26 PM**

My god, it needs one!

What is it with Canadian cities and funny looking city halls from the 60s?

Any after renderings?

raisethehammer · #5 Posted **Oct 30, 2007, 11:45 PM**

the after renderings will be almost identical with the before renderings...biggest differences will be in the forecourt with a skating rink, cafe, fountains etc...
and the interior will be way more energy efficient. the falling slabs of marble are being replaced with something more sturdy.
believe it or not, this is actually a really neat building... the artistic features, architecture and different angles from every side complement the interior use of brushed steel, colourful tiles and modern/deco style clocks and accents.
love it or hate it, it's certainly not boring!

vid · #6 Posted **Oct 31, 2007, 8:47 PM**

I didn't say it was boring.

It has all the charm of awkward post-war futurism.

the dude · #7 Posted **Nov 2, 2007, 3:45 AM**

awkward is a good descriptor. my aversion to demolition prevents me from calling on the wrecking ball. it's what we're stuck with so we might as well do what we can with it.

realcity · #8 Posted **Nov 2, 2007, 3:17 PM**

i like it but it should've been 20 floors tall. a mini UN.

SteelTown · #9 Posted **Dec 21, 2007, 1:56 PM**

City hall renovations hit a snag

Dec, 20 2007 - 1:00 PM

HAMILTON (AM900 CHML) -The City of Hamilton is looking for a new architect to design the renovations to City Hall.

It has parted ways with the company that was initially given the contract after the two sides reached an impasse.

At issue, are changes that were made to the design team earlier this year, as city politicians reconsidered whether to move ahead with the project.

The city's Gerry Davis says the new consulting team will be selected by March.

He adds that they remain on budget and will work within the project's original schedule.

That includes completing the internal decommissioning of the building next month, with a goal of moving staff back in to City Hall by the end of 2010.

SteelTown · #10 Posted **Jan 23, 2008, 6:59 PM**

Hamilton should scrap city hall renovations: councillors

The Hamilton Spectator
Two municipal politicians think council should scrap plan for a renovated city hall.

Bob Bratina and Terry Whitehead believe the city would save taxpayers' money and help the downtown by cancelling the nearly $70 million renovation project now under way.

They two say the city could stay in its current temporary location at the City Centre (former Eaton Centre), where staff have moved during construction work.

Bratina says council could look at a new city hall when the municipality is doing better and the downtown has been revived.

SteelTown · #11 Posted **Jan 23, 2008, 7:00 PM**

Right adding another abandon building, City Hall, is going to help revive the downtown core. Pure genius.

vid · #12 Posted **Jan 23, 2008, 7:04 PM**

Thunder Bay just approved a $2.6M renovation of our City Hall (just structural stuff, windows and interior redesigns in the lobby and chambers) but already, we, too have the "Let's just abandon the building"/"Let's build a new one!!" arguments flying around. You're not alone.

It's kind of funny, back in the late 1800s and early 1900s, cities would spend gross amounts of money on extravagant city halls, but at some point after WWII, we seemed to shun that idea, believing instead that unlike other office workers, municipal employees deserve to work in substandard buildings.

matt602 · #13 Posted **Jan 23, 2008, 7:05 PM**

Wow. These are all things that should have been decided before City Hall was even emptied out. This whole thing makes a mockery of our city. Our councilors are working out of a bloody mall. That's fine for a year or two while a better City Hall is being built, but we shouldn't be considering any longer than that. How is Hamilton supposed to look competitive and "reborn" when we don't even HAVE a City Hall?

raisethehammer · #14 Posted **Jan 23, 2008, 7:16 PM**

this city blows.
is there not a provincial or federal law that would allow citizens to bar shut the offices at city hall and overthrow these pinheads?? The provincial government seriously needs to come here and take over for 5 or 6 years and through public input, start turning this city around before this freakshow we call a council ruins whatever is left of our fine city.

DC83 · #15 Posted **Jan 23, 2008, 7:16 PM**

^^ Tillsonburg's City Hall is also in it's downtown mall! It (the mall) works tho... unlike ours.

This city is plagued with indecision and procrastination. NO WONDER no one wants to develop in this city!! No one can get their damn heads on straight. Gallagher's Pub is a prime example as to why no one is willing to reno/build downtown: b/c city staff are useless and have no idea what's going on at any point in any day.

Mayor Fred... it's over. Brad Clark for Mayor??? Ughghghgh.

Quote:

this city blows.
is there not a provincial or federal law that would allow citizens to bar shut the offices at city hall and overthrow these pinheads?? The provincial government seriously needs to come here and take over for 5 or 6 years and through public input, start turning this city around before this freakshow we call a council ruins whatever is left of our fine city.

That's, sadly, a better idea. Stephen Harper for Mayor? At least he is a LEADER!!!

SteelTown · #16 Posted **Jan 23, 2008, 7:21 PM**

I really really hope Marie Bountrogianni decides to run for Mayor.

vid · #17 Posted **Jan 23, 2008, 7:29 PM**

Thunder Bay uses a downtown mall for city hall, in addition to the actual city hall, and 20 other buildings.

City governments are inefficient.

SteelTown · #18 Posted **Jan 23, 2008, 7:30 PM**

Pretty much government offices (city, feds, provincal) in Hamilton is around Jackson Square.

HAMRetrofit · #19 Posted **Jan 23, 2008, 9:09 PM**

Hamilton is really run by pin heads. It is frustrating to stand on the sidelines and watch.

Quote:

Originally Posted by raisethehammer

this city blows.
is there not a provincial or federal law that would allow citizens to bar shut the offices at city hall and overthrow these pinheads??

A contemporary sacking of city hall might be called for here in Hamilton's case.

SteelTown · #20 Posted **Jan 23, 2008, 9:53 PM**

Should City Hall Renovations Go Forward?

HAMILTON (AM900 CHML) - There's now talk of putting Hamilton City Hall renovations on hold until further notice.

Councillors Bob Bratina and Terry Whitehead believe that the city should scrap the 68 million dollar project, at least until the municipality is on better economic footing.

Bratina adds that they could also look at finding a buyer for the City Hall property, who might be willing to make a major private-sector investment. He suggests a hotel culd be one possibility.

He also notes that the downtown core, and Jackson Square in particular, are currently enjoying the benefits of having several hundred city staff working in the City Center.

The timing might be perfect for reconsidering whether to push ahead with the renovation project. It is currently on hold as the city looks for a new company to complete the design work.