Downtown in Canada's worst major city

[flar]

Originally Posted by PA Pride

The downtown looks very much intact. And plenty of activity going on. Still room for improvement, like any place.

I bet the downtown will get even better with the current trend of CBD resurgence.

Some streets are intact, but I didn't photograph the acres of empty lots or entire blocks and streetscapes that have been demolished. But still lots to work with in Hamilton. Our municipal government doesn't know about the current trends though. They just completed a new half billion dollar expressway in the 'burbs while the provincial government has offered the city $400 million for rapid transit and we don't even have a plan for it yet.

Here are a few of the larger buildings that are sitting empty and open to the elements:










The school board is abandoning this building and it will likely be demolished:

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

Lot's of good stuff; some bad; but much potential. Reminds me quite a bit of London (Ontario).

Some similarity in the buildings, but downtown Hamilton looks and feels a lot different in person because it is significantly larger and much denser.

Originally Posted by krudmonk

After the title and the "shunned by the NHL comment," I expected this to be about Winnipeg.

I was pleasantly surprised, nonetheless.

Pleasantly surprised because it wasn't Winnipeg? The title and subtitle certainly could equally apply to the 'peg.

Originally Posted by hollow man

Well, its embarrassment time for me.

I can admit that I'd never really heard of Hamilton before this thread, maybe I have come across the name a couple of times but I certainly didnt know it was one of Canada's major cities or know how to locate it on a map.

Don't worry, no one knows of Hamilton in the US either since most of Canada, the government and the national media ignore it too. Perhaps this is one reason why nothing locates downtown.

Originally Posted by tjh1

Hamilton looks very urban and lively. Based on the pics, i can't imagine people bashing it.

It is urban and lively, but people bash it anyway. It's normal for blue collar industrial towns.

[raisethehammer]

dang...that really sucks to see how many HUGE and beautiful buildings we have sitting empty downtown right now.

[RockMont]

If Hamilton is Canada's worst major city, then all the rest of Canada's major cities must be absolutely awesome.

[dvstampa]

Originally Posted by RockMont

If Hamilton is Canada's worst major city, then all the rest of Canada's major cities must be absolutely awesome.

Agreed. Hamilton has street life many American cities would dream of having on nice and warm day. Well done!

[Doady]

GREAT photos. I think there is a lot of potential for Hamilton, and it is obviously still a vibrant city.

[ColDayMan]

Fantastic!

[SteelTown]

Great phototour flar!

Now for the reason why Hamilton is often neglected is because it happens to be located right next to Canada’s largest and dominant metropolitan, Toronto, it’s basically like David and Goliath. Because of that every aspect of Hamilton gets neglected such as government services, retail, economy, infrastructure, media, etc.

But as most can see and commented that Hamilton has a very strong pedestrian downtown yet poor retail variety, again David and Goliath, retailers assume Hamiltonians will travel to the GTA to get its retail fix.

Why doesn’t Hamilton have an NHL, again because of the mighty neighbour to the north of us.

[ihateittoo]

one of my favourite aspects of downtown hamilton is one I often forget and over look - but the fact that we have a public square at the centre of downtown, somewhat like older european cities like montreal and quebec - to name some closer ones.

The potential for Hamilton is great, and it is starting to be tapped - but the progress is slow and frustrating and it's always a one for one bargain - something amazing and then something horrible... but occasionally some of the smaller projects start helping the positive side.

I have full faith in Hamilton Municipalitists! maybe not so much our government.

[gatt]

i can't wait to go there next summer to see friends.look like a cool city.

[jodelli]

Nice pics. I was there briefly last June.
Ham town still has a number of old buildings. Most of ours are gone.

jodelli

[whatsthepoint13]

hamilton looks alot like baltimore, just cleaner and filled with more people, i like it.

[raisethehammer]

yea, Gore Park is amazing...it really is close to a perfect 'square' in the centre of town.
pedestrianize the south leg of the Gore and watch out.

[flar]

FYI, this is Gore Park:



In the summer:








And here's typical pedestrian activity on King St on a non -20C day:

[F-Misthebest]

Wow that could be an amazing downtown if they got their act together.

[salvius]

Those pics really make me pine for the Summer flar!

Great job.

[DC83]

Originally Posted by dvstampa

Agreed. Hamilton has street life many American cities would dream of having on nice and warm day. Well done!

I've been to American cities that have similar street activity during business hours -- Buffalo, Cleveland, Pittsburgh -- it's the after-5pm crowd American cities need to work on.

Luckily in the Hammer, esp downtown, we have less 'white-collar' jobs and a LOT more restos, pubs, cafes than the American cities listed above. This is vital in keeping people (or bringing people) downtown outside of regular business hours.

This after-hours crowd, along with the huge amount of dense residential directly connected with our core, is what makes downtown Hamilton such a vibrant place. Without them, our dwntwn would most likely be as much of a ghost town as most American dwntwns (after 5pm).

[Hozay]

All these people on the sidewalks and there are empty buildings and junk stores? What the hell?

[coalminecanary]

someone show this thread to MEC

[J. Will]

Hamilton is strange. The downtown is very vibrant with hundreds of stores, restaurants and bars, and very strong pedestrian activity day and night. Parts of Hamilton (the westside, the mountain) are gorgeous, while other parts are very grubby and downtrodden. Granted I've only really been there are handful of times, but those were my observations.

[daniel_t]

very nice downtown area. I've seen your other photos of the decay and trashiness of hamilton, and it is refreshing to see the nice shots of the city. Thanks for sharing .

Daniel