City Hall | 34m | 8 fl | Renovation - Page 3

go_leafs_go02 · #41 01-24-2008, 10:03 PM

London's rinks (we have 2) plus a large skating loop at Storeybook Gardens are very full during weeknights and weekends.

An noonday picture obviously means nothing to how much the rinks get used. Whenever I see them, there is always alot of people on, and they bring business downtown.

I can't comment on Mississauga. But since I am a Londoner, I must stand up for my outdoor rinks. They are fascinating to skate on and a great evening experience, especially if there is an event going on at the John Labatt Centre.

LikeHamilton · #42 01-24-2008, 10:51 PM

When the Standard Life building in Jackson Square opened it had an indoor skating rink. I think it was free or very cheap. It lasted a few years and then they closed it do to lack of interest. Nothing every went in there after it closed.

raisethehammer · #43 01-24-2008, 11:14 PM

an outdoor rink downtown in Gore Park, or City Hall would be awesome for families and could hold special events in the winter etc... you go to Montreal or Ottawa in wintertime and there's tons to do. here there's nothing.
Another one is proposed down at Pier 8. here's hoping.

the dude · #44 01-24-2008, 11:25 PM

this talk of placing city employees in the lister block is hilarious because the same idea was being bandied about 50 YEARS AGO! those who didn't want to see the old city hall meet the wrecking ball suggested linking the two buildings with an elevated walkway. anyway, i'm just so tired of the topic that i can't offer any pearls of wisdom on this one. just go away, please.

raisethehammer · #45 01-25-2008, 03:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the dude

this talk of placing city employees in the lister block is hilarious because the same idea was being bandied about 50 YEARS AGO! those who didn't want to see the old city hall meet the wrecking ball suggested linking the two buildings with an elevated walkway. anyway, i'm just so tired of the topic that i can't offer any pearls of wisdom on this one. just go away, please.

I feel your pain, but we must continue to offer suggestions and constructive criticism.
Once the life has been sapped out of citizens like us, we're left to have guys like Warren Green and LIUNA have a heyday down at city hall with no objections.
Keep up the fight brother! Hamilton is worth it!

coalminecanary · #46 01-29-2008, 04:10 PM

I just wrote up a little "suggestion rant" on city hall here:
http://www.hammerboard.ca/viewtopic.php?p=580#580

The bottom line is I think they should stay at city centre FOREVER and make it the city hall. As for what to do about the current city hall, I have to say I'm against tearing it down, but I'm at a loss right now regarding how to use it. THe only thing I can think of is taht McmAster should buy it for a downtown campus and abandon their sad, useless, pathetic idea of plopping down next to the qew in burlington.

raisethehammer · #47 01-29-2008, 05:40 PM

if you're against it being torn down then the last group on earth you should want to get it is McMaster.
How about UofT or another GTA university that could expand into Hamilton? I'd love that.
I think they should connect City Centre with Lister. Remember that rendering a couple years ago of a curved James st facade at City Centre that would act as the front 'plaza' of a new city hall?
Let's do it AND save Lister at the same time.
by the way, this is the exact idea that was floated and killed in the 50's when they decided to tear down old city hall...connect it with Lister across the road.
Too bad they didn't do it then. At least now we can still save 1 one of those buildings.

coalminecanary · #48 01-29-2008, 08:49 PM

I don't think it needs to be connected to lister. I dont think lister shoud be office space at all. I think if city hall is permanently stationed in city ctr, liter reno into condos will be such a moneymaking idea that it will happen naturally. that whole intersection would see positive changes. city ctr is already seeing positive changes and the city hall location is only temporary at this point. make it permanent and retail will be attracted there quickly

the dude · #49 01-29-2008, 08:57 PM

city hall in a mall. typical. we're all going to hell.

actually, one question comes to mind: would the city centre be owned by the city or continue to be operated by fercan? not even in this city could we pull off having city hall in a privately owned building. what about public gatherings, protests, etc.? all those sercurity guards and cameras. it's sketchy at best.

coalminecanary · #50 01-29-2008, 09:06 PM

It wouldn't be a mall anymore. It's barely a mall now. And it's never going to be a mall again no matter what happens so we might as well put it to good use. As far as ownership, I don't know what the solution is but the lease rate now is 1/5 of the most recent Lister lease rate speculation!

HAMRetrofit · #51 01-29-2008, 09:08 PM

City staff could work part time for the retailers and even set up offices in some of the stores.

Could set up the planning department in the food court hopefully with extra parking and drive thrus. Suburban counselors could have offices in a new Walmart. The mayor's offices and meeting rooms could be set up in the back of HMV with a section for previewing CDs. Staff could have the option of wearing headphones during counsel meetings. This could be a great idea. They could even earn extra $ for the city by working part time in retail. The existing city hall at Bay and Main could be converted to a petting zoo in the mean time. After hours the animals could run the city.

This is all going to be a huge step to reviving the city. Expect efficiency and fiscal responsibility at city hall to surge.

SteelTown · #52 01-29-2008, 09:10 PM

matt602 · #53 01-29-2008, 09:28 PM

If the City Centre is going to become a City Hall, it's gonna need some MAJOR changes. I can't even imagine how costly that would be. The building would have to be completely re-designed on the inside. There would also need to be some kind of space for a council chambers somewhere inviting. You can't just bury that deep inside the building, it needs it's own addition like the "pod" in Toronto's City Hall, or the current City Hall here. Let's also remember that the City Centre building is probably designed even crappier than City Hall was. It's just another disposable building that will need to be vacated in 15-20 years.

Hart probably wouldn't be too happy about all of this, given they just settled in. Wouldn't be kind to boot them out so quick.

raisethehammer · #54 01-29-2008, 09:28 PM

they'd better take ownership of that dump if we make it city hall.
I'm sick of all the plastic signs and cheesy reno jobs. the streetscape sucks,the ownership sucks. only in hamilton would we reward a trashy landlord with gobs of public money. buy it from those clowns and turn it into a real city hall.

the dude · #55 01-29-2008, 09:29 PM

i'm not mocking you, coalmine. i understand your point but it's too much for me to even contemplate right now.

SteelTown · #56 01-29-2008, 09:47 PM

You all have to realize the chance of City Centre being a City Hall is slim as majority of councillors are pro-renovate City Hall and they'll keep pushing for it. There are only 2 councillors that want to stay in City Centre.

Plus there's no point in moving to City Centre you'll need to renovate City Centre as well so what's the point? Add a few million to link up City Centre and Lister Block. There's no point. It cost Eaton’s $30 million to build City Centre and it’ll cost more than $30 million to renovate and purchase the Lister Block.

Now if they decide to move City Hall to Lister Block and use the City Centre as a transition period until they can afford a tower behind Lister Block for more office space than I can understand it.

raisethehammer · #57 01-29-2008, 10:44 PM

good idea...then we can close King William to car traffic and buy up the lot across the street to create a public plaza with a nice mixed use building beside the sirloin cellar with a patio facing Lister. now we're talking.

vid · #58 01-29-2008, 11:13 PM

Port Arthur, from 1913 to 1969, had its city hall in a private building. (Well, they bought it some time in the 1940s or something, but still.)

That was before video cameras and paranoia and shit. Most of Thunder Bay's city hall is located in a mall but we actually own it. On the bright side, its occupancy rate has gone from 35% to 75%.

Personally, I'd like to see Hamilton get a nice shiny tower.

Not unlike Municipal Building in Vilnius, but nicer.

coalminecanary · #59 01-30-2008, 04:55 PM

I don't think office space is the answer for Lister. I thin kthe city should forget the LIUNA deals. The city needs to push back at LIUNA, start enforcing some property standards and maybe they'll figure it out themselves that they aren't geetting free money and they'd better either sell it to cut losses of come up with a better plan for profit (condos?).

But I think that city ctr is a good location for city hall. And if it's cheaper to renovate than existing city hall then why not.

We need something functional ASAP. We can worry about form later (when we can hopefully afford it better - we might just get there too if we make some good decisions over the next little while ahem LRT ahem)

LikeHamilton · #60 02-04-2008, 10:44 PM

City Hall Renovations Set To Proceed
Feb, 04 2008 - 5:40 PM

HAMILTON (AM900 CHML) - Hamilton's Senior Director of Capital Planning says the renovations to City Hall can still be completed by the end of 2010.
Gerry Davis has provided a city committee with an update on the status of the project.

He confirms that eight firms have submitted an expression of interest about becoming the new design consultant. That contract should be awarded by the middle of next month.

Davis also confirms that the removal of asbestos will begin in the coming weeks, to be completed this summer.

The budget for renovating City Hall is set at close to 70 million dollars.

- Ken Mann