Downtown Update - Page 30

raisethehammer · #**581** Posted: **Jul 16, 2008, 3:22 AM**

will be a great anchor for James Street. Looks good.

raisethehammer · #**582** Posted: **Jul 16, 2008, 3:27 AM**

where did you find that picture?? is there a large size?

BCTed · #**583** Posted: **Jul 16, 2008, 3:44 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by raisethehammer

frig...it was ultra cool when it opened, and they literally changed NOTHING for like 10 years.
I'm all for 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' but at least clean the place once in a while or add some artwork etc....
that's a big blow to the Gore. Maybe they left because they are scared of the pedestrian-only plan which will cause them to lose 3 parking spots.
Drewitt......

Yeah, Infusions was really slipping in its dying days.

matt602 · #**584** Posted: **Jul 16, 2008, 5:34 AM**

Aye, Infusions wasn't doing too great in the environment department in the last 6 months. The clientele also seemed to get a lot worse. Back about 2 years ago when I first started going, it was mostly trendy young people sipping back espressos and stuff. Then drunks and thugs started coming in frequently. The staff also seemed to get a lot less friendly.

They used to have some comfortable couches at the back, which disappeared about a year ago. It was nice to go with some friends and lounge on them in front of the fire.

raisethehammer · #**585** Posted: **Jul 16, 2008, 11:13 AM**

I've been going there since they opened...10 years, I think?

paleale2 · #**586** Posted: **Jul 16, 2008, 1:45 PM**

After spending considerable time on the south leg of King speaking to almost every business about the proposed changes to the Bus terminal, the removal of buses from Gore Park, the closure of south leg the following are the results I wanted to share with you:

Out of 17 businesses on the street,

9 say the proposal will have little or no negative effect on them

4 say the street closure will negatively impact them (Chesters, Fingers, South Side and Scotiabank)

2 say they will be impacted only by loss of parking for customers who will probably find alternative solutions to parking issue

1 is closing business for personal reasons on July 13th (Infusions Coffee House)

1 owner/manager unavailable for comment

At the Council meeting yesterday it was decided to send the entire Downtown Transportation Master Plan (which includes the pedestrianization of Gore Park recommendation) back to staff for more input as to costs, analysis of impacts of James and John Street as well as the York Street conversion and its relationship to the renovations to the Market and the Library)…. Council did approve the work to be done on the MacNab Street/Go Bus Terminal in anticipation of the removal of buses from Gore Park by 2010.

Just wanted to keep you up to date…

Kathy

Kathy G. Drewitt, Executive Director

Downtown Hamilton Business Improvement Area

20 Hughson Street South, Suite 807

Hamilton, Ontario L8N 2A1

(905) 523-1646 Fax (905) 523-5433

info@downtownhamilton.org

www.downtownhamilton.org

coalminecanary · #**587** Posted: **Jul 16, 2008, 2:05 PM**

Cool, thanks for the update

Quote:

Originally Posted by paleale2

4 say the street closure will negatively impact them (Chesters, Fingers, South Side and Scotiabank)

Boy will they be pleasantly surprised when the opposite happens!

Quote:

Originally Posted by paleale2

2 say they will be impacted only by loss of parking for customers who will probably find alternative solutions to parking issue

There really is no parking issue. I have never, ever had trouble finding street parking downtown. But if it remains a perceived problem, we could extend the streetscaping that was implemented in International village so that there is parking on King all the way to Bay - rather than the current situation of having 4 blocks of highway style driving that is bookended by narrower sections with street parking :-)

raisethehammer · #**588** Posted: **Jul 16, 2008, 4:45 PM**

too bad the downtown BIA is so inept...I thought for sure the Zig Zag Zebra would be a hot commodity and fill up quick, but it hasn't.
Currently I think that Infusions will fill up quickly, but you know the BIA does jack squat in terms of aggressively going after business.
It could sit empty for years unless some others recruit business in place of the BIA.

LikeHamilton · #**589** Posted: **Jul 18, 2008, 4:21 AM**

Cannon & James

matt602 · #**590** Posted: **Jul 18, 2008, 4:35 AM**

I hope they get going on that asap. It's looking pretty depressing right now.

raisethehammer · #**591** Posted: **Jul 18, 2008, 11:18 AM**

well what do you know?? it IS possible to demolish a building without affecting the building attached next door.
maybe LIUNA should let the INC take care of their work.

hmagazine · #**592** Posted: **Jul 18, 2008, 1:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt602

I hope they get going on that asap. It's looking pretty depressing right now.

au contraire Matt - it hasn't looked this good in years...

the former 50s deco of the corner building is shining through and the way the old Italo Club behind it got unveiled to the street actually gives the space depth, character and history.

This will be one nice project...as someone who looks at it everyday - this is a much needed improvement.

thistleclub · #**593** Posted: **Jul 19, 2008, 1:40 AM**

Promising stuff. Is it too much to hope that that the billboards would vanish too? Or is the CBS contract long-term?

hmagazine · #**594** Posted: **Jul 19, 2008, 3:37 PM**

They soon will be GONE!

SteelTown · #**595** Posted: **Aug 1, 2008, 2:15 AM**

Tomorrow the city will likely release applicants approved for the residential loan program for 2008. It got delayed but it should be out tomorrow, it should be good.

Stay tuned.

SteelTown · #**596** Posted: **Aug 1, 2008, 1:11 PM**

Argh! Nevermind the city just released the audit findings for the loan program. Now the approved applicants for the residential loan program will come out in September likely.

So it's being delayed for nearly 3 months now.

DC83 · #**597** Posted: **Aug 1, 2008, 3:38 PM**

Well if it weren't delayed, the downtown hater's wouldn't win.

On the bright side, I noticed a new asian-esq eatery or something opening up next to the Shawarma Hut on John St S @ Jackson. This is a storefront that has sat empty since before the two-way conversion. Pretty excited to see what it actually is!

Also, Eden Thai on John @ Young has closed down but is already opening back up on Aug 8 as Dong Rang Pho resto. Can't wait to check it out!

SteelTown · #**598** Posted: **Aug 1, 2008, 3:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DC83

Dong Rang Pho

*giggles*

block43 · #**599** Posted: **Aug 1, 2008, 5:59 PM**

Eden Thai was a pretty unfortunate restaurant.

DC83 · #**600** Posted: **Aug 1, 2008, 6:51 PM**

^^ Ya, definately wasn't a fan. I had it once or twice, not really impressed by the food either time but wow was there ever a lot of patrons both times I was there. I didn't really undertsand!? ahaha

Usually this site has set empty for months (or even years) when something closes. I'm so impressed something opened up right away! Probably the same owners going down a different Asian path!? haha

ps: Didn't mean to make u giggle... sorry Steeltown, that's just it's name hahaha