Downtown Update - Page 68

thistleclub · #**1341** Posted: **Jun 29, 2011, 2:21 PM**

Public Works PR:

Two-way traffic on Wilson extending to Victoria Avenue

HAMILTON, ON – June 28, 2011 – Next week, the City of Hamilton will extend the two-way conversion of Wilson Street further east to Victoria Avenue. In December 2010, the two-way conversion was implemented on York/Wilson from Bay Street to Ferguson Avenue. Effective the morning of Tuesday, July 5th, the portion of the road between Ferguson Avenue and Victoria Avenue will also be converted to two-way traffic. Motorists are advised to exercise caution while driving through this area and to be aware of new signs and pavement markings indicating the flow of traffic. Please also watch for pedestrians.

thistleclub · #**1342** Posted: **Jul 2, 2011, 5:51 PM**

Beer Store Boutique Could Signal A Shift In Hamilton [Kristy Hutter, OpenFile Hamilton, June 28, 2011]

“…residents of Toronto's densely populated urban areas will be shopping for brews in a new way. After two years of flirting with the idea, The Beer Store finally launched its new pilot project, The Beer Boutique, in Liberty Village, earlier this month….[Ted Moroz, President of The Beer Store] says the Liberty Village Beer Boutique, as well as another store opening in Toronto at some point this year, will serve as pilot projects. When it comes time to decide where new Beer Boutiques will open, Hamilton will not be overlooked. "We're not ruling anything out," says Moroz. "These are designed for densely populated areas with a lot of walkers and we know that Hamilton has areas like this."

That's the diplomatic thing to say. I’m in favour of superior beer selection and I’d love to see this happen downtown but aside from the requisite enthusiasm from Glen Norton, this article seems more than a little premature. Liberty Village has been exploding with new upscale condo development for years, and the Beer Store was still tentative about going forward with this pilot project. I doubt anyone can recall a time when downtown Hamilton had any significant residential development that didn’t involve a substantial buy-in from the public purse. The under-construction King West condos alone amass 1,100 new upmarket condo units on a single city block – twice as much new residential development of all kinds that has taken place in all of downtown Hamilton since amalgamation, and about equal to the number of people of all income levels who've moved downtown since 2001. The 55-unit Acclamation Lofts announced two years ago has yet to break ground; ditto for the scaled-back, rental-only Hamilton Grand. If we're serious about attracting boutique retail operations, we need an exponentially higher density of resident disposable income than we now have.

SteelTown · #**1343** Posted: **Jul 2, 2011, 6:54 PM**

It'll fit in perfect with Vranich's retail/hotel project.

DC1983 · #**1344** Posted: **Jul 2, 2011, 10:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelTown

It'll fit in perfect with Vranich's retail/hotel project.

..in the Land of Make-Belief!

Vranic's Hotel (in the background) and Hamilton's LRT:

source:http://images.teamsugar.com/files/up...59.preview.jpg

thistleclub · #**1345** Posted: **Jul 3, 2011, 2:01 PM**

Would be nice to see another of these stories this year.

Heeding the Call of Hamilton [Albert Warson, The Globe and Mail, May 20, 2005]

Ron Marini, Hamilton's director of downtown renewal, says the city has been actively promoting regeneration and renewal, in order to breathe "new life into old and underutilized buildings and vacant properties, rather than tearing them down." Mr. Marini says a major objective of the [Hamilton Downtown Residential Loan Program] is "to put housing in the downtown core, not more retail… which doesn't increase pressure on services already in the ground." And it seems to be working: Nearly 1,000 downtown condo units have been built, are under way or planned, which represents more than $97.6-million in construction.

thistleclub · #**1346** Posted: **Jul 3, 2011, 2:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelTown

It'll fit in perfect with Vranich's retail/hotel project.

Anything is possible, but I maintain that market demographics and density could be a sticking point. There are at least 2,200 condo units (along with an LCBO and a 24-hour Metro) within 300m of the new Beer Boutique, to say nothing of the dozens of additional upmarket towers along the neighbouring stretch of King West. DV's proposed 628 condo units plus the existing stock at Core Lofts brings you to around 730 units.

beanmedic · #**1347** Posted: **Jul 3, 2011, 9:00 PM**

Hamilton has some beer stores that perform VERY well for the company. Centre Mall and Upper Gage & Fennell are two of the top performers in the province IIRC. Maybe the strength of the Hamilton market will give it a serious chance at one of these boutique stores.

DC1983 · #**1348** Posted: **Jul 4, 2011, 2:37 PM**

There is a new eatery in the old Atlantico Cafe on JamesNorth @ Barton. I forget the name, but it's a Portugese-based resto. I'll snap a pic when I can (though there were no exterior renos, and the windows are still super-tinted).

Also, a new 'home decor' shop on JamesNorth between Vine & Cannon called Home looks to be opening soon:

photo by me taken this weekend

thistleclub · #**1349** Posted: **Jul 5, 2011, 3:21 AM**

Vindication for City Staffer Charged in Municipal Corruption Case [Ken Peters, Hamilton Spectator, July 4 2011]

“It’s not true. I think when it all comes to light, it’s going to be pretty ridiculous.” Gord Moodie chuckled over the phone lines from his Florida residence Monday as he recalled saying that to a Spectator reporter just over three years ago. “I remember telling a Spectator reporter how ridiculous this was. But it was a nightmare. But I am innocent. I didn’t do anything wrong,” he said. Vindication has arrived with word that the second and last criminal charge facing Moodie has been withdrawn. But it has been a long three years for the former Hamilton staffer in charge of rejuvenating the city core.

DC1983 · #**1350** Posted: **Jul 5, 2011, 12:08 PM**

James just S/ Barton:

taken by me Jul 5

DC1983 · #**1351** Posted: **Jul 8, 2011, 6:57 AM**

KingEast & Holton, Gibson Neighbourhood:

photo by me

quite an improvement from previously: Google Streetview

DC1983 · #**1352** Posted: **Jul 11, 2011, 11:54 AM**

What's going on @ Leon Furs? Saw some people washing the facade/awning off yesterday.

photo by me

I know the upper levels are (nicer) Apartments. Hopefully something is opening up at street-level soon! Whatev, I hope they keep the sign! Classic!!

mattgrande · #**1353** Posted: **Jul 11, 2011, 12:02 PM**

I had heard a few months ago that it was being converted into some sort of shop. If the plan is still the same, it will keep the sign, and the shop will be called 9:40 (because of the time on the sign).

DC1983 · #**1354** Posted: **Jul 11, 2011, 1:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattgrande

I had heard a few months ago that it was being converted into some sort of shop. If the plan is still the same, it will keep the sign, and the shop will be called 9:40 (because of the time on the sign).

That's awesome! Love the creativity behind the name.. simply awesome!

!!!!UPDATE!!!!!!

Smoke's Poutinerie opens TODAY!! Monday, July 11th!
Located on George St in Hess Village, between Hess & Queen Sts directly beside Absinthe Lounge.

Jon Dalton · #**1355** Posted: **Jul 11, 2011, 8:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattgrande

I had heard a few months ago that it was being converted into some sort of shop. If the plan is still the same, it will keep the sign, and the shop will be called 9:40 (because of the time on the sign).

The owner is a book collector who has a ton of books accumulated in storage, and he intends to open a book store there.

thistleclub · #**1356** Posted: **Jul 11, 2011, 9:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Dalton

The owner is a book collector who has a ton of books accumulated in storage, and he intends to open a book store there.

Allan Petteplace?

DC1983 · #**1357** Posted: **Jul 11, 2011, 9:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Dalton

The owner is a book collector who has a ton of books accumulated in storage, and he intends to open a book store there.

Thanks for the info! Great addition to JamesNorth.

I'm glad to see this stretch of James (York-Cannon) finally redeveloping. It's been an eyesore for some time but def on the rebound!

Wouldn't an American Apparel store fit into the old M&K (and later By-Way) store?

thistleclub · #**1358** Posted: **Jul 15, 2011, 5:56 PM**

Public Works Press Release:

Risk Assessment at Beasley Park Deems Site Safe for Parkland Use

HAMILTON, ON – July 15, 2011 – The City of Hamilton, in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment (MOE), has recently completed a comprehensive risk assessment process which concluded that Beasley Park is suitable for its existing parkland use. The MOE recently notified the City that the Risk Assessment and Record of Site Condition have been accepted, meaning that Beasley Park meets all environmental standards outlined by the Province and does not pose a health risk to the community in its current use.

"I am proud to be able assure the residents and children of Beasley that their neighbourhood park has passed an intensive assessment that began five years ago during my time as Ward 2 Councillor,” said Mayor Bob Bratina. “Your park is safe.”

An environmental site assessment was initiated at the site in July 2006 as a result of a potential property transaction between the City of Hamilton and the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board. Experts from the City and Dillon Consulting Limited, a professional environmental and engineering firm, had confirmed that there were elevated levels of metals and organic compounds well beneath the surface at Beasley Park. The compounds found in the subsurface were likely associated with fuel storage and distribution, and miscellaneous industrial activities that historically occurred in this area.

While the City’s team of experts confirmed that the materials identified did not pose a health concern for the community, an extensive sampling program was undertaken in 2006 as a precautionary and voluntary measure. A formal human health and ecological risk assessment process was also completed as part of this initiative.

The City is continuing to work closely with the MOE to develop a process for ongoing periodic sampling at the park site to ensure the park remains safe for community use well into the future.

palace1 · #**1359** Posted: **Jul 16, 2011, 2:41 AM**

"An environmental site assessment was initiated at the site in July 2006"

Mayor Bratina: "I am proud to be able to assure the residents and children...Your park is safe.”

Wow, it took five years to take samples, test them, and determine the site is 'suitable' as a park?!
I hope if they had been leaning towards 'unsuitable' we would have been warned sooner.

DC1983 · #**1360** Posted: **Jul 17, 2011, 5:11 PM**

Not 'new', but Open Again after a long long closure:

photo by me, Jul 17 2011.

Peking Duck, anyone? LOL