Downtown Bureau

Downtown Update

First call for Last Call, the ascent of The Staircase, cranes join the falcons downtown, and Jason gets some funny ideas about a dangling bus.

By Jason Leach
Published January 10, 2007

Plans are in the works that will hopefully see the Staircase Café and Theatre on Dundurn Street North re-opened in Spring 2007. This is absolutely fabulous news to anyone involved in Hamilton's arts/music/theatre scene and for anyone who frequented this incredibly laid-back and welcoming eatery during its initial nine years of operation.

In fact, this is great news for Hamilton. RTH will dig around and try to find some more info, but in the meantime you can be updated on the Staircase website.

Last Call Bar and Grill looks set to open soon at King William and John. I like the reno job and sharp looking furniture that's been installed here. Send us a line if you get a chance to check it out.

Reardon's Deli on King William has just done a great renovation. It's nothing flashy, but they've added wonderful lighting and created a more comfortable atmosphere. This is a real gem downtown and I hope to see it thrive for another 90 years.

The Spallacci Building crane is up on King East. We should now see this new building rise out of the ground over the next year. The ongoing revitalization of the International Village continues.

The International Village downtown continues to hum along with some new businesses and expansions of existing ones. The What's New section of their website gives a quick overview of the various new eateries and businesses worth checking out. Click on the image provided to the right of each description for a mini-webpage of that business.

Hmmm ... Big boxers could start winning over urban hearts with projects like this New Costco store in Vancouver. Scroll down for pics.

Now how's this for alternative transportation? Portland's new tram is more public art than public transit.

Portland's Tram (Image Credit: Skyscraper Page)
Portland's Tram (Image Credit: Skyscraper Page)

As always, the Skyscraper page has a great discussion and more pictures. In any case, it's pretty cool. Hamilton mountain could use one of these, maybe from Henderson Hospital to St Joes. Both are smack-dab in the middle of high density neighbourhoods and both are intense employment centres. How cool would that be?

Jason Leach was born and raised in the Hammer and currently lives downtown with his wife and children. You can follow him on twitter.

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By schmadrian (registered) | Posted January 10, 2007 at 11:36:48

Diggin' this issue... You guys are putting some admirable energies and thoughts into RTH... Big 'ups' to you all.

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By seancb (registered) - website | Posted January 10, 2007 at 19:35:33

I would LOVE to see some sort of gondola/sky train or even an incline railway at James St. Heck even a ski lift would be better than nothing. The upper and lower sections badly need such a link. If only we'd stop wasting money on such things as a cloverleaf at clappisons corner. Ugh.

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By Dundas1 (anonymous) | Posted January 17, 2007 at 14:45:03

Apparently the city is going to run the municipal golf courses and ski areas. I thought it was always city property? They should make Chedoke into three 9 hole courses upgrade them and use the profits on running the ski hill in the winter and other activities. Give us something to do and somewhere to go.

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