Revitalization

Farmers' Market Reno: Rendering and Reality

By Wayne MacPhail
Published February 09, 2011

Hamilton Farmers' Market reno: Rendering compared to Actual
Hamilton Farmers' Market reno: Rendering compared to Actual

I couldn't match the really wide angle of the original exactly. Mine is a composite of six images taken at the far northeast corner of the market.

This was first posted on Wayne's Flickr photostream

Wayne MacPhail has been involved in creating online community, collaboration, conversation since the early 1980s when he created the first hypermedia journalism in Canada. He is a former photographer and managing editor for Hamilton Magazine and a reporter and editor with the Hamilton Spectator. He went on to lead Southam Inc’s exploration of future information products at Southam InfoLab, and helped to design the first polypublishing toolset for newspapers in Canada. He then co-created a comedy site for AOL Canada that had a robust international community and fanbase.

Since then he has created online content for major online network players in Canada (including AOL, CANOE, MSN and Bell-Emergis). As Director of Content for Sympatico-Lycos he introduced rich content and powerful discussion forums for the cross-Canada site. Wayne has also launched discussion forums internal and externally for York University, Centennial College and the Alzheimer’s Society of Ontario (ASO). He teaches online journalism at the University of Western Ontario and Ryerson University and is a published playwright and book author.

Wayne is also an avid runner, cyclist, photographer, videographer and gardener and lives with his wife, Barb, on Ray Street North in Hamilton. He has his own emerging media consultancy, w8nc inc., whose clients include University of Toronto, McMaster University, Random House, The Association of Science and Technology Centres and the Association of Ontario Health Centres.

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By BeulahAve (registered) | Posted February 09, 2011 at 09:38:26

Very interesting. I have seen several references to meeting people under the Birk's clock, including Joe-Anne Priel's piece in The Spec today. While I love this idea, in actuality that area is rather hemmed in by market stalls. I am interested to see that the rendering you posted indeed shows this be a proper meeting space. Wonder what happened?

Comment edited by BeulahAve on 2011-02-09 09:42:27

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By Mark-Alan Whittle (anonymous) | Posted February 09, 2011 at 09:48:59

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By Tybalt (registered) | Posted February 14, 2011 at 01:03:59 in reply to Comment 59435

What do you mean? I thought this was a very clever photo/image.

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By seancb (registered) - website | Posted February 09, 2011 at 09:58:05

the clock looks weird there. I'd rather have the birks building back please birks http://www.flickr.com/photos/dieselthequ...

Comment edited by seancb on 2011-02-09 09:58:48

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By Peter (anonymous) | Posted February 11, 2011 at 06:51:02 in reply to Comment 59438

It's best not to look at old pics of downtown Hamilton. If you do, make sure to keep sharp objects out of reach...it's depressing :(

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By TnT (registered) | Posted February 10, 2011 at 00:38:42 in reply to Comment 59438

Or what about all those other buildings near the piggott?

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By MattM (registered) | Posted February 09, 2011 at 10:12:22

The clock looks so much bigger where it is now versus where it was at Jackson Square (or it's original location on the Birks building).

I am also really disappointed that it seems that the charging horses have already broken down. They weren't doing anything while I ate my lunch in the market yesterday. I hope they were just temporarily not working.

The lack of seating and space under the clock also sucks. I am betting it was all squished in as a last minute attempt to get more vendors in.

Comment edited by MattM on 2011-02-09 10:13:10

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By Robert D (anonymous) | Posted February 09, 2011 at 22:31:19 in reply to Comment 59439

What? The horses are broken already?

If that is true then I will be mightily disappointed...

Can we get a refund from whoever refurbished it?

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By Mogadon Megalodon (anonymous) | Posted February 09, 2011 at 10:25:18

My wish came true – and I appreciate the extra work of assembling a composite.

This is like one of those spot the difference puzzlers. Let me see…

• Knights restored to Birks Clock
• Clock mounted on its corner rather than one of its faces
• Globe lighting doubled in number, clustered mid-market rather than dispersed
• Market stall wedged under stair landing
• Natural concrete rather than designer grey paint job except on stars and as in corrective application on the mid-point of that half-red pillar (not pictured)
• Elevator uses less glass, and opts for smoked glass
• White metal cafeteria-style seating rather than cafe seating and green/pink chairs (used in HPL in white version)
• Hot pink not a visible design component of HPL palette
• Introduction of Nessman workspace demarcation lines
• Lamentable lack of Mount Lefroy

That said, it's a rendering.

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By jtraf (anonymous) | Posted February 09, 2011 at 11:00:42

This website is filled with fussy, hyper-critical bloggers who complain about everything that is happening in this city even the tables at the market.

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By Mogadon Megalodon (anonymous) | Posted February 09, 2011 at 13:27:10 in reply to Comment 59441

My observation wasn't intended as a complaint, more a "spot-the-difference" diversion. I guess I need to sprinkle more emoticons around. ;)

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By jason (registered) | Posted February 09, 2011 at 11:09:38

great photos Wayne. I saw this on your twitter account yesterday and loved it. I really like the new market, and while trying to describe the new seating area to a friend I was meeting for coffee the other day I ended up saying "under the big Birks clock". What I originally thought was a cliche statement being used by the designers of the new space is actually quite accurate. I love the open, airy feel of the space and new layout which is much more streamlined and allows for more vendors. And as someone who has enjoyed the new seating area twice now I can say that it is plenty big and doesn't feel cramped in the slightest. There is also a seating area over by the market office, and by the NW entrance to the market. Some stalls also have their own seating - Hero Cafe, Julia Serna coffee etc.... More seating is coming to the upper level as well. I'm amazed that an old parking garage feels like a welcoming, bright space now. Kudos to everyone involved.

It's not very often that a finished product even comes close to resembling a rendering. David Premi and his team did a great job. Cheers

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By opg (anonymous) | Posted February 19, 2011 at 18:37:30 in reply to Comment 59442

(it was never a parking garage, nor was it designed as one. the market was in a parking garage before the new market was built which was located due east on york where the eaton centre is now located.)

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By Pxtl (registered) - website | Posted February 09, 2011 at 11:16:22

Too bad about the layout of the booths. I went with my wife this weekend and we were surprised to find so few ready-to-eat food vendors around the food-court-y parts. I assume all that last minute jockeying for position led to some unfortunate compromises.

edit: anybody know where the somosas went?

Comment edited by Pxtl on 2011-02-09 11:16:38

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By MattM (registered) | Posted February 09, 2011 at 11:23:40

Sensational Samosa will be in the glassed-in part along York Blvd. They are still setting up.

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By z jones (registered) | Posted February 09, 2011 at 11:37:07

One of those cases where the finished space looks even better than the rendering - awesome work to the architect and the builders!

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By NortheastWind (registered) | Posted February 09, 2011 at 18:49:51

Growing up I was always proud that my father was the electrician who wired the Birks clock after it was put onto the building that replaced the Birks building. That was back in the 70's.

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By MattM (registered) | Posted February 09, 2011 at 23:54:53

I thought it was moved to the cement column at Jackson Square when the Birks building was demolished?

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By Steve (registered) | Posted February 10, 2011 at 07:52:31

We looked for the samosas as well, and were told glassed in area. The problem electricity to run equipment and plumbing for sink to appeasenthe health dept. Complete cluster f@#k. I wouldn't hold you breath.

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By opg (anonymous) | Posted February 19, 2011 at 18:40:57 in reply to Comment 59479

actually, there were never supposed to be stands in that area, which is why there is not electrical service and plumbing for stands there. if you don't know the whole story, don't assume everyone is an idiot. you know what they say about assuming?

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By Mogadon Megalodon (anonymous) | Posted February 10, 2011 at 10:54:33

Related bit from the NYT last week:

“You can take the most random rendering and just stick in a few people — someone listening to an iPod, somebody reading a newspaper, maybe a couple holding hands, some guy playing an acoustic guitar. Suddenly it’s meant to make the entire building beyond critique; it’s already part of our city.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/06/magazine/06fob-consumed-t.html

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By hmag (anonymous) | Posted February 10, 2011 at 11:04:01

MattM said: I thought it was moved to the cement column at Jackson Square when the Birks building was demolished?

http://www.hauntedhamilton.com/disappearinghistory/dh_7_birks.html

I remember reading somewhere it did have a home on the building built on the Birks site for a short while and then moved over to Jackson Square shortly thereafter...

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By Mogadon Megalodon (anonymous) | Posted February 10, 2011 at 17:51:32

Noticed: The clock seems to have had its "Birks" faces replaced during repairs. Maybe they were hoping to sell naming rights. ;)

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By Mogadon Megalodon (anonymous) | Posted February 10, 2011 at 17:54:21 in reply to Comment 59536

Before: http://www.hamiltonhistory.ca/graphics/birks-clock.jpg

After:
http://www.dpai.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Birks-clock-installed.jpg

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By Rich (anonymous) | Posted February 10, 2011 at 20:25:58

I was there today, impressed, and the horses were working :)

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By MattM (registered) | Posted February 10, 2011 at 21:26:59

Glad to see they were working again :)

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By Peter (anonymous) | Posted February 11, 2011 at 06:46:06

The market looks great, particularly the clock. In fact, it alone could draw countless more people downtown; I've never seen it look so fantastic.

Thanks for posting the pics!

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By Malex (anonymous) | Posted February 11, 2011 at 09:27:18

My wife and I took our daughter to the market yesterday and she was mesmerized by the charging knights, just stood there watching them...wonder if we can get a smaller version for our house?! lol...

It is a gorgeous addition to the downtown landscape and should fare better not being exposed to the elements...

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By Gore-d (anonymous) | Posted February 12, 2011 at 14:26:10

I remember seeing a rendering where the Birks Clock was actually encased. Thank goodness that never happened.
Despite the narrow aisles, the reno'd market is fantastic! And has created quite a buzz around this part of downtown. Wish I could say the same for Gore Park.

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By opg (anonymous) | Posted February 19, 2011 at 18:43:05 in reply to Comment 59642

that's actually the reason the clock was moved from the location in the rendering to the new location is that it could be reached by people from the staircase.

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By jason (registered) | Posted February 13, 2011 at 08:54:27

Hopefully more young people and young families will continue to patronize the market. I've seen a marked increase in this demographic so far. Some of the old folks aren't returning because "they don't like it" or "it was better the old way". Some stalls are feeling the pinch already of losing their longtime customer base....one can't help but feel that we are slowly turning the corner in Hamilton to the point where the next generation will have more influence instead of people who actually enjoyed walking around in dark, dirty parking garages.

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By A Smith (anonymous) | Posted February 13, 2011 at 10:57:14 in reply to Comment 59680

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By Tybalt (registered) | Posted February 14, 2011 at 01:08:26 in reply to Comment 59687

This continual ranting about other posters and what they should and should not be doing is becoming more than a bit tiresome.

The Internet Tough Guy speak, though, is just laughable. You're a tough guy, Internet Tough Guy.

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By A Smith (anonymous) | Posted February 14, 2011 at 12:12:31 in reply to Comment 59724

What lefties should be doing is going to the Mayor's office and demanding that the the WH gets cleaned up and LRT gets built all across this city.

What lefties should not be doing is whining to each other about how unfair life is and then taking their frustration out by downvoting non-leftie view points.

I have recently cited the fact that NYC and Portland have far more net debt than Hamilton does and yet both of those cities seem to be thriving. Why not take that info and include pictures/videos of the lively Portland/NYC street life and get the mayor to back your vision.

If you can convince the Mayor and council that they shouldn't be afraid of the upfront costs of LRT, then why wouldn't they endorse it? They are politicians and they want to get votes.

Tell these politicians that during WWII Canada took on massive amounts of debt and yet during the next two decades the economy performed great. The debt didn't hurt the economy going forward, it helped it.

That's your goal, to convince the Mayor and council, that we need more debt, not less. If you need help in doing so, I am here for you with lots of stats.

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By TnT (registered) | Posted February 13, 2011 at 10:17:22

I think the new market is better than the old locale, but it was actually better in the Jackson square locale with more diversity and wider isles. Not to mention seating. There is very limited seating. Bright, shiny and new yet it somehow feels a tad uninviting. Been to similar markets in Ottawa and Winnipeg and this is a pale comparison to them. Sorry, but that was my impression.

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By MattM (registered) | Posted February 18, 2011 at 10:41:33

I wish the cafe had more of a selection of food. I enjoy going there at lunch to eat, but I often walk away very hungry still.

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By TnT (registered) | Posted February 21, 2011 at 12:13:59

I guess it is just me beating the ole diversity drum. By isolating the market after it has been connected with the rest of the mall and city for two years is kind of a shame. Same with the new library. Both kind of act to make the rest of the mall and library look shit.

I know that isn't fair to some degree, but it just seems we waited such a long time for this and the initial opening needed to blow us away and I think everyone will agree it didn't.

Thats a real shame.

Again sorry for the dump on the city. Maybe I shouldn't look at old picture books of Hamilton and read urban renewal books before posting.

Comment edited by TnT on 2011-02-21 12:14:35

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By mystoneycreek (registered) - website | Posted February 21, 2011 at 15:20:08

Collated comments, a quick dip into one vast sea of a particular POV:

"...one can't help but feel that we are slowly turning the corner in Hamilton to the point where the next generation will have more >influence instead of people who actually enjoyed walking around in dark, dirty parking garages."

"Anyone who says they won't come downtown because of a lack of parking is lying, and if they stay home that's just fine with me."

"Remember, people have money in their pockets. Vehicles don't."

There's almost too much to work with here.

Comment edited by mystoneycreek on 2011-02-21 15:24:16

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By Anon (anonymous) | Posted March 11, 2011 at 11:50:57

Why is it called a 'Farmers Market'? From what I have seen there are no vendors who are actual farmers, growers or producers. they're just resellers. I would frequent the 'market' more often if it provided local meats and produce from farmers and provided something different than my local supermarket.

I think Hamilton missed an opportunity to re-brand the 'farmers market' as something new and different. it just received a facelift (although it does look prettier now).

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