Raise the Hammer

Very sad, especially about the broken promises regarding affordable housing and incorporating heritage features. It really shows a lack of imagination on the part of the Diocese, and perhaps some disingenuousness.

They very much made the case for the demolition and reconstruction on the basis of the need for affordable housing and they were completely uninterested in any creative ways to incorporate the heritage building (even parts of it) into the new construction. This adaptive re-use is done in other cities all the time, and would likely be mandated for a building like this.

This is a prime example of why we should not believe any developer promises regarding affordable housing or heritage preservation unless these promises are legally binding. Their goal is to get what they want (i.e. demolish the heritage building). Once that's accomplishment, they'll do what they please.

I would have thought the Anglican Diocese would have higher standards and more regard for the community!

The Synod of the Diocese of Niagara and the Hamilton nonprofit corporation Options for Homes want to demolish All Saints Anglican Church on Queen Street South at King Street West to construct a 12-storey, affordable housing apartment. The main level would be used for worship and ministry by congregation members.

The town’s view is that the main level will house “commercial units”:

Options for Homes is proposing to build a 12 storey condominium on the site of the former All Saints Church property, located at 15 Queen Street South at the corner of King Street West and Queen Street South. The proposal is for 120 residential units with commercial units on the ground floor.

http://www.anglicansamizdat.net/wordpres...

So, somehow, a 12 storey affordable housing complex gets transformed into a 23 storey market-based development! Talk about bait and switch.

Does anyone know whether they will at least keep their promise to have commercial on the ground floor (which would be good for the street, especially with LRT coming), or is the ground floor commercial gone too?