Comment 76866

By jason (registered) | Posted May 13, 2012 at 22:34:19

It's important to note that downtown Hamilton has seen some of the highest population growth numbers the past 2 censuses in the entire city. It has seen growth numbers that Hamilton usually only sees in greenfield areas where a past census tract had farmland, and now is covered in new homes. Downtown Hamilton is nothing like what has happened in Detroit or Buffalo. East of the core we are in rough shape, and I suspect will remain in rough shape until the one-way freeways are gone and new politicians with a bit of vision are in place...and I don't expect either for a long time.

But downtown Hamilton, despite little investment from the political end of things, is growing at a really good pace. And it was already the most densely populated part of the city. It'll be a lot more dense at the next census in 5 years. And imagine if by some miracle the next election saw someone with a huge vision for how great urban life could be in Hamilton voted in with aggressive plans for LRT, 2-way streets, business/patio friendly sidewalks, flexible zoning on historic properties, a huge greening of the entire city. Hamiltonians spoke many years ago and overwhelming voted for planting more trees as their number 1 priority in the Specs 'One Big Idea' campaign - again, lack of vision from the Hall has seen that mandate die off along with Vision 2020 and so many others.

Despite all of the obstacles, downtown is looking up. Sure the city has problems, but a Detroit or Buffalo we ain't. They would kill for our new food factories on the SE Mountain and the MIP etc..... it's a pretty good time in the Hammer.

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