Raise the Hammer

As a lifelong Hamiltonian, I completely agree with Paul's musings. It's always nice to see "transplants' to our city that get it and appreciate it and its history.

I fear that reading those books I get a huge feeling of depression and not outrage. I've lived here all my life and perhaps I have a terrible case of Hamiltonitis. I wish I could find the cure.

I'll never forget stumbling upon a copy of "Prints of Hamilton" on my mom's shelf many years ago. It was fascinating and depressing to see what we'd lost in such a short time. A dozen or so similar retrospective books later, I felt it necessary to pack them up and fire them into the closet, lest I slash my wrists because of it all. ;-)

Naturally, it's important that people understand the history of their city, architectural or otherwise, so as to have a greater appreciation for what they have. If more people did that in Hamilton, we might not be in the situation we're in, losing our built heritage faster than we can save it.

Well much as I don't agree with a word of this, I hope you can keep saying it and hope that people can tolerate the different point of view.

A few points.

There is a lot to bring people downtown - there is the market and main library for one, which you even talk about in your post! There is dining with a variety and quality that simply isn't available anywhere else in the city, there is the AGH (and the private galleries), Copps, Hamilton Place and the convention centres. There is City Hall, both YM and YW (I suppose there's always the mountain or Flamborough Y, but for most people that's more of a trek than downtown). Those are many of the reasons I come east to downtown at least once a week. Let alone that I used to come downtown five days a week to work! Lots of people still work downtown and we all hope that the number will continue to increase. For employers it's the most convenient place to locate.

Most of the people I know who don't go downtown often, don't refrain because of traffic or parking or any of that stuff. They don't go downtown because they prefer to stay in their own areas, or downtown doesn't offer what they need. People prefer to shop and have fun in their own neighborhoods - I prefer to stay in the McMaster area, Ainslie Wood and Westdale because it's closer for me. The key for downtown is to allow it to build attractions that don't exist elsewhere - and that means supporting a vital community of merchants and businesses downtown, and supporting downtown residents. Let's listen to what they want for their neighbourhood, shall we?

No one blames 100% of downtown decline on one way streets, just as no one credits 100% of the slow revival of James Street to two-way conversion. But there is plenty of evidence that it's a factor, it's a factor under our control, and two-way conversion, let's face it, is what most people downtown seem to want.

There never were a lot of parking spots on York near the market and library and now there are exactly none and the traffic is worse. How does this attract anyone new to the core.

There are a lot of spots on York in front of Copps and now parking spots on Park St come right to York, further than before. I was on York last week and looked down the street and was thrilled with all the people walking on both sides of the road and enjoying the nice weather. It felt like a real city street for the first time in my life. The very last thing we need to worry about in Hamilton is where cars will park downtown - York has a massive parkade with dirt cheap rates. Ditto for the underground at Jackson Square. And in case you've never opened Google maps, go check out downtown Hamilton and look at the surface parking. 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.

Right on about the parkade, which EVERYONE knows about. I basically never drive downtown (HSR is too convenient) but we used to quite a bit and always used the parkade. Never without a spot.

As for a lack of parking, I can sympathize with someone who bemoans the lack of free parking downtown - malls have free parking, for example. But there is never a lack of parking. Of the dozens of downtown lots, there are only ever a handful that are full even at 1pm on a weekday. Most are half-empty.

Yeah, I'll beg to differ a bit on this one. Periodically on a lunch hour, I'll go into downtown Hamilton (from Burlington) for whatever reason. But, usually it involves a trip to Jackson, government office, whatever. I'm always surprised at how many people are down there (contrary to popular belief) and parking isn't a breeze. I've never gone without finding something -- and, I'm more than happy to walk a bit, provided I've got the time -- but, thankfully (I guess), I don't usually see half-empty lots that are open for public parking.

I guess I must be blind. I drove on York and did not see a single parking spot on the street between Bay and James. I will have another look sometime.

between Bay and Park there are several spots, and they have their own bumpouts to provide separation between the parking spots and the bike lanes. Also, a whole pile of new street parking spots were added on York between Caroline and Bay as part of the streetscaping plan. I was glad to see some of that mega-freeway calmed and converted to street parking.

How on Earth did you miss the gigantic parking garage on your left as you neared James Street? It looms RIGHT OVER THE STREET!

I was talking specifically about street parking. You know where I can just pull over and jump out and get in quick, the most attractive parking spots.

It's not the lack of parking that is claimed...it's the lack of "free" parking.

The provision of parking spaces by business proprietors is an expected norm in the age of the big box. And this norm is only possible within single use spaces (e.g. malls, plazas and the like).

However, as its often stated, there is not such a thing as a free lunch. You pay for the parking in the cost of the things you buy, and the precariousness of their low-wage, low-margin business model.

Is it any wonder why when the big chains, or even the mall stores get just a smidgen of extra competition, they very quickly become bankrupt? Without massive subsidies from the rest of the retail operation, and ridiculously low land costs from building outside of urban areas, providing this "free" parking just isn't sustainable for very long.

A couple of trams, a couple of autos and horse wagon. Is this really what you aspire to?

Ummm, yes. Human beings on the sidewalk allow for a successful business district, not cars flying by to the suburbs. It's not rocket science. Remember, people have money in their pockets. Vehicles don't.

Let's assume that the city put a freeze on new developments in the hopes of making Hamilton like Manhattan, would this actually work, or would it simply drive people to places like Milton?

It wouldn't work to make Hamilton like Manhattan, nothing would. So that's a silly thought. And freezing new development won't work either; there are a lot of developing neighborhoods in the newer developments that are underserved. You can't blow those people off, it's unfair.

(NOTE: This is different from a setting a firm urban boundary, which does make sense; this is different from freezing new development)

In all things, what is needed is balance. Quality development in all areas and all modes of living. Striving for equitable treatment and making sure that standards stay just as high (in its own way) for the East Mountain as the West Lower City.

it worked in portland when they froze their urban boundary many years ago. Let me clarify: it didn't turn the city into Manhattan, but it made it more livable, walkable and along with LRT and mixed-use zoning it helped to bring vitality back into the city.

Hamilton could do the same, but we won't...the old boys club reigns supreme.

Yes, I think.

The reason I ask, is because I have been doing a lot of walking recently. My most recent routes have been on the mountain. Not very enjoyable. It's got neither the tranquility of the country, or the vitality of the city.

In contrast, the downtown, while poorer, at least offers some eye candy. Old buildings, run down buildings, interesting looking folks.

I agree with your observations. Walking gives a great perspective on ones surroundings. you can really see the potential downtown on foot IMO.

Indeed. I can walk around the Strathcona, Durant and Corktown neighbourhoods for hours. The West mountain? The Stoney Creek mountain? No.

The suburbs and the city are very different things. Hamilton is an OK suburb. It's a pretty good city.

People who want suburbs can go all sorts of places to find them - Hamilton offers some of the cheaper ones, not some of the better ones.

But when it comes to cities, well - Hamilton only has some much competition. And, as most people here on RtH must surely believe, it's a pretty good city, despite its problems.

check out how much a nice 3-4 bedroom home with a decent sized lot and in great condition costs downtown (west of Wellington I'm talking) compared to the new homes on the south mountain, meadowlands or stoney creek. The sheer number of half million + homes and $300k + condos downtown is testament to the desirability to live here.

Reasonable post from A Smith. IT'S A TRAP!

I found the "lack of people in the streets comment" somewhat amusing, when you consider there were no burbs back then, and most everyone lived in the core of city. Also, one must consider the popularity and affordability of the automobile back then. The comparison to the 60s and 70s is ridiculous, IMO.

Also, it's just one picture that could have been taken very early on a Sunday, or some such circumstance. To draw conclusions from the one picture and compare it to the highway versions of the one ways of the 60s and 70s? I don't see the logic at all.

People in the downtown streets?

I think that you are not really finding evidence of success. The entire gist of your argument seems to be that you don't see enough people in old photos. I don't think that would hold up in the lab for evidence. There has been loads of articles and studies that show a wide array of things need to be incorporated for a successful downtown. Two way conversion, mixed use, density of living, transit, etc. It can't be single use (i.e highway) or it will fail and it has. I don't see the evidence of a failure in the past reading the retrospective books. Even after 1930 when things moved heavily towards industry, they still had vibrancy.

Meanwhile, in Toronto...

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/nati...

Interesting that these "urban big boxes" have been set up without any surface parking, without multi-lane traffic arteries funneling consumers to them, and with a little bit of deviation from the traditional model in order to meet the needs of their neighbourhoods. A lot like Kresge's and Woolworth's used to do.

This notion that "everyone wants to live in suburbs and drive cars" is just as ridiculous as the notion that "everyone wants to live in high-rises and take buses". Different strokes for different folks. Hamilton seems to have catered only to the former in the last 60 years, and has lost out on the opportunities that other cities have had because of that sole focus on the suburban commuter and the automobile.

Comment edited by arienc on 2011-02-20 07:53:35

Great to see you published Paul, an interesting article!

I must come to Hamilton to see you.

You mean developer as in real estate? Not at all, I have now added 'web' to my profile. Still, it would be nice someday to work in the Hamilton area. Cheers.

@ arienc - Great article. I love reading stuff just like that.

Right back at ya...

A New Urban Village Is Set For The Etobicoke Waterfront:

http://www.nationalpost.com/homes/This+s...

Paul,

That was a great article and thank you for taking the time to write and post it.

I'm finding more and more that the folks who are passionate about what Hamilton and what it can become are people who were not born here. I see it on web-sites and in op-ed articles and letters to the editor in the Spectator. I'm a transplant here myself, although with 18 years in this city I can't call myself new anymore. We lived spread out between James and Sherman for 17 of those years and some Hamilton battle fatigue set in. Reading articles such as this written by those with fresh eyes for Hamilton refreshes my love for the city and restores my hope for the future of our home.

Apparently one or two above told this writer to go back where he came from. As we say in xlpjles, meg alle dumbkopfen tzu tea-party gayn tsu brainnocked biem concussion, es zolt bein farshur

I like the things Detroit is doing to instill some civic pride and to promote the rebirth of the city. I think we should do some things like this:

I nominate Defendor :)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1358778/RoboCop-statue-planned-fans-raise-50-000-Detroit-sculpture.html


Or a video like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJjMULMcS4k&playnext=1&list=PL42FE10190974EB8D