Raise the Hammer

The uncontroversial approach of converting Hamilton's side-streets back to 2-way would easily help this happen. Only the most hard-core of Hamilton's 1-way boosters demand that the city's non-truck-route secondary roads stay 2-way. There's just a lack of political will at City Hall to change, say, Bold Street to 2-way.

And yes, City Hall needs to cut away the piles of red tape, or we need to cut away the piles of flab at City Hall.

I live not far from that intersection at Peter and Locke and would love to see a small business there! We need to think about how we want our neighbourhoods to look, feel, and function, and then implement the tools to get there. (I love the idea of revamping the zoning model entirely.) We need to not be content to say "this is the way we've always done things."

Not sure if you were at the public meeting about the Strathcona plan, but almost everyone there agreed that a small business would be great at that corner. All of my Peter St neighbours agreed too. The only ones who disagreed were city staff. Hence, we have an empty space with mattresses leaning against the window. Even after the meeting they refused to recognize the commercial component there and said instead that if someone wants to open a business they need to go through a full rezoning application, thereby killing any chance of a small ice-cream operator opening up. That's a lot of ice cream sales to justify a $15,000 zoning application plus architect fees etc.....

Vision+Leadership. Almost non-existent here.

Comment edited by jason on 2013-07-02 13:55:07

I think that's the real shame in all of this - that a building is going to lie empty and useless rather than be redeveloped because the costs of jumping through the hoops that the city itself has put up, are prohibitive for most people.

With the zoning of 4 stories building is going to take away of green space ... if the city lets poeples to built high rise in the core were well off .becaus we will need to many 4 stores building to accom more poeples

Buffalo has a guy like Eddie Friel. Hamilton has a bunch of career politicians who would have great difficulty in finding gainful employment anywhere but in their current positions.

There is a reason they never leave of their own accord! Unfortunately, them leaving on others accord happens very infrequently and at a glacial speed.

We also love Buffalo and have been in this neighbourhood a few times over the last few years. It has the kind of feel that Bloor St has: lots of people out and about, a major thoroughfare but also a small neighbourhood feel. Hamilton could definitely learn from what they are doing there. Thanks for sharing the Green Code info.

Have you also heard about Buffalo's plan for reclaiming abandoned homes slated for demolition? It's amazing. Here is a blog about a couple who are rebuilding one such home: http://unbreakmyhouse.wordpress.com/

Are city staff the slightest bit embarrassed or apologetic about these things or do they simply not get it?

Maybe a bit hyperbolic but, "I was just following orders."

Buffalo is amazing. We venture down there almost monthly, in fact.

There are a number of great neighbourhoods in the city, in addition to Elmwood: Allentown/Allen Street (historic district with galleries, a gay section, historic homes), BlackRock (an old part of the city which is seeing a rebirth), Hertel (some great stores, the road needs some calming), and even downtown (pockets of activity). Then there are some historic townships outside of the city, such as East Aurora, which are wonderful.

Definitely pay the city a visit. It is really worth it.

Wow...just took a few streetview tours around Black Rock. Def want to check it out. Again, impressed with the 24-7 parking, and new sidewalk trees at the curb.

http://goo.gl/maps/B5Jtz

Apparently some great new eateries have opened up along Amherst recently. Thx for the tip.

Yes Allen St is great...Hertel seems like it's coming around. Only been there a couple times. Never been to Black Rock. I'll have to check it out.

I also neglected to mention the burgeoning West Side, such as the Lafayette/Ferry stretch (I am unsure if there is a name for that area), Five Points and Connecticut Streets. The area is blossoming into a wonderful multicultural scene: Burmese, Ethiopian, etc. The Grant stretch is particularly wonderful (and has one of our favorite coffee houses of all time: Sweetness 7).

Good luck.

This is just stupid. We need this type of investment in downtown neighbourhoods so badly. I would give a nut for a local ice cream/coffee place. Perhaps a Brazil nut, or a nice Hazel nut.

I own a property at the corner of Wilson and Victoria and have also run into the same high cost zoning challenges. My property also would make a great office and due to the busy traffic along Victoria, it makes it less suitable for a residence anyways! Get with it Hamilton!

Comment edited by PearlStreet on 2013-07-03 06:38:48

Hamilton is apparently moving in the direction of this, but where is the zoning laws at? Been waiting 10 years.

The prospect of being hanged focuses the mind wonderfully. From 2001-2011, Buffalo lost about as many residents as Hamilton gained during the 2001-2011 period, and saw its population cut in half in the half-century prior. Hamilton's growth is arguably an impediment to its evolution.

thank you for making this point. I used to think that we were blessed to not have faced the same near-collapse as Buffalo (and in theory I do believe it is a blessing to not have our city fall apart). But now I can't help but wonder if seeing our local economy completely decimated might be the only way to snap us out of the status quo. That, and amalgamation. I agree in principle with the concept, efficiencies and large-scale planning afforded by amalgamation, but I said in the late 90's that it would simply become a huge wall blocking any hopes of true urban revitalization in the old city. And here in 2013, that sentiment is proving 100% accurate. Whether it's LRT, or downtown complete streets, the suburban councillors block every initiative to invest in our poorest, oldest neighbourhoods. But they darn make sure that they get their freeways (suburban equivalent to LRT) and complete streets.

Unless the next generation of staff and council can come from folks not related to the current crop, we're probably stuck.

I believe Hamilton's 1950-2000 population trend is basically the flipside of Buffalo's during the same time. Seaway > Canal

Part of the solution is for city planners not to view zoning as hard, rigid lines but as soft, pliable lines intended to direct development rather than to impede or prevent it.