Raise the Hammer
Letter states that LRT will help attract new residents and investors, curb sprawl, improve transportation choice and develop the city's diverse economy.
By RTH Staff
Published June 16, 2016
Michael St. Jean, team leader and vice president of Team St. Jean Realty Inc, has written a letter to Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger and City Council calling on them to reaffirm their support for the city's light rail transit (LRT) plan.
The letter states that the Realtors "throw our full support behind" the plan, in light of their years of experience studying Hamilton's real estate market trends. It notes that LRT will attract new investors to the downtown, reduce suburban sprawl and providing better transit options to residents and business commuters, while further developing Hamilton's economy and making Hamilton a more attractive city.
It concludes that the disruption and inconvenience of the construction phase are "short-term at best, while the benefits of LRT will last the city for decades to come."
Following is the text of the letter:
Dear Mayor Eisenberger and members of Council,
As a proud member of the city of Hamilton, St. Jean Realty has been honoured to play a role in the revitalization and the development of our thriving and growing community. Recently, however, reports regarding Hamilton's Light Rail Transit Initiative have left us concerned.
Over the years, we have kept our pulse on the changes within the neighbourhoods, districts and businesses in our community. We understand the trends that impact the surrounding real estate and commercial market throughout Hamilton. It's with this knowledge and experience that we throw our full support behind Hamilton's Light Rail Transit Initiative.
Hamilton's LRT Initiative is a long-term improvement to the city. Further, it is one that the city desperately needs to continue to grow and expand. We strongly believe that it will have both a positive and long-lasting effect on Hamilton as a whole - more than enough to make the construction and expense worthwhile. To us, the benefits appear to be manifold. The LRT Initiative will:
Bring in additional investors to our downtown centre, thereby revitalizing it and making it more convenient for residents.
Curb urban sprawl, both improving upon the commerce within the center and protecting the local farmlands.
Reduce traffic, making business commutes easier and providing better transportation options to residents.
Of course, the LRT will require an upfront investment of time and money, but funding has been made available for the project through the province, and it will be a long-term investment in the future of the city. The LRT will encourage growth throughout Hamilton, It is a necessary improvement for a city that is poised to enter a new stage of development.
In recent years, Hamilton has been developing a strong and diverse economy that builds upon its once industrial roots. This economy can only be further developed through better efficiency and convenience. The LRT will improve upon the competitive nature of Hamilton compared to other large cities, drawing in both additional investors and new residents. The LRT represents a commitment to future growth and the ability to identify winning opportunities as they come.
We at St. Jean Realty sincerely believe that the LRT is the best option for the future of Hamilton and strongly urge the city leadership to accept the provincial funding of the LRT line. The minimal disruptions that construction and development may cause are short-term at best, while the benefits of the LRT will last the city for decades to come.
Michael St. Jean
Team Leader & Vice President
Team St. Jean/St. Jean Realty Inc
88 Wilson St. West, Ancaster, Ontario, L8G 1N2
By Kreskin (anonymous) | Posted June 16, 2016 at 09:40:48
You sure seem to know a lot. Care to share the winning numbers for this Friday's Lotomax?
By nobrainer (registered) | Posted June 16, 2016 at 09:41:24 in reply to Comment 119385
Smart, if you live downtown your opinion doesn't count because you'll benefit but if you don't live downtown your opinion doesn't count because you won't be affected.
By jason (registered) | Posted June 16, 2016 at 11:57:34
The parade of letters continues....
WON'T SOMEBODY THINK OF THE PAWNSHOPS AND CAR-WASHES??
By mdrejhon (registered) - website | Posted June 16, 2016 at 12:51:37 in reply to Comment 119385
"Surprisingly it will have no benefit to the Ancaster residents whatsoever."
"no benefit...whatsover?"
These are many substantial papers about this.
Comment edited by mdrejhon on 2016-06-16 12:53:41
By ref_erendum (registered) | Posted June 16, 2016 at 18:55:10 in reply to Comment 119406
No disrespect but there are a lot of papers on many projects here ( short for projections) And we have seen by the cost over run of $30 + million to renovate city hall, Falling brackets at Tim Hortons Field,and the litigation that will go on for years Lister Building lease and future purchase Needing additional lanes for the Red Hill Expressway, How much money do we allow these council members to throw away based on their crystal ball predictions. " Over time, incremental LRT extensions occur." We had a LRT system in Hamilton and it went nowhere it was called a trolley. So predictions like this is nonsense George Orwell has a better track record than City Council and the Mayor. "More jobs are coming to Hamilton, and the LRT helps in getting around." The bus's do a fine job now and with LRT will create more traffic congestion for emergency vehicles, snow removal, darts and even people wanting to get down town but are blocked by bike lanes and a trolley. Do you really think that easy boarding is a concern ?Until Hamilton has a 2500 per hour ridership this is another white elephant
By ref_erendum (registered) | Posted June 17, 2016 at 17:25:34 in reply to Comment 119386
60 00 00 00 00 00 00 Am I there yet oh bonus 00 Better buy the encore as well. ;-0)
By ref_erendum (registered) | Posted June 17, 2016 at 17:29:22 in reply to Comment 119387
Lets fix the deteriorating infrastructure before we put an old "NEW " trolley in the city. People are coming here not because of JOBS but because property is cheap. and this LRT is not going anywhere but east and west GO is still not keeping cars off the roads and I don't see and LRT doing the same . If anything Road Rage may be on the rise
By bobby2 (registered) | Posted June 18, 2016 at 12:24:28 in reply to Comment 119385
This project isn't scheduled to be live until at least 2024! Does anyone really think $1B is going to cover all the Capital cost? It's a fairy tale. Metrolinks says they will scale back the project if it's going to go over budget & you all know it will! What plans you see now will be much less in the future as construction starts in 2019! Once they start digging up the pathway, many horror stories will be told & delay, delay will occur! I realize my opinion doesn't fit the go-go trend of RTH but the cold hard truth is often hard to swallow for the see no evil, say no evil, hear no evil loyal troops!
By glend1967 (registered) | Posted June 19, 2016 at 06:43:29 in reply to Comment 119419
buddy..how many times do you need to be told the same stuff..lrt does not equal 1950s trolleys..the busses dont do a fine job..when is the last time you were on one?The city really has nothing to do with the construction..so lister etc dont enter into the equation..Darts..non issue...emergency vehicles..non issue..they can get on the tracks..so wont be any more trouble than any other part of the city..
By ref_erendum (registered) | Posted June 22, 2016 at 17:18:00 in reply to Comment 119466
Buses can be improved upon but to put back rails that we had before is a waste. To eliminate traffic through the core does not I repeat does not bring people down town. A rider ship of 400 per hour does not warrant wasting this kind of money and the expropriation of property is a waste of our tax dollars hmmm didn't we just buy back Scott Park? Everything mentioned simply gives a fine example of how council and the Mayors off ice is all over the place at least Mayor Victor Copps had a vision for this city. We have only regressed with this council and Mayor ! It's all smoke and mirrors and no real answers to this entire project . PS when there is a big snow fall I guess darts, and emergency vehicles are a non issue .
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