Raise the Hammer

Coffee makes everything better!

absolutely.

Oh that looks nice so how about my neak of the wood Cumberland and beteen Sanford and Burris the life saver plant make it into a gym of some sort for the naybor hood around there

"Instead of demolishing this building in the usual Hamilton way, why not repurpose it with some creative, cool industries?"

Jason, you make it all sound so easy! Are you prepared to risk your own capital to bring these "cool industries" to town?

I'm kinda sad that this down voted.
It's a valid observation.

Screw that crap, your dismissal is as superficial as you accuse Jason of being. Other cities manage to do it and it's because they don't listen to squelchers that every city has that make excuses about how hard it is to restore a building.

Lots of old buildings right in Hamilton, right around the PW building on Barton, are being converted instead of demolished right now. All it takes is a bit of vision to see the potential in good old buildings. And it's not charity of socialism, it's good business, it pays well. Capitalism is supposed to be about investing in value.

I'm no building expert, but I'm pretty sure the cost to 'restore' metal warehouses isn't akin to the Lister Block. Check the photo tour I linked to from California - open, exposed beams, insulation on the interior of the roof, concrete floors etc.... this is pretty bare bones folks.
The vision is simply something I'm offering as an alternative to our usual program of demolishing and then trying to build the cheapest thing possible from scratch. This restoration concept wouldn't be overly expensive at all.

The PW building has an interesting material on the main floor: small hardwood blocks laid like paving stones.

Wow...great to know. I've never seen any photos of the inside. Do you have any, or know of anyone with some pics?

Personally, I'm always confused whether posts like this imply that the City of Hamilton should be restoring, or they're simply pointing out the potential to local private interests.

Also, what is the context of this post? Has the City expressed interest in demolishing this site?

I know that it was to be declared surplus at different points, possibly for use for Pan Am -but as far as I know there are still staff working there from PW & Public Health.

Sorry, my bad - yea, just making a suggestion for the future of the site because as far as I know, the city plans to demolish it as part of the Setting Sail redevelopment plan. Perhaps that has changed though? I've heard no new news on that front.

Yeah, I can't even figure out how old the building is:

The MPAC "Created" year of the 125 Barton property is 1979, but an environmental assessment there only states property, didn't exist there "before 1945", and a similar sized building being there in aerial photography in 1954.

Some points from what I found (your right about setting sail plan):

2012 - Public Health Services have non-clinical services (in a 700 sq ft portion of site) that could be moving to McMaster Downtown Health Campus

2010 - The property seemed to be pegged for Pan Am related use, there was also environmental concerns brought up by Matt Jelly after assessments done in 2009

May 2010:

"(g) That the City-owned real property assets property located at 125 Barton Street comprising an area of approximately 4.46 acres, which includes a storage warehouse (56,401 square feet) and a shop (10,113 square feet), be identified as surplus for the needs of the Public Works Department and that the real property be recognized as a strategic asset either for Pan Am-related development or other re- development opportunities in general, and that any proposed future use of this property be brought back to the appropriate Committee for consideration in accordance with existing policies."

Apr 2010:

"Market Value Assessment of 125 Barton (To be used for Pan Am Games) $1,000,000(revenue)"

"The 5-Yr Capital Requirements of 125 Barton: $2,156,952(avoidance)"

Setting Sail 2005:

"A.6.3.5.2.7 The City shall seek to relocate the Public Works facilities on Barton Street and Bay Street to allow the expansion, reconfiguration and improvement of Central Park. The adaptive re-use of all or a portion of the Barton Street Works building for recreational or other public uses shall be considered prior to demolition.

A.6.3.5.2.8 Subject to the relocation of the affected Public Works facilities, the City shall undertake to expand, reconfigure and improve Central Park as schematically shown on Schedule “M-2”. Any surplus lands created from the expansion and not required for street extensions may be sold for private residential development."

Higher quality 125 Barton St W image

Comment edited by MikeyJ on 2013-02-14 16:38:59

fantastic find!! I'm amazed and pleased to see they are recommending exploring it's re-use before demolition.