Raise the Hammer

I don't know what to say other than it is frustrating to me as a resident to hear this, I can imagine being the store owner. My wife and I keep talking about opening a store as our plan to get me home and not commuting to Toronto but frankly I have zero faith in Hamilton's city government to risk it. Hats off to those trying and succeeding despite it.

It is getting harder and harder to fathom what this city is thinking during it's decision making processes. The citizens of this city are doing all they can to improve quality of life and make Hamilton into a world class city that people want to visit and live in. Too bad the city council will have none of that, and really seems to work counter-productive to that ideology. I am moving to Cranbrook BC in 2 months, I hope their city council isn't this ass-backwards!

Witness the inflexible stance the City took regarding their demand for an accessible washroom at my Hillbilly Heaven on Upper James.

two councillors (Duvall & Farr) refused to help delay the demand - business was firced to close, costing the City 10 living wage jobs.

Utter nonsense

Agreed, the costs and requirements imposed on small business are ridiculous.

I'm not even sure why we need municipal accessibility bylaws anymore - isn't there a new provincial accessability law in place? Why do we have duplicate regulations?

Every single architect, small, private, developer, and independent business owner has told me of the problems they have faced trying to get things done through City Hall. Every. Single. One.

This either says I'm talking to too many complainers, or it indicates a pattern of behaviour on the part of the City Planning Department. I'm all for standards that enhance our quality of life through our built environment, including health and safety, but you really have to wonder why all the stories are the same. I'm not encouraging lowering our standards and accepting anything so long as it is investment, but I do think we need to figure out how to maintain high standards, promote investment, and achieve both as efficiently as possible.

In a town that claims "Open for Business", I really wonder if they have tried doing any "mystery shopping" to test what the experience really is like. They should. And surveying people is a non-starter because people are hesitant to complain as it may make the next project even harder to do.

It's interesting to see how the double standard plays out based on how many zeroes you put after your offer tot he city for permits and such. Throw enough zeroes in and we'll let you level half a city block (so long as no one is watching). But try to run a small business that many folks in town actually welcome and like, and we'll come down on you like a tonne of bricks.

Is there any way of determining if someone with deep pockets is angling for that property? I'm willing to admit I'm probably talking out of my posterior, but when I hear that a small business like The Burrito Boys (whom I frequent) is being picked on by the City, all I can think is, 'who stands to gain?'.

Also, not sure if anyone has any information on this, but do they have any more tables/chairs now?

I went with some of my friends a few months back (okay, maybe 6 months) and there were about 10 of us, and we pushed nearly every table in the restaurant together so we could all sit together.

The restaurant seemed to have room for a lot more tables and seats than what was in there, most of the floor was just empty space, something I commented on before I left, suggesting they should get more tables (I can't imagine how busy it must get at lunch).

Anyways, I'm wondering first if they have more tables and chairs, and second, if they haven't, could it be because a city bylaw is restricting the amount of seating they can have based on the parking available (or some other similarly stupid requirement?).

How do all the gaudy yellow signs, flimsy banners, and building-covering panels on various other downtown businesses fit "heritage"?

Yet if you don't have enough glass on an otherwise classy and attractive frontage, you're under scrutiny?

Sure, it's ridiculous that someone with a physical disability should have access to washroom facilities.

They likely all pre-date the guidelines so they were grandfathered in. It's because of abuses like those of previous rules that these guidelines exist.

You're probably right.

This city is still run by a bunch of yokels. Waiting for a new guard to come in at city hall. The downtown core is SO LUCKY to have an influx of passionate, urbane small entrepreneurs and the hicks running this city are penalizing them, and throwing up more hurdles. WTF?

Burrito Boys is the anchor restaurant that the Gore Park strip needed. Thanks, dudes! Love your fish burritos and love the fact you've inspired other purveyors of non-cruddy food that yes: if you build it, diners will come!

Building standards should be more about the state of repair of the building then the materials used, but I will agree in principal on a material use standard. I mean, I don't think many here would object to a ban on aluminum siding for a facing (see 170 King St E) or a restriction for no more then 50% stucco.

However, it has to make sense. 80% glass is idiotic! Even more so in an area littered with predominant brick facing. What if I want to open a restaurant with privacy? What if I want counter-top sitting Windows like Burrito Boyz? It's asinine and ridiculous.

Comment edited by -Hammer- on 2013-07-25 19:07:34

This is just another in a long line of people who are being picked on by the bullies of the city. Is it the mafia? Is city hall just justifying their existence by hitting someone who can't hit back. They quake in their boots at the likes of Vranich and BBS, but the little guy gets screwed.

On a side note, I am fining this Amy Kennedy who wrote this article becoming the heir apparent to Paul Wilson as far as Urban issues are concerned. The Spec would be wise to give writers like this free reign to pursue this kinds of stories.

I read an earlier article from her:


http://www.thespec.com/news-story/3845098-fire-code-shortfalls-prompt-hamilton-hostel-to-cut-capacity/

Oooops, that should say Kenny, not Kennedy. Stupid spell check.

Everyone knows that there is no point trying to work with the City. The unspoken rules are:

1. If you are a small business owner or resident, your best bet it to forget about going to the City for any kind or approval or permit. Just go ahead with your plans and hope that nobody complains. If there is a complaint, you're screwed because you don't have any money or resources to fight it, and you're not going to win anyway - apologize, feign ignorance and cut your losses before enforcement gets involved.

2. If you are a greenfield home builder. No worries, the whole system is set up for you. As long as you pay lip service to whatever application you're making and pay the fees, all clear.

3. If you are a large developer - take the same approach as small business and residents. Just do what you're going to do regardless of what the City says. If the City raises a stink - you know its just a bluff - tell the City to go play hide and go fuck yourself, then play the economy and jobs card. As long as you have the money and resources to fight city hall for a while, by the time they get around to enforcement your project will be done and you can point at is and tell everyone how great it is. Oh and then you can get some grants too.

Let's all be honest though. The city does have a point. Burrito Boyz isn't really blending in with the general vibe along King Street:

http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/news/topsto...

http://www.homefinder.ca/system/listing_...

http://sphotos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak...

http://www.frwy.ca/wp-content/uploads/20...

http://metronewsca.files.wordpress.com/2...

I'm sure if the Boyz just add more ugly banners and boarded up windows they wouldn't get hassled at all. Perhaps they should get a huge 'Money Mart' banner made up and keep it handy for whenever a city official is planning to visit. Just hang that up on the facade for a few hours and all will be fine.

Comment edited by jason on 2013-07-25 23:04:39

people are hesitant to complain as it may make the next project even harder to do.

This is a problem. This type of bureaucratic nonsense drives me nuts. I listened to some involved folks on CHML today to hear how the city has been "flexible". Come on...look at that storefront compared to so many other's in the core. Stop it, and leave them alone. Wait, no...give them a patio and picnic tables in the Gore. Encourage the folks doing good work to do good work and others will follow.

So who is making these decisions? I suspect they're not elected... can council "direct" city manager, planning, bylaw enforcement and the like? It's been stupid like this as long as I can remember, how do we change it?

Indeed! It's horrific and embarrassing. And weird. I think it's bizarre that all we can get going on on these blocks is Dollar Stores, Money Marts and Government Buildings. This should be prime real estate, and the heart of the Hammer.

We should be wining and dining A list retailers by selling them on our heritage value.
We should be offering tax breaks, grants and flexibility to folks who are committed. We should be helping the Variety Store and the Pizza Place fit in without driving them away. We should encourage the small businesses who will be the agents of change. Heritage grants are a good start, but I think we need to be actively selling and overcome the corrupt, difficult image that we have. We need to be enforcing the worst offenders, and ensure the buildings in the downtown core don't deteriorate and are fully utilized. Stop rewarding empty buildings and parking lots.

Curious how/why nobody tipped them to the requirement when they were getting the permits to change the facade. Post-reno, the space was fitted with a glass curtain wall and two access doors, which presumably would have satisfied the city requirement.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Victoria_hall_view_south.jpg

2006:

“The most exciting by far, is the long-awaited redevelopment of the Victoria Hall and Foster-MacKay buildings on the south leg of the Gore. These buildings are brilliant and Victoria Hall is a national historic site with its metal façade. With lofts and live/work units, this building will be a fast seller and a huge success.”

http://raisethehammer.org/article/259/article/259/article/217


2007-2011:

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=143106

2008:

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showpost.php?p=3321015&postcount=1

Committee chair Bob Bratina said he is pleased with the report, but that some of the key recommendations on homelessness, street people and panhandlers still need much more discussion.

"We haven't finished our work because we still want to meet with social services and discuss matters raised with regard to those agencies."

Bratina hopes to bring the report forward to council by the end of February.

Some key recommendations:

Physical environment

* Develop a more proactive property standards enforcement program.

* Aggressively enforce downtown property standards.

* Police and property standards inspectors should respond quickly to complaints.

* Make James Street North a priority for complaints about bars for three months.

* Update property standards rules to include "perception" issues such as replacing broken windows with windows, not boarding them up.

* Identify shoddy facades and encourage owners to use money from available programs to fix them.

* More garbage cans in high litter areas.

* Hire street youth and homeless people to clean streets similar to program in Victoria, B.C.

* Get businesses to wash down their sidewalk twice a day and clean windows.

* Speed up replacement of broken street lights.

* Continue lighting alleys, especially in James Street North neighbourhoods.

* Trim more trees to increase lighting.

From the murky depths of City Hall...

If you read the article, then you'll see they state that they "were aware of the glazing requirement (which falls under downtown heritage character guidelines) when they began renovations, but they were also trying to match the look of Burrito Boyz locations throughout Toronto."

Your reputation may precede you Cameron. Try attracting more flies with honey instead of bad racial stereotype "jokes" and confederate flags. The victim thing is a risky play too, which I don’t think has been working for you. Has it?

Comment edited by Kiely on 2013-07-26 11:17:46

I'm wondering who is to be wined and dined and who is picking up the tab?

I think this has more to do with the unelected mandarins than it does the elected doofuses.

Sometimes in this city you have to laugh to keep from crying... unbelievable how we are essentially a beggar of a city yet cityhall acts like some sort of despot king ("I tax you for not enough glass!")... until a big enough player comes along and then we revert to the fool.

Cityhall sure does love playing the tough versus the little guys though.

Is that the same heritage value you keep arguing we should allow Wilson-Blanchard to demolish at 18-28 King Street East?

I've never argued that. I'm all for saving those buildings or at least the streetwall. I've argued that the buildings are in much worse shape than folks think, and that the current owners aren't as bad as they've been characterized.

This is dysfunctional bureaucracy at its finest. Burrito Boyz looks like a terrific addition to the community, despite not being a big bucks developer. Sounds like the City needs a bit of a shake up to make the rules make sense and to operate fairly and even handedly. Just sayin'

I don't want to derail this thread, but all things I've mentioned are published quotes from involved parties. Because you are not aware of the details of a private real estate deal does not mean they don't exist. You prove nothing with the absence of information. If you want to talk about "fear mongering" and "concern trolling" you are one raising the alarm and passing out pitchforks due to your own ignorance. You are preventing progress and investment in an important part of the city because you are not aware of the details.

Enough is enough indeed.

it's amazing that people will fall for the same lines over and over again. We were told 10 years ago that "Lister was structurally unsound and needed to come down".

When will people stop believing what they read in the paper and use their noggins??

Just because someone said it doesn't make it true. Architects and developers who HAVE fixed up old buildings in worse shape than these have said that they are not at risk of collapse. No one has actually said that they are structurally unsound. The owners have used generic terms such as "done". Very clever, since a thrid party analysis could easily turn them into liars if they outright announced that they were structurally unsound. You can infer "imminent collapse" if you like, but when a land speculator claims that a building is "shot" I'm going to treat that quote for what it is: the opinion of a layman who places the value of an empty lot higher than the value of a heritage building.

He tried the victim thing in Burlington...opened...and closed 2 stores there...Burlingtonians don't buy it...so he fled to Hamilton where racial stereotypes, flags, victim thingys go over better there....he will do anything to flog his crap...even offend people and their taste buds....

I don't. But then that's probably because it never happened. The James St. buildings that came down were not part of the Lister, were of an older construction, and unlike the buildings on the Gore, had actually been declared unsound by engineers.

Oh yeah, and the Balfour (also not part of the Lister) didn't collapse on its own. It was pushed.

At least the payday loan/cheque cashing business in the ground floor space of Victoria Hall failed before the city could find them in contravention of design guidelines.