Raise the Hammer
Check out the newest Safeway grocery store being built in the heart of downtown Portland.
The Lovejoy: "a mixed-use, two-block project in the Pearl District with space to work, dwell and shop"
We need to see this sort of mixed-use, streetfront development in Hamilton in the upcoming years. We have far too many stand-alone buildings with huge streetfront parking lots in our urban neighbourhoods.
I've always wondered why we don't add residential and office space above our grocery stores - instant customers.
Can anyone say "Lister"?
By Dundas1 (anonymous) | Posted December 06, 2006 at 20:39:30
They have one of these mixed use buildings in North York, near Yonge and Sheppard. It's amazing. The supermarket is on the basement floor, there are shops on the 1st and second floor, a movie theatre on the 3rd, offices on the 4-6th floor and condos above that. The centre of the first 6 floors is open to the air and you can see people shopping on the bottom floor. If it was in Hamilton on Main and John, I would be first in line.
By jason (registered) | Posted December 06, 2006 at 22:03:42
Great observations Dundas1....Yonge and Sheppard - out in 'no-man's land' to some people, but guess why that was built there - the transit lines. Hamilton really needs to see Transit Oriented Development take hold, but of course, that can't happen until we have a transit system worth developing around. Watch for more on this important topic in the next issue of Raise the Hammer. Transit is the most cost-effective way of spurring economic development, not more roads.
Toronto has these buildings all over my new neighbourhood (St Lawrence Market) as well as other spots downtown.
My kids go to school on the first 2 floors of a co-op condo. Their playground is the community park on the Esplande. Our cinema is part of a shopping/condo complex, as is the community center.
It's a great use of space.
It took some getting used to at first. "Why isn't my kids school a separate building..." I wondered. It felt strange. But it makes sense, and it builds community. I love the fact that my neighbours all live, play, work and go to school right next to each other. It's healthy as well as practical.
Cheers
Ben
By jason (registered) | Posted December 07, 2006 at 10:45:24
not to mention safer....you don't have your kids trying to walk along streets full of drive-thrus and huge parking lots with people idling. I know exactly the school you're talking about in your neighbourhood...it's a fabulous neighbourhood with many mixed-use buildings...nice ones that have been restored or built new with an eye to heritage. I'm sure Hamilton's builders would figure out a way to make an 8 storey mixed-use building like this look like an 8-storey walmart.
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