Raise the Hammer

Hamilton's priorities have always been wrong. The same with Transit, Millions can be spent on a new highway ,but not millions on transit.


On another vien, aassive urban expansion is a knew jerk reaction to the idea or complaints by a few people who state that there is no employment land in Hamilton. So what does Hamilton do, plan take thousands of acres of farmland and natural area into development. Soon it will be recognized that the rural area is just urban reserve land, and not rural land at all. What a Shame, or should I say Sham.

How about __monorail?_ www.scomigroup.com.my/core/energy_monorail.asp

How about a Monorail System for the city of Hamilton? www.scomigroup.com.my/core/energy_monorail.asp

Sean says "There is much to be angry about.."

I can't believe someone ranting about millions in investments in our city. I suppose if these were earmarked elsewhere you'd feel better.

There IS much to be angry about and it starts with attitudes like yours.

Antsy, are you serious? Did you read my rant? I am not against investment. I am against short sighted investment that will leave us high and dry in the near future. And, I offer positive alternatives for us to strive for.

Big box retail is investment, but it is bottom of the barrel investment. Buses are investment but they are bottom of the barrel investment. Ignoring our strengths and building more weaknesses is investment but it is bottom of the barrel investment.

We need to stop celebrating bottom of the barrel investment and start encouraging (or better yet, demanding) true investments which include positive visions for Hamilton's future.

We have a unique opportunity to build a long term investment magnet FOR FREE: light rail. But we are slowly squandering that provincial gift on buses which will be a long term drain on the city in terms of operating costs.

The city had a great vision for Aberdeen: innovation/research lands. Real investment, real jobs, real image enhancement for the city. But if things follow their usual course, Trinity will convert half of that REAL investment/employment land into big box retail with 70% of the land used for parking.

If you read and actually think about the points I am making, you'll see I am not complaining about investment. I am pointing out that we need to make smart investment choices that result in long term growth for the city. Not all investment is ideal. Why do we continually settle for the bottom of the barrel?

Do you honestly consider a new Jack Astor's and Shoppers going on some of our prime commercial land to be positive development? What do these places offer our community? Please share your arguments in favour. Maybe I am missing something.

Sean said: "We need to stop celebrating bottom of the barrel investment and start encouraging (or better yet, demanding) true investments which include positive visions for Hamilton's future."

And who do we make these demands on? And how do we enforce these demands? Do we hold our noses and threaten not to breathe?
I think our economy has been mismanaged by all levels of government since the 70's. Now we are beggars and can't afford to be choosers!

Further mismanagement is not the answer.

And driving business away cause you don't like them isn't the answer either. I say aim high, aim low and you hit the sweet spot whenever you attract dollars. I'm sure those people on unemploymnet would love a job at Lowe's or even Wallmart.

I'm not talking about driving businesses away. I'm talking about the city coming up with a plan and sticking to it. There is nothing like turning developers off by having wishy washy policies that you don't adhere to, and creating an environment where things don't get done. The city made a good decision regarding the innovation park zoning, and I'm certain McMaster would like to have their MIP be part of an entire area of research facilities, not an island stuck between big box development and a highway. If the zoning gets changed, it sends a clear message to developers that Hamilton does not intend to stick with their plans, so developers will shy away because they can't be certain who their neighbours will be despite existing zoning.

Regarding the downtown transit terminals, the Hunter GO station was developed under a concept that included future expansion. If we change our minds and start to build multiple terminals in different areas, it will send a clear message to developers that none of these transit stops might ever be long term investments in the eyes of the city. Would you open a business near the train station if you know that it could actually move 10 blocks down the road within the next 5 years? And once there are two or three, which one do you bank all of your investment money on? These kind of wishy washy half-measures make investors timid.

Regarding buses, Light rail is an economic driver and buses simply are not. This capital money is coming from the province. This is a one shot deal. So we can spend the money on buses which will cost much more to operate, will have a much shorter life, and will not drive any investment... costing all of us in future taxes. Or we can aim for building rail which is cheaper to operate, lasts much longer, and results in billions in investment along the rail line.

You can call me "anti development" if you like, but if you do, you are missing my points entirely. I've tried to be as clear as I can. It is time that we set out a vision for the future of Hamilton and STUCK TO IT. This is the only way we will convince developers that we are worth their investment money. And then we will see that we get the highs, lows and in betweens that you are looking for. If we continue to pander only to the lows, that's all we'll ever get.

liveD, you are not actually suggesting that we encourage giant US stores, like Walmart, are you? Like the other one taking over Fennell Square? There are no jobs to be gained that way, just putting local, small stores out of business, further hollowing out tradtional business districts.

Sean makes perfect sense...a little too perfect for someone living in this inept town. Other cities would demand that millions be spent wisely. With LRT being affordable at that price, you'd have to be nuts to want more buses. Sadly, Hamilton's mismanagement for decades starts with the low-balling vision of residents content to "be a beggar" instead of having some pride and vision. Any money spent is actually NOT well-spent. Well-spent money is. Quit settling for second rate like we always do here. For once we CAN afford the best. Let's do it instead of allowing lazy staff and inept HSR management to waste more money.

And now they are murmuring about tearing the lister down. The province and city should both be suing LIUNA for neglecting this heritage property. LIUNA should be on the hook for coming up with the money required to bring it back up to the condition it was in when they first acquired it (and subsequently left it open to rot).