Raise the Hammer

Really? >>Please do post! I would love to know all parties opinions on this; although I'm not too confident it will reflect the opinions of us paying citizens.

As promised here's my email exchange with the Counsellor, who as I said, responded in both promptly and politely. I'd never written to an elected official before and was unsure what kind of response I'd get.

Here's my original email...

Dear Councillor Bratina,

I am a new resident to your ward, in fact I moved here from Stoney Creek just two months ago. My girlfriend and I chose this area because we love this city and being downtown allows us to be minutes from everything without the inconvenience of driving. I was dismayed when I read about the plan for the Royal Connaught coming before Council tomorrow night. Not because I hate the less fortunate or because I'm some NIMBYist, but because I believe that hotel and the whole core deserve better than this. As I'm sure you're aware over 25% of the city's total subsidized housing units are in the core. That's over 3700 units in the area bounded by Barton, Queen, the Escarpment and Wentworth. Further concentrating subsidized housing in one area will only further draw in those who prey on the less fortunate and further push out the hardworking, decent people who just want a safe place for their families to live.

Spreading out subsidized housing would have three main advantages: 1) It will allow those in the housing a better choice of where they want to live and allow them be closer to their work and families. 2) We can preserve this building for a purpose which better reflects its historic and cultural status. 3) It will show the citizens of this city that we take pride in our city's core and are committed to more forward thinking solutions.

Don't let the devloper's cynical use of the "if you don't agree with this then you hate the poor" rallying cry sway you, I would be willing to bet that he cares less about the poor than the fat government paycheque he wants to get.

I would also like to draw your attention to an editiorial posted on the Raise The Hammer website, written by local businessman Reg Beaudry, who feels as I do that the core deserves better. While you're there you should also read the 3 other articles about this issue and the 200+ comments that other concerned citizens have posted.

http://raisethehammer.org/article/944/

Thank you for taking the time to read this email, I'm sure you've been swamped by them in recent days.

And here is Mr. Bratina's reply...

Hi Ryan Thanks for sharing your views. There are two issues here. One is the regrettable inability of the ownership group to bring back the building as a hotel. There is a huge emotional connection to the Connaught by all of us who grew up in Hamilton who remember it in its heyday. I constantly reminded Council that the Lister Block was not the priority Downtown building. The Connaught, the Federal Building, and the Tivoli were all more important. Another related issue was the unfortunate decision by McMaster not to locate the Faculty of Family Medicine and clinics in the core as originally intended. If this development were substantially completed by now values throughout the core would have risen and chances of a Hotel at the Connaught much improved. A Hilton should have started two years ago on the HMP site but was delayed by heritage issues on the old brick repair shop on George Street. The developer, Vrancor, instead went ahead with two new hotels in Sudbury which are now in operation. So, many factors play into the viability of the Downtown core.

Although I am not happy about the Connaught's change of use I don't accept the negative depiction of its potential residents. Under the program income up to 40 thousand a year is permissible and the fact is that the similar "Terraces on King" project next to Denningers has an excellent group of residents of many occupations and incomes.

These are not shelters or social housing. I'm well aware of the unfortunate concentration of social services and agencies in and around the core and actually talked one agency out of turning an old school into units for homeless street youth. The building is in a mature residential area close to proposed GO train service. It is now intended for Market rate Condos

You're right about being swamped but I'm pleased to respond to thoughtful messages such as yours.

Bob Bratina