Raise the Hammer

Hmmm... it appears White Star Group have asked about a few key issues on their latest updates online I've noticed today. Including their "GRAND VISION" Development proposal. They state: "The current dilemmas between the Federal, Provincial, City levels of Government and Hostco have brought to the forefront two key issues in the guidelines set in relation to the Pan Am games venues."

Current dilemmas that need to be answered by Hostco:

1. Lack of money for development past the Pan Am facilities. The issue of “City owns the stadium” does not take in to consideration the potential expansion of the stadium by perhaps $50 to $250 million dollars by the private sector. How would the question of ownership be dealt with? Hostco should define and expand on it’s position.

2. To get Hostco to define and expand on the “stadium must be used for a high performance sport after the 2015 Games” issue. What if the Stadium is to be expanded into a multi-use Stadium and the high-performance sport entity is a minor user of the Stadium and not financially viable to sustain itself?

Which actually brings me to this point, the Tiger Cats are hardly a sustainable entity -- a money losing business regardless of where they decide to make home. What happens if Bob Young sells it 2,3, 4 or 5+ yrs from now? What will happen to that "Primary Tenant" situation then?

On another note, has anybody looked at the Chamberlain Architect report White Star have posted regarding their "Venetian Plate" concept? Interesting solution to the brown-field situation at West Harbour. Intriguing. Many people were all ears at the rally when they were discussing it with councilors and other folk. These guy's need to be heard in the VERY least at the Committee Meeting of the Whole. Perhaps there is a place for White Star, after-all they do own a major part of the land on the Bay St./Stuart/Tiffany Block. The City in the very least should back them when it comes to confronting CN. I understand they have reached several roadblocks there... I smell a big story here... something has kept them in abeyance at the OMB (Ontario Municipal Board level).

Look at their statement from the White Star site: "We have been asked by the City of Hamilton legal staff before the OMB board (in relation to the CN objections to provide the necessary easements for the development of our lands in the Bay, Tiffany, Stuart Block) in November of 2009 to delay our proceedings until the Pan Am bid was dealt with." White Star presently has 5 major residential apartment development proposals in the City of Hamilton. Four of the development proposals are within the Setting Sails Secondary Plan which has been approved by the City of Hamilton Council.

Questions? Yes. Lot's of them.

Then there is that recent weekend fiasco regarding the Feds/Provincial announcement and retraction (some myths and story telling). Sounds like the Feds NEVER made such an announcement/demand in the first place. I smell Liberal East Mountain rats on that story. Someone needs to break this thing wide open for the public.