Raise the Hammer

This bodes well for WH redevelopment in the end. Not one Councilor can honestly stand up and say NO to remediation of WH lands, with a focus on private sector high-density development. LRT & GO being primary connectors to downtown revitalization. The waterfront is a key component to this City's new millennium transformation. It will happen. High performance sports, especially soccer and cycling (the Velodrome) can and should be the focus to keep Pan Am here with an everlasting legacy now and well into the future. Perhaps a smaller stadium, with the flexibility to expand is the way to go. Now, where does the money come to give the Ti-Cats their FREE home AND still have room for WH development?

The Mayor is correct, critical mass is absolutely the ticket. He certainly knows what he is talking about. As the Mayor states: "...the West Harbour is an imminent development opportunity that we have to fulfill now in partnership with the Feds and Province, and any other public sector and private sector developers. A lot of developers have come to the table, we've made some significant gains, a number of private sector developers want to help development in Hamilton. There are varying ideas of how to do it, and that's all invigorated by this debate."

Molinaro Group, McMaster Group, White Star and others HAVE invigorated the debate as private developers clamoring to work on projects in the WH. All good things will come of this as long as the City recognizes they need these kinds of groups to climb on board if there is any hope for downtown connection to revitalization. White Star, who own properties on both sides of the Rheem property cannot continuously be kept in abeyance by the OMB. I have read the White Star site. They are a key component to West Harbour/Ward Two future development.

I for one feel pretty good about this interview. We'll see what happens tomorrow. However, I will state that if the stadium does NOT go in WH, it will be much more costly regarding toxic soil cleanup. I hope the City is prepared for this inevitability.