Raise the Hammer

I think the IWS area's best hope is LRT and its associated TOD. That's a proven model.

Also, I don't buy the access issue for WH. Copps houses 18,000 people with no problem. WH is very close to the 403, close to Burlington st, and the high volume roads of Cannon, York, King and Main.

People park on lawns at IWS. Downtown has no parking issues.

Rehashing old stuff here.

From http://www.thespec.com/news/local/articl...

"Rosentraub is a professor of sport management at the University of Michigan. His studies have shown pro sport teams deliver “disappointingly low levels of economic activity on a regional basis” but can rejuvenate hollowed-out city cores with a combination of stadiums, entertainment and real estate."

"An American stadium expert says major sports and entertainment developers would have jumped at the chance to provide plans for Hamilton’s rejected west harbour Pan Am site."

"Rosentraub, who has worked with the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego on downtown stadiums related to revitalization projects"

"San Diego’s Petco Park area, which he says would most closely mirror Hamilton’s downtown situation.

The latter has the fewest number of parking spots at any American sports facility and actually encourages fans and others to walk to the area from an LRT station.

“San Diego has a strong car culture and when you suggest people in California walk, they want to commit you,” he joked. But cities are finding that is the kind of development which attracts and keeps young professionals."

"Rosentraub said it would have been interesting to see what AEG might have come up with at the west harbour site. The $50-million private-sector piece wouldn’t be a problem for them. They put up $2.8 billion in L.A., he noted.

“When you’ve got a company like that in, it’s like having both the New York Yankees and Canadian men’s hockey team on your side.”

He said a company called MSI in Columbus, which does boutique developments, might have been a good fit, too.

Rosentraub is consulting with the City of Edmonton on studies to develop a stadium/entertainment area with AEG and the owners of the Edmonton Oilers, the Katz Group.

The Katz Group and AEG have shown interest in Copps Coliseum, the Hamilton Convention Centre, Hamilton Place and attendant parking."