The proposal also has considerable local opposition. Pictured: Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath. Photo Credit: City of Hamilton.
Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath has officially used her strong mayor powers to push through a controversial affordable housing project in Stoney Creek despite the fact that council voted down the proposal.
The proposal also has considerable local opposition.
The affordable housing proposal in Stoney Creek would see 5 Lake Avenue South and 13 Lake Avenue South turned into 67 apartment units.
Both lots currently provide free municipal parking.
One parcel of land would be turned into a three-storey building with 24 units and eight parking spots and the other would be a five-storey building with 43 units and 22 parking spots.
The parking lot in Downtown Stoney Creek currently provides 162 spaces for those visiting the area and for staff and patrons of local businesses.
Under the affordable housing proposal, 57 parking spaces would be removed from the lot for the two buildings.
More parking would also be needed for those living in the housing project.
The affordable housing proposal includes 30 spaces for parking, a rate of 0.45 parking spots per unit.
But those opposed to the plan argue that parking would be removed from the area, more residents would be added, and then those residents would have to park somewhere as well.
Multiple Stoney Creek businesses, many local residents, and the local Councillor Matt Francis (Ward 5 – Hamilton East-Stoney Creek) were all strongly opposed to the proposal, arguing that the parking spots are important for Stoney Creek businesses, for patients at the nearby medical centre, and for the numerous events held in the area.
Stoney Creek holds the annual re-enactment of the Battle of Stoney Creek, the Stoney Creek Santa Claus Parade and Boots in the Creek Country Music Festival.
Francis told council that a petition opposing the move had 3,000 signatures and over 200 residents came to his town hall about the issue.
The proposal originally came before city council but failed on an 8-8 vote, which is when Horwath decided to act, providing 21-day notice that she would be using her strong mayor powers to make the project happen unless council could come up with the two-thirds majority needed to veto the move.
Those 21 days have now passed, which means that Horwath’s decision stands and the affordable housing proposal will move forward.
The debate between councillors on the issue was fierce, with those in favour of the proposal claiming that Francis was seeking to prioritize “parking over people” and those opposed claiming that other Councillors were imposing their will on the local community.
Horwath then took criticism, with Francis calling the mayor’s usage of strong mayor powers “undemocratic” and Councillor Ted McMeekin (Ward 15 – East Flamborough-Waterdown) calling it a “move toward authoritarianism.”
VOTING RESULTS
IN FAVOUR of the affordable housing proposal in Downtown Stoney Creek were (8): Mayor Andrea Horwath, Maureen Wilson (Ward 1 – Chedoke-Cootes-Westdale), Cameron Kroetsch (Ward 2 – Downtown Hamilton), Nrinder Nann (Ward 3 – East Hamilton Centre), Tammy Hwang (Ward 4 – Hamilton East), John-Paul Danko (Ward 8 – West/Central Mountain), Craig Cassar (Ward 12 – Ancaster-West Flamborough), Alex Wilson (Ward 13 – Dundas-Central Flamborough)
OPPOSED to the affordable housing proposal in Downtown Stoney Creek were (8): Matt Francis (Ward 5 – Hamilton East-Stoney Creek), Tom Jackson (Ward 6 – East Mountain), Esther Pauls (Ward 7 – Central Mountain), Brad Clark (Ward 9 – Upper Stoney Creek), Jeff Beattie (Ward 10 – Stoney Creek-Fruitland-Winona), Mark Tadeson (Ward 11 – Glanbrook-Binbrook-Mount Hope), Mike Spadafora (Ward 14 – West Mountain), Ted McMeekin (Ward 15 – East Flamborough-Waterdown)
Based in Hamilton, he reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. He has been published in The Hamilton Spectator, Stoney Creek News, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 Hamilton. In 2017, he received the Chancellor Full Tuition Scholarship from the University of Ottawa (BA, 2022). He has also received the Governor General’s Academic Medal. He formerly worked in a non-partisan role on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
