The city wants construction on the site to begin by July 31, 2027. Pictured: Hamilton City Hall.
A developer that bought property at the corner of York Boulevard and Park Street North in Hamilton’s downtown will be able to proceed with their plans for two residential buildings after Council approved their development as long as certain conditions are met.
Part of the property, 84 York Boulevard, is Philpott Memorial Church, which was constructed in two phases in 1901 and 1906.
The other part, 89 Park Street North, currently serves as the church’s parking lot.
On April 15, 2024, as directed by Hamilton’s Council, the city issued a public notice of their intention to designate 84 York Boulevard, Philpott Memorial Church, under Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, as being a building of cultural heritage value.
The developer, Empire Communities, was originally hoping to completely demolish the existing church to construct a new mixed-use building consisting of two 30-storey towers above a five-storey podium.
Empire then attempted to strike a compromise with the city, proposing a Heritage Easement Agreement that would see parts of the existing building maintained and incorporated into a new development, but Council rejected the idea, instead opting for the full heritage designation.
However, the issue came back in front of City Council’s Planning Committee on July 9, 2024, alongside a new recommendation from city staff that proposed a Heritage Easement Agreement after all.
That recommendation from staff was then approved by the Planning Committee in a 7-1 vote with Councillor Cameron Kroetsch (Ward 2 – Downtown Hamilton) the only one against.
The agreement stipulates that Empire must ensure that there is “no further deterioration to the cultural heritage value and heritage attributes of the property,” submit a Conservation Plan for approval, and “integrate the attributes and provide commemoration and interpretation into a new development on the property.”
The city also added other requirements, including that the building provide a minimum of 600 new residential units, that 25 per cent of the units be two- or three-bedroom units “that support families,” and that five per cent of the units be “affordable.”
In addition, the city wants the developer to incorporate sustainable design features, allow for commercial uses at street level, and provide “publicly accessible indoor and outdoor space.”
The city also wants construction on the site to begin by July 31, 2027, or the Heritage Easement Agreement will be reviewed.
The Philpott Church congregation supports the redevelopment of the church since they are moving to the site of the former Lincoln Alexander Centre on King Street East.
Councillor John-Paul Danko (Ward 8 – West/Central Mountain) called the approval of the Heritage Easement Agreement a “good news story.”
“We’re securing new development in the downtown core, we are making sure that the church leadership and the church congregation have a financially viable future, and we’re also making sure that this development actually proceeds with a specific timeline in a way that meets the best interests of the city,” he said.
VOTING RESULTS – July 9, 2024 Planning Committee
In Favour of Heritage Easement Agreement (7): Tammy Hwang (Ward 4 – Hamilton East), Matt Francis (Ward 5 – Hamilton East-Stoney Creek), Esther Pauls (Ward 7 – Central Mountain), John-Paul Danko (Ward 8 – West/Central Mountain), Jeff Beattie (Ward 10 – Stoney Creek-Fruitland-Winona), Mark Tadeson (Ward 11 – Glanbrook-Binbrook-Mount Hope), Craig Cassar (Ward 12 – Ancaster-West Flamborough)
Against Heritage Easement Agreement (1): Cameron Kroetsch (Ward 2 – Downtown Hamilton)
Absent (4): Maureen Wilson (Ward 1 – Chedoke-Cootes-Westdale), Nrinder Nann (Ward 3 – East Hamilton Centre), Alex Wilson (Ward 13 – Dundas-Central Flamborough), Ted McMeekin (Ward 15 – East Flamborough-Waterdown)
Not on the Planning Committee (4): Mayor Andrea Horwath, Tom Jackson (Ward 6 – East Mountain), Brad Clark (Ward 9 – Upper Stoney Creek), Mike Spadafora (Ward 14 – West Mountain)
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.
