Work on the building is expected to begin before the end of the year. Pictured: Mission Services’ King Street East location. Photo Credit: Mission Services Hamilton.
A 12-storey residential development was approved at City Council’s Planning Committee last month after staff recommended acceptance of the project without requiring any modifications.
The development is located at the former Mission Services men’s shelter at 309 and 325 James Street North at the corner of James and Barton.
The new building, which will include 127 residential units, is being developed by Hamilton-based company Core Urban, which prides itself for “creating unique spaces.”
The group is specifically set on “revitalizing the downtown core, renewing forgotten landmarks, and playing an active role in re-establishing our city as a vibrant place to live and work.”
A building that was part of the former men’s shelter, 309 James Street North, was demolished earlier this year and will be the site of the new 12-storey building, which will also include 58 parking spots and have commercial space at ground-level.
The neighbouring building at 325 James Street North, a three-storey heritage building, will be preserved and repurposed for commercial uses and office space.
The property’s zoning had to be amended in order for the building to be approved, and that ended up being supported unanimously at Council’s Planning Committee after it was recommended by staff.
A city report reads, “The development is compatible with the existing land uses in the surrounding area and represents good planning, by, among other things, contributing to a complete community, creating a compact and efficient built form, providing residential dwelling units within in a multiple storey mixed use building, making efficient use of existing infrastructure within the urban boundary as well as supporting public transit by increasing residential density in proximity to the West Harbour GO Station and transit along James Street North.”
A total of 49 parking spaces for the building will be underground, while nine will be surface level.
In terms of units, seven will be studio units (5.5 per cent), 87 will be one-bedroom (68.5 per cent), and 33 will be two-bedroom (26 per cent).
Indoor and outdoor amenity space is proposed on the building rooftop.
The developer has also said that rental units will be at market and below-market rates.
Project renderings show that the 12-storey building will have a four-storey brick podium that is meant to preserve the city’s historical feel, while the rest of the building appears more modern.
Co-owner of Core Urban, Steve Kulakowsky, said via social media that the podium of the new building “will use authentic materials, consistent with our other new projects, to blend in with the existing fabric of downtown.”
Work on the building is expected to begin before the end of the year, with the goal of having units ready in 2026.
Other groups involved in the development are Lintack Architects Incorporated and Adesso Design Inc, who fill the roles of Architect and Landscape Architect, respectively.
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