The revised plan would see approximately 600 to 650 units instead of the previously planned 458 units. Photo Credit: City of Hamilton.
The City of Hamilton recently reaffirmed its support for the high-density, mixed-income redevelopment of a 2.2-hectare site in the city’s north end.
The existing site is a run-down 91-townhouse complex that was run by the City of Hamilton’s social housing agency City Housing Hamilton (CHH).
The city launched a Request for Proposals process for the redevelopment of the site, called “Jamesville,” in 2019 with the requirement that the project include a 45-unit affordable rental building.
Marz Homes was identified as the Preferred Proponent for the project.
The development application was then unanimously approved by City Council in August 2022, but then the City of Hamilton, CHH and the developer had to pause demolition and remediation work because an appeal was filed to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) by CN Rail.
CN Rail has a shunting yard just metres from the housing development and wants the project to have more measures to mitigate the impacts of noise from their operations.
The Ontario Land Tribunal was supposed to commence a hearing regarding the matter on May 21, 2024, but all parties agreed to delay the hearing until February 18, 2025, since they are reportedly working on a resolution outside of the hearing process.
With the delay continuing, the City of Hamilton, CHH, and the developer brought forward a revised plan in April that, the city says, “captures many of the concerns raised by the community and is also intended to address CN’s concerns with respect to noise.”
The city listed five changes included in the revised plan.
First, they say that more trees will be saved and they will introduce a green space linear park along James Street North.
Second, under the revised plan the existing Sunset Garden parkette along Bay and Strachan Streets will be maintained.
Third, there will be additional greenspace and less surface parking on the site since they will instead increase the site’s underground parking capacity.
Fourth, there will be the addition of east-west and north-south pedestrian connections.
And lastly, they will be increasing the potential for additional affordable units and market units.
The original proposal was for 295 market-rate townhouse units, a 46-unit building of affordable housing run by CHH, and a 117-unit affordable housing building run by the local non-profit Indwell for a total of 458 units.
Now, under the revised plan seeking to address both community concerns and CN Rail’s concerns there would be 132 market-rate townhouse units, a 12-storey CHH building with a minimum of 46 units to a maximum of 90 units, a 12-storey building with a maximum of 120 units run by Indwell, and a 20-storey market-rate condominium with approximately 300 units.
The revised plan would see approximately 600 to 650 units instead of the previously planned 458 units.
It remains to be seen whether the revised plan will satisfy all of those involved.
Meanwhile, Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath released a strongly worded statement calling out CN Rail for delaying the project.
Horwath said: “Once again, CN Rail is continuing to obstruct progress on this desperately needed housing project. I’ve been outraged – and remain outraged – that these delays continue.”
“Housing is a human right. I’ve said this repeatedly – The creation of affordable housing along Rapid Transit Corridors is a priority. It is my priority, it is the City’s priority, and it is the province’s priority.”
“Let me be clear: the City is doing everything we can to move this development forward, as are CityHousing Hamilton and the development group. This location has the available land and base infrastructure in place; the ward Councillor has engaged in continuous community consultations, and Council has approved the proposed design. We could begin to move ahead with this housing tomorrow.”
“It is high time for CN Rail to step up and resolve this. I will continue to do everything in my power to get a resolution.”
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.
