A press release from the City of Hamilton last Thursday announced that the municipality has taken a step forward on a controversial housing development in Downtown Stoney Creek by entering into an agreement with an affordable housing provider.
The lots, at 5 Lake Avenue South and 13 Lake Avenue South, are set to become 60 affordable rental apartments with 20 per cent of the units prioritized for veterans.
However, the plan has faced significant local opposition based on the location.
Both lots currently provide free municipal parking.
The local Councillor, Matt Francis (Ward 5 – Hamilton East-Stoney Creek) and multiple Stoney Creek businesses expressed their strong disapproval of the proposal, arguing that the parking spots are important for Stoney Creek businesses, for the nearby medical clinic, and for the numerous community 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 at the time that a petition opposing the move had 3,000 signatures and over 200 residents came to his town hall about the issue.
The proposal for housing at the Lake Avenue South location failed on an 8-8 vote at City Council, but Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath used her strong mayor powers to push it through.
At the time, Francis called the mayor’s usage of strong mayor powers “undemocratic” and Councillor Ted McMeekin (Ward 15 – East Flamborough-Waterdown) called it a “move toward authoritarianism.”
The city’s Thursday press release says now that an agreement has been signed, the project can “move forward with detailed design, planning approvals, and pre-construction work.”
It notes that “residents will see visible changes as the sites are prepared for development.”
The affordable housing provider chosen by the city is Toronto-based Crosswalk Communities, which describes itself as a “new not-for-profit affordable housing development company.”
Their website is not fully set up, but the city’s press release says that Crosswalk will be partnering with experienced firms, including ATCO, Skygrid Construction, SpruceLab, and Purpose Building.
Hours after the city’s press release announcing progress on the development, Francis organized a news conference near the site opposing the project, which was attended by mayoral candidate Rob Cooper, Councillor Jeff Beattie (Ward 10 – Stoney Creek-Fruitland-Winona), Member of Parliament Ned Kuruc (Hamilton East-Stoney Creek) and former Hamilton Mayor Bob Bratina.
Francis commented, “I will continue to pursue every available avenue to oppose this decision, bring this matter back before Council, and continue advocating for affordable housing in more appropriate locations.”
Kuruc said, “I am not in any way opposed to affordable housing – in fact, I welcome it. But I am strongly opposed to that site right there.”
“It is the last remaining public parking lot in the core of Stoney Creek.”
“This proposed site and this proposed project would be nothing more than a nuclear bomb on the economic flow and the economic livelihood of old Stoney Creek,” Kuruc concluded.
Cooper said that if he is elected mayor then he will reverse Mayor Horwath’s decision immediately.
“November 15th the new Council will take over, and on November 18th I will be signing a decision that will say that this building will not be put in this parking lot,” he said.
Mayoral candidate Keanin Loomis did not attend the press conference but shared an email statement with The Hamilton Independent opposing the project.
He calls Horwath’s use of strong mayor powers a “serious mistake” and says that “the best housing projects are those that strengthen the community, not divide it.”
“That means choosing the right location, listening to local voices, and ensuring new development works for both current and future residents.”
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.
