The development will integrate and preserve much of the near-century old high school on Main Street. Photo credit: New Horizon Development Group
New Horizon Development Group and Losani Homes are currently working through the approval process for a 975-unit development at 1284 Main Street at the site of Delta Secondary School.
The development would see the preservation of much of the former high school. The building is protected by a heritage designation.
The developers are proposing three mid-rise buildings of 11 to 14 storeys at the rear of the school, as well as 173 townhouse and stacked townhouse units.
The townhouse structures will run along Graham Avenue, Maple Avenue, and Wexford Avenue.
Interestingly, a total of 87 units would be built within the existing school building.
The plan is to have a parking ratio of 1.15 parking spaces per unit, with 97 per cent of the parking spaces for the site located underground. It would also have 537 bicycle parking spaces.
The development is an estimated 350m (four-minute walk) from the proposed LRT stop at Kenilworth Avenue South and Main Street and 450m (four-minute walk) from the proposed LRT stop at Ottawa Street South and Main Street.
A number of groups are involved in the application process.
Graziani + Corazza Architects Inc. is the architect for the project, ERA Architects Inc. is the heritage consultant, GSP Group is the planner, Whitehouse Urban Design Inc. is the landscape architect, and Cumming + Company is facilitating the project’s community engagement.
Delta High School opened in 1924 and was Hamilton’s oldest secondary school when closed in 2019.
New Horizon purchased the site in early 2022 from the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board through a public bidding process.
The decision to close the school came after an accommodation review by the board that resulted in the construction of Bernie Custic Secondary School.
The final proposal will require rezoning approval from either City Council or the Ontario Land Tribunal.
The land is currently zoned “Institutional 2” which does not permit residential usage. The official plan amendment and zoning by-law amendment application was submitted December 2022.
It will go before Hamilton City Council’s Planning Committee at some point in the future.
As for the price range of the finished units, the condos will reportedly be sold at “entry-level” prices.
A new website was recently launched to inform residents of the project’s progress.
Residents can provide feedback on the proposal and register for updates.
An in-person applicant led drop-in open house will be held next week on Tuesday, March 7, 2023 from 5PM to 8PM at the site itself.
Condo and townhouse sales do not have an estimated start date, nor does construction.
Construction timelines would be subject to approval by Metrolinx since the site is along the LRT route.
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.
