The City of Hamilton has already reached $1 billion in total construction value for building permits issued since the start of the year.
The milestone, which was reached on April 30, marks the earliest point in the calendar year that the city has achieved the $1 billion benchmark.
In 2023, the city did not reach the $1 billion milestone until June 14. Data for 2024 does not appear to be readily available.
The $1 billion in construction value includes the approval of 1,966 new dwelling units between the beginning of 2025 and April 30, 2025, which is the highest number ever recorded by the city in that time frame.
The construction value also represents approximately 1,476 building projects within the residential, institutional, commercial, and industrial sectors.
By category, 67.8 per cent of the projects are residential, 12.7 per cent are industrial/commercial, 2.8 per cent are institutional, and 16.7 per cent are miscellaneous, which can include signs, demolitions, fire repair, sewage systems, and protective plumbing.
Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath commented on the city’s accomplishment in a press release, saying, “Hamilton’s momentum is undeniable. With a clear focus on strategic development, we’re creating new housing, supporting economic growth, and laying the foundation for a more inclusive, livable city.”
“At the same time, we recognize the challenges that remain — from housing affordability to gaps in how growth is unfolding across our city. That’s why we’re committed to expanding affordable housing and unlocking new opportunities for investment,” Horwath continued.
The city says that the construction industry “continues to drive economic growth, generate jobs, create new housing and offer space for businesses to thrive.”
City staff also listed six major projects that are underway in Hamilton this year that contributed to the municipality reaching the milestone.
The first development is at 163 Jackson St. W., just southwest of The Hamilton Arena, which will become two 32-storey residential towers with a total of 642 units.
The project, known as Television City, is being built by Lamb Development Corp.
The second development is at 300 Albright Road, just east of the Red Hill Valley Parkway near Greenhill Avenue, which will soon be the site of a five-storey residential condominium with 125 units.
That project is known as Albright Trails and is being built by Valery Homes.
Third, McMaster University is building a new student residence at 1190 Main Street West in between McMaster Children’s Hospital and Dalewood Recreation Centre, which will feature 567 units and be called Lincoln Alexander Hall.
Fourth, Pine Villa Long-Term Care Home at 466 Highway 8 near Dewitt Road is undergoing a large redevelopment.
Fifth, a warehouse is being built at 22 Medicorum Place at Clappison’s Corners.
Finally, the sixth project listed by the city is the new IKEA warehouse to be built at 212 Glover Road on Hamilton Mountain near Twenty Road East.
Despite reaching the $1 billion milestone at a record pace, the City of Hamilton was significantly behind the Government of Ontario’s housing targets for the municipality for last year (2024).
According to the most recent data on the province’s housing tracker portal, from January 2024 to October 2024, the city only had 1,632 housing starts.
That number was well short at only 41.66 per cent of the 2024 target of 3,917.
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.
