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Larry's Corner

Hamilton's Former Mayor Speaks

former Mayor of Hamilton, Larry Di Ianni The Lister Re-Born?

By Larry Di Ianni
(posted July 2, 2008)

In January of this year I wrote about the Lister saga. I didn’t think I’d be writing about this building again, but watched as the clock ticked down to the provincially imposed deadline for redeeming a $7M grant for restoring the heritage building in Hamilton’s core. I also didn’t think I’d write about this issue again because I know that Lister-fatigue exists on Council and in the community. In fact one Councillor described the Lister topic as being less preferred than hemorrhoids. And yet, here I am again. Here we are again as a community being promised a new Lister deal.

Let me say right off the top that if indeed this is THE deal that will see this strategic corner of Hamilton’s downtown renewed, it is worth having waited this long. Let me also admit that the $25M taxpayer price tag is very rich. It will probably add $1Million dollars to the city’s yearly budget, or approximately a 1/6% tax increase according to knowledgeable sources. The money for the Lister will also mean less money for other capital projects that need to be done around the city. Let’s not forget that Council will have to find many millions of dollars to refurbish City Hall as well.

Some of the critics of this deal will also state that taxpayers should not be footing the bill for a private building; that LIUNA should not be rewarded for neglecting the building for all these years; that it would be cheaper to stay in the City Center if we needed space; that demolishing the building would be better etc. etc. There is no shortage of contrary thoughts on this deal.

However, let me state categorically that fixing the Lister is very important to the downtown and to the city. It is very important to the business people on King William and James to get rid of one of the biggest impediments to downtown redevelopment and signal that indeed the downtown is coming back to life! Never mind that the $25M price tag is indeed too costly; never mind that previous plans would have been cheaper; never mind that the private sector should be doing this restoration on its own. The fact is that none of this has happened or is likely to happen for a very long time. The cost of doing nothing is by far more expensive to everyone than this hefty price tag. I have not seen the reports justifying the dollars to be spent. Councillors have and I trust they have done their financial homework on this issue. I am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt for the sake of our downtown and our city.

And when I say city, I mean the entire city: from Winona to Alberton to Sheffield. If the core rots, we all suffer. If we can get these buildings, regardless of where they are, to start paying for themselves, we all win and the city coffers win as well, which benefits all.

Also, along with the cost to taxpayers there is a win for taxpayers as well. The obvious restoration of a historical building and the revitalization of a downtown icon are evident wins. But the redevelopment of the rest of the block is good for the city as well. LIUNA, which has done marvelous restorative work on other buildings, will also develop the rest of the parcel. They have committed to construct a building large enough to generate at least $600,000.00 per year in assessment dollars or pay a penalty of up to $1M if they renege on this commitment. LIUNA will have 8 years to complete this part of the deal, I understand.

Another win has nothing to do with LIUNA and everything to do with the downtown. I know for a fact that some development interests from the U.S.A. were recently on a tour of potential downtown development sites. They shook their heads when they saw the derelict buildings. They were not ready to invest money downtown until it was ‘cleaned up’. The Lister offers us the first major opportunity to do that. Let us hope that for once, the current plan will be brought to fruition. Congratulations to all involved, especially Fred, and good luck. Let the next Lister story be about the fabled re-opening of the restored building!

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