Larry's Corner

Hamilton’s Downtown Renewal

By Larry Di Ianni
(posted May 30, 2008)

All great cities have a thriving historic core. Hamilton’s has seen better days. I recall as a youngster walking from Cannon Street near Sherman to the downtown core to shop at the market or one of the downtown department stores. I recall as a young married adult going with my bride to the Pagoda each Friday evening for a meal and shopping or window shopping in the many venues found in our downtown. The memories are great. Whether my first pair of skates purchased at Eaton’s bargain basement store, my first pair of glasses at Tait-Gibson’s at the Lister Block or our first set of China purchased at Birk’s downtown, it was great to visit, shop, eat, and recreate in the core.

What happened to our downtown core has been the subject of hand wringing for many decades. It wasn’t until 2001 that the city earnestly established a program, or more appropriately, formalized earlier programs into a downtown renewal strategy. Staff was assigned to the program and a mandate was established for long term, sustainable downtown rebirth.

As Mayor, I certainly supported the goals and programs of the project even if I occasionally became frustrated at the snail’s pace and limited achievements sought by some of the staff. Changes will be made in these areas I am sure.

However, it is fair to say that things are moving forward in spite of some severe handicaps. For one, the banking institutions have been very reluctant to invest in the core. Insurance brokers have been impediments to businesses wanting to set up shop in the core. McMaster University which could be a game-changer for the core has been very hesitant in expanding its presence beyond the limited programming it has on Main Street in the city-owned facility. And the downtown loans program, which has been responsible for much of the redevelopment in the city core, has been beset with allegations and accusations of wrong-doing for a number of years now, the latest of which has been a formal police charge of a city staffer. This doesn’t help with the image of the program in spite of the fact that any number of audits has always cleared the program funding of any difficulties. And this despite the fact that the police charges are just that: charges, not proven in any court of law.

And then along comes Harry Stinson. Mr. Stinson is a condo developer and salesman supreme from Toronto. He was enticed to look at Hamilton by a stalwart Hamilton booster by the name of John Mockryke, Architect. Good for John, and good for Harry for taking up the challenge of Hamilton’s downtown.

Mr. Stinson has purchased the Royal Connaught Hotel with a view of establishing a hotel presence once again on the site; and he has wowed all comers with a bold vision to create a 100 storey residential condo tower on the site as well. In fact this singular act of courage has garnered much attention for Hamilton by a number of out-of-town media. This attention has also generated criticism from some of the local chattering class. A newspaper editorial cartoon labeled Mr. Stinson a snake-oil salesman. Ouch! Mr. Stinson replied with an eloquent letter to the paper chastising such criticism of a vision which he admits is bold but do-able.

What does all this mean for our downtown? It means that finally it is getting the attention it deserves. The city’s programs will outlast any alleged indiscretion, I’m sure; and outsiders are beginning to see what I have always seen: an opportunity to return the core to the greatness it is worthy of.

Hamilton’s destiny deserves no less!

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