Hi Duranders,
It’s the start of another school year, fall is in the air (did we even have a summer?) and there are many updates about our beautiful neighbourhood. Read on for the latest:
Character Project
The DNA has received the final report from Civic Plan and it came with a number of recommendations. The report will be posted to this website soon – www.durandcharacter.com The report is quite extensive and includes results of resident engagement. We have a lot of work to do and it begins with a delegation to the Planning Committee to request staff review the report and study the feasibility of applying an overlay to zoning in Durand. We would like to be the pilot neighbourhood for this overlay, as many other areas in Hamilton have similar concerns about losing the character of neighbourhoods they love. Janice Brown will delegate on Tuesday, September 5 at 9:30 a.m. at City Hall. If you can attend the committee meeting, please do so — all support is most welcome.
Movie Night/Canada 150
We have a special movie night planned for SEPTEMBER 16 at Durand Park. Partnering with us this year is Pharmasave from James Street South. Festivities begin at 5:30 with Reardon’s Food Truck. The movie this year is Moana See poster below for details.
AGM
Please join us for our AGM on October 26 at St. Paul’s Presbyterian. Doors open at 6:30, meeting begins at 7 p.m. Come out, meet your neighbours, board members, Councillor Jason Farr, and Crime Manager Jennifer McFeggan. We will have an update presentation about St. Mark’s by Anna Bradford.
Television City
As many of you have probably noticed, Brad Lamb is going ahead with advertising and promoting sales for the proposed condo development at the CHCH site on Caroline at Hunter. The site is not zoned for the height or number of units he is proposing, so we are a little puzzled about how sales for an unapproved condominium project are going ahead. We are seeking answers from our Councillor and city staff. In the meantime, here is the link to the website for “Television City” Units are priced high and only larger units of one-bedroom + are eligible to purchase a separate parking space (+$40,000 on top of unit cost). Stay tuned for more details on this project in the months ahead. Good design is critical for this site, and it is up to us to demand standards that respect Durand’s character (see above).
Tenants/Renters
Rental legislation in Ontario has changed to improve rights for tenants and hopefully slow the trend of turning residences into short-term rentals (e.g. AirBNB). This article in the Globe and Mail gives a good summary of the new rules.
New eviction rules in effect today to protect Ontario tenants
Spooktacular
Mark your calendar for October 28 — all the spooky fun details will be available soon.
Trillium Award Winners
We are lucky to have such beautiful gardens here in the Durand Neighbourhood. And our hard-working gardeners deserve the recognition they receive from the Trillium group. A few of our Trillium award winners in Durand are: Linda Miocinovich, Denis Olivier & Jessica Hume, Carolyn and Chris O’Donnell. Thank you for all of your hard work! You help make our neighbourhood special.
I live on the same block as CHCH. Surely the city cannot approve the construction of yet 2 more high rise buildings here. The one at Caroline and King has barely started! Who has funds ‘starting at the low $200,000’s to purchase these ‘homes’ which the large sign promises. Durand has become a regular mecca for condominiums while it’s importance to the history and present are being ignored.
I have discussed the project at the CHCH site with councilor Farr. He told me that the developer has had only one meeting with city staff and Mr. Farr does not know why that sign has been put up so prematurely. The owners of CHCH have a lease on that property so no changes can occur until the plan for the future of the station has been determined. Then the site will have to be rezoned so it would be several years before the new redevelopment could begin.