Durand Built Heritage Inventory
In 2014, Hamilton City Council approved its plan to proactively update its existing inventory of buildings of architectural and/or historical interest. They hired ERA, a well-known consulting group, to continue its work with City staff and the DNA to develop an inventory for the Durand neighbourhood. Durand was chosen for several reasons; it is one of the four (4) original neighbourhoods included in the City’s 1833 Incorporation; it is known for its depth and diversity of its population and architecture.
ERA created a database to collect all historical and survey information into a geographic information system (GIS). The outcome in 2017 included the addition of 743 addresses to the City’s Heritage Register and 59 candidates to the Heritage Staff’s designation work plan.
Link to Recommendations: https://www.hamilton.ca/city-planning/heritage-properties
Television City
Despite the work and efforts by City staff and the DNA and other residents, Brad Lamb, the Toronto developer has been successful in having the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) approve his controversial twin-tower Television City development.
The LPAT ruled on Friday, February 21, 2020 that Brad Lamb’s development, which will see two 32-storey towers at the CHCH-TV property in Durand, can go ahead.
The city and numerous residents including the DNA who were granted participant status opposed the plan for condos and commercial space, saying it would cause dramatic shadows and privacy issues for nearby residents, as well as block views of the Niagara Escarpment.
In her decision, vice-chair Susan de Avellar Schiller said the City and residents failed to adequately support their opposition.
“The unshakable evidence … is that there are no unacceptable adverse shadow impacts on the public realm and that the shadow impacts on the private realm are minor,” she wrote of the development at 163 Jackson St. W. “The tribunal agrees.”
Before city council even voted against the development two (2) years ago, Lamb announced his plan to appeal it. That allowed him to file the appeal before the former provincial Liberals replaced the Ontario Municipal Board and before the city approved a downtown secondary plan limiting new buildings to the height of the Niagara Escarpment.
Television City is a $360-million-dollar project that will house approximately 618 units in total once complete. Occupying 44,000 sq. ft. of land, the development will consist of two separate high-rise towers connected by a sky-walk. Located at 163 Jackson St. W., the proposed development calls for a 40-storey and 30-storey tower. The buildings will feature approximately 485,424 square feet of usable space, with 474,080 sq. ft. dedicated to residential units and 11,344 sq. ft. of retail space. The historic mansion currently on-site is a heritage building, built in 1850, that will be repurposed and preserved as part of Television City.
Owners and residents will be able to enjoy hotel-like amenities featuring an outdoor infinity pool, fitness centre and sky club. Additionally, a co-op tech centre will allow professionals and creatives to use a workspace environment that fosters collaboration and fulfills their work-at-home digital needs. A children’s play centre, private dog walk and pet-washing station will appeal to growing families.
Durand Park
Durand Park continues to be improved. In 2019, thanks to a very generous donation by Duranders, Joan and Alistair Ingram, the DNA were able to convince Councillor Farr and City staff of the necessity of a washroom for our busy downtown park.
We argued that this was both a health and safety issue for our young park users. Also Roberta Harman, of studio 188 design, retrofitted our utility shed with shelving, organizing and storage features which has made it a much more useful entity.