Raise the Hammer
This six-story development frames the street and provides affordable living within walking distance of downtown Hamilton.
By Trey Shaughnessy
May. 5, 2006
Silvestri Investments' Cityview Terrace construction is well on its way. The six-storey downtown condo at Caroline St. and Napier St. is the first new construction residential building in the core in 25 years. This area has been a recent hotbed of development, with the new Staybridge Suites and Federal Building.
A work in progress
This corner of downtown is starting to look good. The 51 unit building is built with no setback for the first three floors, then a small setback creates terraces for the fourth floor. I like how the street already feels cozy, without a parking lot in front. It is starting to create a streetwall effect with the neighbouring buildings.
For a small building, it offers an amazing 16 different floor plans. It is indeed a building that neighbours will enjoy living beside. It will be finished in red brick, broken up with a pattern of lighter coloured brickwork, with plenty of windows and balconies.
Cityview will make a nice streetwall
I'm not overly thrilled with the roof; it appears unfinished and too flat. The corner also looks like a "dead spot", and could have been featured. The rendering shows it to be a location for a tree and small landscaped area, but this corner could have been an opportunity to create a grander entrance and a defined front to the building.
Typically, when buildings are built on a corner, they use it to an advantage and highlight it, sometimes with a cut-out corner entrance leading to a lobby or atrium. I also wish it was taller, but it's a fine start for new downtown residential development.
This cut-out corner could have been a grand entrance
The Beaux-Arts McMillan Building has an elegant corner entrance
It is being marketed to empty nesters and professional couples but nearby schools and parks also make this location ideal for a growing family.
The location is walking distance to all amenities that a city can offer. The building design is geared to the pedestrian as well. After all, who would need a car living there?
The building does provide parking, but Silvestri did a wonderful job of creating the indoor parking garage on the ground floor in a way that hides the fact by making it look like a normal residential floor. This is no York Blvd parking garage.
Prices start in the $160,000s for 700 sq. ft., and larger 1,200 sq. ft. units are available.
Visit http://www.silvestri.ca/ for more information.
Cityview Rendering
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