Raise the Hammer

I think if you look at the homes in this area - especially those south of King, many homes alone make it an area 'money' would move to. The age, size, and character of many of these old homes in itself makes it an attractive area. Add the beautiful view of the escarpment, all the old trees rising above the rooftops, and what we are looking to do within the stadium surroundings, and I think the area is a hidden gem.

I'd also think more jobs right in the core would be the answer and not necessarily by all this residential. I'd personally love to be able to work downtown so transit in this scenerio, would be the most important issue. Ever ride the Barton? It runs every 10 minutes but they seem to put the oldest, dirtiest, poorly laid out, leak on a rainy day, buses along that route. Have we ever thought of running the LRT along Barton? A car each way along the centre and extend the sidewalks to it - no vehicles? How would that encourage the growth if it suddenly become a very pedestrian friendly, LRT-lined corridor? Close off every other residential street on north and south sides of LRT line to create a subdivision-type feel. Make these communities more residential friendly and avoid the north-south through way feel that many streets including mine, currently posses. Do this along Cannon as well on the opposite streets. You'd still be able to cross Barton but at least say from Ottawa Street to James, it could be LRT/bike lanes only. This would lead you right into the Barton/Tiffany/new GO station area. From Rheem to Fruitland?

If we'd support projects such as the one proposed at the old church on Main Street, condos with street level store fronts, the viability of LRT and a GO stop near the stadium would plan themselves. Why are we narrow-mindedly getting in the way of these types of projects?

I'd like to see a large sports shop or something setting up shop at the Stadium Mall. When we left Fenway during the Winter Classic, we started off spending a good half and hour or so browsing this huge shop usually packed full of Red Sox gear, that had been loaded with Classic gear. Then of course as many mention, there are bars and restaurants everywhere.

I personally think this project will surprise and I of course have no credentials to back up my words but I think a lot of people want to see this turn a lot of things around from the game experience to the state of the area in general.

A Sportsnet reporter stated that Ivor Wynne was 'downtown' during Saturday's broadcast which I started watching yesterday to get a different angle of the game. 'Downtown'. Barton, King, Ottawa Street, and Main have the landscape to extend downtown.

Perhaps if we stop looking at the stadium community as 'Ward 3' or lower city suburbia, and more of an extension of downtown, we can see this whole project from a different light. We have a small downtown. Is there the capability to truly extend that over the next 10 years or so?

From what I have read of the LRT arguments, it seems waiting for just the right amount of existing development to build it might be backward thinking when the opportunity is standing right before us as a catalyst for the change in landscape we are seeking.

For everyone that is pro LRT and anit-stadium, perhaps this can be the 'thing' that drives Light Rail for us. Let's push to create something extraordinary within the stadium district. Stop looking back and get involved with the same passion portrayed during the West Harbour campaign. Be a part of transforming a 'Code Red' neighborurhood to a vibrant, thriving one. If for nothing else, than it could help us sell our need for LRT. That feature would add so much to this project as would a Gage GO stop. Forget the Centennial 'Walmart' stop. Let's strive for stadium/Ottawa Street stop.

What happened this weekend and looking at Cleveland as a model, could we not offer this type of winter entertainment all the time at the new digs? Yearly Labour Day type matchups between the Dogs and Marlies. Yearly OAU games or minor hockey league tournaments. Public skates and ice rentals for shinny and such.

The key to this is all year use or other facilities/amenities that will make the area an all-year attraction. ie. Hamilton Sports Hall of Fame and Canadian Football Hall of Fame locating to the area. Not to mention Tiger-Town and even more of a Centre Mall type store as it was when it was Cats and Dogs to offer a more wide-ranging selection of sports gear. Arena, pool, stadium, baseball diamonds. It's a sports district. It shouldn't be too hard to build off of that.

Comment edited by lawrence on 2012-01-23 14:06:42