Events

Word on the Street

Ben Bull channels Jason Leach as he wanders the streets of Hamilton in ghostly torment.

By Ben Bull
Published July 01, 2005

Word On The Street

Summer is here, so RTH is doing what every other lazy-arse North American seems to be doing. That's right - we're slacking off.

RTH is shutting up shop for 6 weeks, slapping on the sun tan lotion, and generally avoiding any work for which we don't get paid, such as ... well, such as writing for RTH, eh Ryan? Ryan? Hey Ryan! Where's all this advertising money? Whaddaya mean we have a "no advertising policy"? Screw that! I'm broke and Susie wants a new necklace - get hustling! [You may not get paid, Ben, but your expense account is staggering. And why is all your research conducted in Hess Village, anyway? - Ed.]

OK, where was I? Ah Yes! Welcome to another sizzling edition of Hamilton's favourite activist update - the Word On The Street! This issue's scorching events summary features more café openings, more downtown construction, more political shenanigans and more, well, more of the same really. So please, read on!

OK, that's all from me. Have yourselves a fantastic summer. Be sure to check out all the happenings during festival season, go hang out by the Bay, and spend lots of money downtown! Together, if we try, we can surely Raise The Hammer, and make our city a truly wonderful place to be.

Ben Bull lives in downtown Toronto. He's been working on a book of short stories for about 10 years now and hopes to be finished tomorrow. He also has a movie blog.

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By Steeltown (registered) | Posted None at

Where is Spallacci block located? Is it that abandon building next to Denningers on King Street?

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By jason (registered) | Posted None at

yup. apparently the new project is soon to be announced. I'll believe it when I see it, but have good sources that tell me to hang on a bit longer. Streetfront retail with upper floor residential and a new 6-story residential building to the back of the site.

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By Steeltown (registered) | Posted None at

http://www.skyscraperpage.com/~trilliumphotography/archive/hamilton/sun/035.jpg ^ I think that's the Spallacci block.

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By Steeltown (registered) | Posted None at

I dunno if you read the Spec today but it talked about the Spallacci block today. Here's what they said. The Spallacci family bought the St. Denys building 10 years ago. Their original plan was to demolish, then erect a 10 storey residential complex. Realtor Carol Robson has worked with the Spallaccis for 20 years. She couldn’t say when the family will start construction in the fore, but insists they have not abandoned the project. "Downtown development is starting to surge," she says. "I’m down there all the time. You can see it." She says there are several options for the St. Denys - new condos, rentals, conversion of the building to lofts. "Whatever the Carol Robson do, they do it right," she says. "They are looking at the site with great interest."

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By Steeltown (registered) | Posted None at

Oh man I hate it when I make a mistake in my post. I meant.... "Whatever the Spallacci do, they do it right," she says. "They are looking at the site with great interest."

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By jason (registered) | Posted None at

no offense to Carol Robson, but many of us believe the only way to get Spallacci to develop this property is to wipe out the building, bring in a bunch of grass and some bales of hay and then they'll feel right at home doing what they do best - developing on greenspace. I'm sure the developers have stood in front of the 'block' several times and said "gee, what do we do with this?"

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By Trey (registered) | Posted None at

I wish I could find a picture of the Shoppers Drugmart at Bathurst and College. This would be an ideal redevelopment for the Spallaci block. The ground level is large enough for a Shoppers and I heard they are looking for a downtown location.

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By jason (registered) | Posted None at

This is Hamilton though. Our council would probably claim some great victory if Shoppers were to build one of their butt ugly stucco boxes downtown. Look at the reaction over a stinkfest of a pork plant. This ain't Vancouver or Portland...design regulations in Hamilton would probably be called "dictatorial" by city council instead of what they really are - methods of building a beautiful city. Those of us who live downtown are already gearing up for the big fight with Shoppers and apparently Staples. Maybe they'll pleasantly surprise us with nice mixed-use buildings, but I doubt it.

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