Revitalization

An Urban Vision in Hamilton Next

By Ryan McGreal
Published October 02, 2007

Much of the content coming from the Spectator's "Hamilton Next" series has demonstrated a breathtaking level of ignorance about how cities function and what is required to revitalize this one - a misconception dating back to the 1950s and '60s that actual events have throughly discredited.

However, at least one of the contributors seems to get it. Tom Cooper, who sometimes contributes to RTH, wrote a 'retrospective' from the future for today's paper that identifies the drivers with the best chance of spurring a renaissance: limiting urban sprawl, downtown redevelopment, adaptive reuse, inner city reinvestment, renewable energy production, "green" technologies, light rail, transit fare reduction, poverty reduction, harbour restoration, and a high tech hub.

Tom's op-ed is definitely worth reading for a hopeful but achievable vision of the next few decades.

Ryan McGreal, the editor of Raise the Hammer, lives in Hamilton with his family and works as a programmer, writer and consultant. Ryan volunteers with Hamilton Light Rail, a citizen group dedicated to bringing light rail transit to Hamilton. Ryan wrote a city affairs column in Hamilton Magazine, and several of his articles have been published in the Hamilton Spectator. His articles have also been published in The Walrus, HuffPost and Behind the Numbers. He maintains a personal website, has been known to share passing thoughts on Twitter and Facebook, and posts the occasional cat photo on Instagram.

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By Commodore64 (anonymous) | Posted October 02, 2007 at 20:48:52

What!!! THE LEAFS WON'T WIN THE CUP FOR ANOTHER 40 YEARS AT LEAST??? This isn't a hopeful vision for the future, it's true hell!! At least for a Leafs fan.
Other than that the future sounds bright, I gotta wear shades! If only to hide my tears for another 40 losing seasons.

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By Frank (registered) | Posted October 03, 2007 at 09:28:39

haha Commodore... shouldn't you upgrade your name? :P We need ppl who are willing to go out on a limb and invest just to prove to the others that it's possible. And I don't mean quietly invest. We've got some major work going on down at the waterfront (in my opinion not fast enough) and a grass roots movement for an LRT system. Let's keep pushing...

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By Joe (registered) | Posted October 04, 2007 at 11:14:13

By far the most entertaining paragraph:

"Hamilton hosted several high-profile sporting events in the 2020s and 2030s including the Pan-Am Games. The popular Hamilton Tiger-Cats have remained a fan staple throughout their 130-year history. A National Hockey League team located to the city in 2012, causing great consternation for Toronto Maple Leafs fans when Hamilton won the Stanley Cup four years later (the Leafs have now gone 80 years without a Stanley Cup)."

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