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By Chronamut (registered) - website | Posted June 09, 2014 at 10:33:06
I always find it amazing that hamiltonians will find the first thing to complain about something, instead of immediately focusing on the good that is coming out of this, or all the money that is now being invested into the downtown. Hamilton has to literally transform itself before any major regional changes can be made and cemented. This is going to take time. You cannot revitalize the downtown core overnight. Having smaller condos priced lower will get people willing to live downtown in a place where the amenities that used to be there are not there anymore.
For example - there used to be zarkies and woolworths downtown now, as well as the juggernaut Eatons, where now there is an employment office and newly closed bingo hall. There used to be a zellers where now there is nothing. There used to be fur shops and china shops and jewellery shops - there used to actually be places to go - now there are stores that reflect the historical poverty of the region, dollar stores, liquidation places, thrift shops, ghetto stores, and the people that mill about that reflect it - not forgetting the jackson square and derelict Eatons center.
Almost every classy establishment has been replaced with something that caters to the poor - B and C class stores. In the 40s and 50s one actually DRESSED UP to go downtown - now you see people in buggies and beggars in doorwells and boarded up places wherever you go.
I am one of the artists in the Lister Arts gallery in the newly restored lister block - when that building was restored it triggered a chain reaction of restoration all along king william street, and partially on james st too. I am seeing buildings being worked on that had been crumbling for years, and even a giant NEW building being built beside Leon furs! A city is nothing without the support of its people, regardless of how much of how it is being done you don't like, the point stands that something is still being DONE. Be grateful - unless you wish to shell out the money to do it yourself!
Hamilton has historically suffered from incompetent city planners as well as incompetent builders - look at the chophouse grill in the lister block - a year later and the man hasn't paid any of his workers and the restaurant still hasn't opened, and the city granted it to him out of 5 other prospective restaurants, when he had a history of corruption - did they not do a background check, and now there is a struggle going on that will only hurt that buildings success as the man will declare bankruptcy and move his assets, as he has historically done over and over, all to evade having to pay.
That being said, 275 king st w is regrettable, but as the user said, buyer beware.
you can view my work in the gallery here:
http://listerarts.ca/artists/shawn-dall/
in addition I also made a new artwork to commemorate the royal connaught opening :)
http://pixels.com/featured/the-royal-con...
-shawn-
Comment edited by Chronamut on 2014-06-09 10:42:04
A city is only as strong as its people. The people must actively be involved in the change, and not just complain about it.
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