August Update on Downtown Priorities

Downtown redevelopment was a major theme at this year’s Hamilton Economic Summit on May 17, 2010.  Delegates identified a number of priority leadership actions needed to help boost housing and job creation in our historic central downtown.

Last week, Ron Marini, Director of Downtown and Community Renewal for the City of Hamilton, submitted an update on recent activities that demonstrate achievement and momentum in revitalizing downtown Hamilton.  Here are a few highlights:

1. The City of Hamilton, in partnership with the Hamilton Realty Capital Corporation, is working on a proposal for a downtown mixed-use development that includes commercial, office and housing space as well as a theatre, medical clinic and grocery store.  If approved, the completion date would be 2012.

2. The City has reached out to 64 Toronto-based non-government agencies (NGOs) with an invitation to relocate to downtown Hamilton.  Follow up efforts by City staff have identified four solid leads.  The NGO sector, which is growing and includes many professional occupations, is a good fit for our downtown and has the potential to help increase office tenancy rates.

3. The City is conducting a first-of-its-kind survey to identify leading clusters of complementary firms now operating in downtown Hamilton (e.g., business services, etc.). This information will be used to attract similar firms and bolster existing areas of strength.  The survey will be complete in early fall 2010.

4. Efforts to expand the presence of postsecondary institutions in our downtown are continuing and remain positive.

5. The City is working internally and with the province on efforts to reduce/eliminate taxes that are deemed an impediment to downtown renewal.

We’ll continue to keep you posted.   In the interim, thanks Ron for the update.