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New 45-storey residential tower coming to Hamilton’s Pier 8
A 45-storey residential tower is coming to Hamilton’s waterfront after the project got approval from the majority of city councillors last week.
The building, which will be located at Pier 8, will be part of a larger development in the area.
It’s expected to provide more housing in the city, including affordable housing, but there are some who are opposed.
“It’s going to take away from our beautiful view that we have of the water. I mean, we can come outside and look at this gorgeous view. We can see Burlington, the Skyway Bridge, all the way to Clappison’s Corner right now,” Deana Hazel said.
Hazel has been living by Pier 8 for years and she would prefer something else to be done with the space.
“Where we live, we’re isolated, there’s nothing here. If they can build some, like a grocery store, even some small stores, get local business in the area,” Hazel said.
The highrise tower, which is expected to have 645 units, is part of the redevelopment of Pier 8, adding more than 1,600 residential units throughout the area.
“The 45-storey towers on one side, there are several blocks. It has tremendous sighting relative to the bay and the water and the great views out towards Burlington and the high level bridge. And it’ll be a continuation of the streets and blocks of the north end,” the architect for the project, Bruce Kuwabara said.
According to the architect, out of 1600 units, about 5 per cent is allocated for affordable housing, which could be roughly 400 units.
While some Hamilton city councillors opposed the tower approval during the vote last week, the project got the green light after a majority voted yes.
“I totally understand both points of view and it does kind of stick out like a sore thumb, but I think that is kind of the point, that it is meant to be a landmark structure and something that you can see from all over Hamilton as an architectural and something to aspire to,” Ward 8 councillor John-Paul Danko said.
“So what I see is a lot of long term economic prosperity for the area. I think it’s going to bring huge revenue for city taxes. I think it’s going to bring a lot of jobs during construction,” Ward 11 councillor Mark Tadeson said.
“There’ll be a large commercial area where people can shop, can stop at a restaurant, can go up the tower and go over the bay. It’ll be the first major tower in Hamilton history built to net zero greenhouse gas standards,” Ward 15 councillor Ted McMeekin said.
CHCH News reached out to the councillors who were against the project, including area councillor Cameron Kroetch, but none of them were available for an interview.
