Canuck905 said:
Ferguson Ave. side is almost finished and for lease signs are in the window. I like how the 'fence' outside also matches the Kiwi building. View attachment 572720View attachment 572719
Click to expand...
Unfortunate that they couldn't find tenants for the commercial spaces on opening. I think it shows the difference between a developer like Core Urban who wants to build vibrant spaces, where they charge market rents yes, but they're not looking to always charge the highest bidder. They want their buildings to be full, and well used. Steve even told me that they would rent for lower to get a tenant they wanted, which they rented to the Market on James instead of filling it with another restaurant.

Comparatively this development, likely the Design District and Liunas buildings will charge insanely high rents for commercial units to reduce taxes, and then once someone comes along in 5 years willing to pay, they'll finally rent it out to literally anyone will to pay, even if the business is shit.

It's their right to do so of course, but it's a distinct difference between doing what you're allowed to, and doing what's best for the spot you're putting a project. It's why Core Urban gets so much respect and appreciation and gets to fly through approvals.

I do hope this and the unit(s?) at KiWi get filled in due time though. They could really draw people to the area, especially important once LRT construction closes down King in the international village.
 
Chris R. said:
Unfortunate that they couldn't find tenants for the commercial spaces on opening. I think it shows the difference between a developer like Core Urban who wants to build vibrant spaces, where they charge market rents yes, but they're not looking to always charge the highest bidder. They want their buildings to be full, and well used. Steve even told me that they would rent for lower to get a tenant they wanted, which they rented to the Market on James instead of filling it with another restaurant.

Comparatively this development, likely the Design District and Liunas buildings will charge insanely high rents for commercial units to reduce taxes, and then once someone comes along in 5 years willing to pay, they'll finally rent it out to literally anyone will to pay, even if the business is shit.

It's their right to do so of course, but it's a distinct difference between doing what you're allowed to, and doing what's best for the spot you're putting a project. It's why Core Urban gets so much respect and appreciation and gets to fly through approvals.

I do hope this and the unit(s?) at KiWi get filled in due time though. They could really draw people to the area, especially important once LRT construction closes down King in the international village.
Click to expand...
Let's not forget the Olympia Club still stands empty after years tenant wise - core urban doesn't ALWAYS fill their spaces.. not sure exactly what kinda place they are waiting for to fill that spot..

but yeah I dunno.. I've just been sorta disappointed with this build on several levels. Still, nice that something is here now - my aunt lived in that subsidized housing building a block over (She had MS) so growing up all I saw was a giant parking lot outside her window.
 
Chronamut said:
Let's not forget the Olympia Club still stands empty after years tenant wise - core urban doesn't ALWAYS fill their spaces.. not sure exactly what kinda place they are waiting for to fill that spot..

but yeah I dunno.. I've just been sorta disappointed with this build on several levels. Still, nice that something is here now - my aunt lived in that subsidized housing building a block over (She had MS) so growing up all I saw was a giant parking lot outside her window.
Click to expand...
Interesting. I think it's probably the nicest new build in Hamilton, by a long shot. Much nicer than Kiwi right next door.
 
Chronamut said:
Let's not forget the Olympia Club still stands empty after years tenant wise - core urban doesn't ALWAYS fill their spaces.. not sure exactly what kinda place they are waiting for to fill that spot..

but yeah I dunno.. I've just been sorta disappointed with this build on several levels. Still, nice that something is here now - my aunt lived in that subsidized housing building a block over (She had MS) so growing up all I saw was a giant parking lot outside her window.
Click to expand...
I know that Core Urban is looking for a tenant that will add some liveliness to Gore Park. They likely could have rented it by now, they were quickly able to rent their space on James St N, but I think they want a brewery or something special restaurant-wise in the Olympia Club. They don't always rent their units immediately, but they do seek out interesting tenants that benefit the neighbourhood. They immediately didn't renew the lease of the Payday Loan place if you didn't notice. The was very purposeful from my understanding.
 
Chris R. said:
I know that Core Urban is looking for a tenant that will add some liveliness to Gore Park. They likely could have rented it by now, they were quickly able to rent their space on James St N, but I think they want a brewery or something special restaurant-wise in the Olympia Club. They don't always rent their units immediately, but they do seek out interesting tenants that benefit the neighbourhood. They immediately didn't renew the lease of the Payday Loan place if you didn't notice. The was very purposeful from my understanding.
Click to expand...
Yes which is a good thing, I know that once they are kicked out they are NOT allowed to set up shop again so gradually we'll be rid of all of them.

I dunno if we need another brewery - I mean we have one on james st across generally from where tivoli was gonna go in that little one story building.. some sorta entertainment bar type place might be nice though - late night entertainment Vegas show type stuff while you eat would be cool, they have the mezzanine and all so itd be set up nicely for something like that. A stage would be cool.
 
TheHonestMaple said:
Interesting. I think it's probably the nicest new build in Hamilton, by a long shot. Much nicer than Kiwi right next door.
Click to expand...
I personally think that boils down to whether you like modern box minimalist aesthetic or if you like craftsmanship. I am not the former, but you seem to be. It's just incredibly bland to me. At least kiwi has subtle curves and angles. It's prettier to look at, esp the balconies. I don't get why people worship rectangular architecture - it's made that way because it's the cheapest thing to build, but its like telling you "it's cheap, but you'll think it's trendy, and you'll like it"

I just don't get it. It's literally boxes on top of boxes, it's the laziest architectural design you can possibly muster. I get that from a footprint area it might be more EFFICIENT - but from a design standpoint I simply cannot agree. And I know the modernist movement has shunned I guess what they consider "garish" exterior embellishments in favour of pure geometric form where the interior is focused on, instead of the exterior, but I hate that movement.

So help me understand, what is it about it that makes you think it's the nicest new build? Esp. when compared to ACTUAL craftsmanship like Core Urban? No judgment btw, I simply don't get it. Saying it's the nicest new build in hamilton.. well that needs some backing up haha.. Personally I feel the augusta st/james st block is the nicest new build complex in hamilton right now. Modern combined with beautiful craftsmanship. Or, at least what counts as beautiful craftsmanship these days.

I'll say what i DON'T like about it

1) its a box, on top of a box, on top of a box, with glass and bland boring windows punched in all 90 degree angles, not a single curve or bend to deviate from that - I hate blockitecture - the grey brick looks dirty from far away - parts of the brick exterior feel like hollywood props where it's just on the exterior but doesn't feel structural. You can painfully sea the brick "seams" and it doesn't feel harmonious - and the red brick garage area makes the "front" of this building look like a loading bay "back" - also I hate those grates in the middle of the front entrance and the ones above the windows on the first floor. It all feels very awkward and disjointed.

2) the inside lacks warmth whatsoeever and not even the ceiling is finished. There are few I have been so vocally against but this is one of them - I just hate it, and I'll never like it.

3) It feels like they cut corners everywhere - they didn't even finish bricking the balconies - the balconies themselves feel like prison slats and the hallway interiors look like a sterilized mental institution hallway.

This doesn't feel like the nicest, it feels like the cheapest made. I kinda already echoed a lot of my complaints I had here: https://urbantoronto.ca/forum/threa...lopments-studio-jci.32336/page-7#post-2072621

Pics for reference of my points:

mental hospital hallway with bland colours and unfinished ceiling:

x8184142_3-jpg.554073


Unfinished brick with no wraparound to cover cinderblock - that's a glaring one imo.

1234555-jpg.554247


awkward looking seams and strange vent windows on the front:

img_2360-jpg.558962



I will admit the render did look a BIT better

1621221946375-png.320197


but elements like the brick above the windows appears to have been much shorter in the final result and just doesn't even show up unless you squint. Just don't like it. The render is better due to a deeper contrast - the blacks are blacks and irl theyre more just kinda greyish black. The trees and foliage help to humanize it too - admittedly that'll take some time - but those seams, blegh. And that grey brick still looks dirty from far away, dunno how else to describe it - but yeah all I can focus on are the seams - for something that's meant to be geometric I feel it fails at even that as you can't focus on the entire form. Like what's up with the seam going up and down between the second and third column of windows? I could see the seams going across for lintels for the bricks to rest on but the up and down one I am unsure about. God I miss when brick looked uniform Like the render above.
 
Last edited:
Chronamut said:
Yes which is a good thing, I know that once they are kicked out they are NOT allowed to set up shop again so gradually we'll be rid of all of them.

I dunno if we need another brewery - I mean we have one on james st across generally from where tivoli was gonna go in that little one story building.. some sorta entertainment bar type place might be nice though - late night entertainment Vegas show type stuff while you eat would be cool, they have the mezzanine and all so itd be set up nicely for something like that. A stage would be cool.
Click to expand...
Could always use another brewery. I think having an entertainment space/brew pub was kind of the plan with room for acts.

Maybe I'm in the minority, but I kind of hate Merit. Their beer is like 2005 hoppy craft that most beer fans kind of hate. It's also got a really pretentious vibe without being classy. I'd much prefer something more akin to Collective Arts beer garden or something like that, but focused on entertaining. CA was doing that a bit before COVID, but it feels like them and most are getting back on their feet still.
 
Chris R. said:
Could always use another brewery. I think having an entertainment space/brew pub was kind of the plan with room for acts.

Maybe I'm in the minority, but I kind of hate Merit. Their beer is like 2005 hoppy craft that most beer fans kind of hate. It's also got a really pretentious vibe without being classy. I'd much prefer something more akin to Collective Arts beer garden or something like that, but focused on entertaining. CA was doing that a bit before COVID, but it feels like them and most are getting back on their feet still.
Click to expand...
Yeah I think we can both agree on that - I'd like to see a classy entertainment like vibe in the olympia club. I'd love to see the gore be a place for pubs and clubs and whatnot.

Also apologies on my rant up above, don't mind me lol.
 
It's just a high quality build with a modern elegant look. It's very Toronto. Something you'd see on King West. We haven't had anything like this in Hamilton before, so it's a welcome addition.
 
The seams for the brick is the worst part of this build. Despite using real brick, it looks like brick panels. I'm a bit disappointed with the east side. The west side looks better for sure.
 
TheHonestMaple said:
It's just a high quality build with a modern elegant look. It's very Toronto. Something you'd see on King West. We haven't had anything like this in Hamilton before, so it's a welcome addition.
Click to expand...
Well different strokes for different folks I guess hehe - glad you like it at least ;)

And yeah, the seams... that's exactly what I was thinking Chris, I am like why does this look like brick panels when they used actual real brick? If those seams had not been there I think that would have largely impacted my feeling about this piece to a more positive light.
 
You must log in or register to post here.

Back
Top