LIUNA envisions residential towers at the former Kresge’s site downtown
Streetscape preserved in $300 million downtown proposal
Two sparkling residential towers are touted to rise out of the ruins of the demolished old Delta Bingo hall — a.k.a. the Kresge’s department store from 1930 to 1994 — on King Street East at Hughson Street North.
Championing the colossal, $300 million metropolitan style development on the now empty site is LIUNA, the owner of the approximately one acre property at 43 to 51 King East — across from Gore Park downtown and beside the old Right House department store on the west corner of King and Hughson.
The plan calls for twin towers side by side, but with differing orientations. One fronts onto King and the other, King William Street, the next road in the block. One is slated for condos; the other so far, rental units, says Joe Mancinelli, LIUNA International’s vice-president.
Mancinelli wants the buildings to be between 35 and 40 storeys tall, containing a combined total of 529 units. But he says that will all depend on what the city will allow. Several city approvals are needed before construction can start.
The towers — 30 to 35 storeys — are to be built back from the street, on top of five-storey “platforms” for commercial and retail floors, he said.
Mancinelli is pleased with this design; he says the materials used to finish the platform’s exterior will blend in with traditional look of the old Kresge store.
“If you are on the King Street sidewalk, you won’t see the towers … We want to keep some of the charm of the street level … (so) it mimics the way the streetscape used to look like. But we’ll add our own touch to make it look nice.”
The towers, however, have a contemporary look.
The project, called either King William Residence or King at Hughson in the past, doesn’t really have a name yet, Mancinelli said.
LIUNA and its partners — developer The Hi-Rise Group and consultants UrbanSolutions — are holding a public unveiling of the project at the site early Friday morning.
The project is “just another piece of the puzzle” of gentrification, renewal and redevelopment happening downtown, Mancinelli said — all of which “will have a huge economic impact.”
“Keep in mind; we’re not the only ones. There’s the Connaught project on King” between John and Catharine Streets South, and others, he said.
“Picture what four years from now will look like. It’ll be fantastic,” he said, referring to the new residents and shoppers coming out of LIUNA’s new twin towers as well as other new developments. “It changes the fabric of the downtown core. It’s not just about architecture. It’s about people as well.”
Downtown Hamilton BIA executive-director Kerry Jarvi says she’s going to the unveiling to find out more about the project.
“We are incredibly grateful and appreciative of the investments in the downtown,” she said. “They are continuing our neighbourhoods … Look at the Connaught — that’s a big boost for people downtown, and now I see people coming out of it and walking to work. This (project) will increase that.”
City planning director Steve Robichaud said the plan still needs rezoning and then site plan approvals. The rezoning application is tentatively set to go to the January planning committee meeting, he said.
Mancinelli says whatever is approved won’t change the look of the buildings.
“We chose a design that is unique to the city so that it will stand out as a statement that (Hamilton) is changing,” he said.
“We’re hoping this news conference will put some urgency into city hall (to get the approvals done).”