SJAM school site passed over yet again

It sits there at 130 York Blvd., padlocked and forlorn. It has been called by at least one Hamilton councillor the “gateway” to the lower city, in the context of opposition toward the Sir John A. Macdonald school site being temporary home for the Hamilton Alliance for Tiny Shelters pilot project.

Now, it has been rejected once again by the provincial education ministry which recently said no to a Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board proposal to build an elementary school on the 3.2-hectare (eight-acre) site. It would have replaced nearby older inner city schools. Three attempts to revitalize the site for a community hub project, which would have included a school and various community services, were also rejected by the province.

The fact that this government isn’t interested in community hub projects should come as no surprise. Had it been a highway project it probably would have had a much better chance. And we don’t pretend to know whether a new consolidated school on the site would have been the best use from a community perspective. One thing is clear though — having it sit derelict indefinitely is not a good outcome for anyone.

It’s not as if neighbourhoods around the SJAM site wouldn’t benefit from an array of services that might be facilitated by a community hub. Recreation, social services, community health, meeting spaces. But that is not the way this government rolls, so none of that is likely any time soon.

Now the HWDSB is back to the drawing board. It may pitch a school again. It could go through the laborious process of consulting preferred partners about using the site. Eventually the site could be put on the market where interest has already been expressed about making it into a hotel/convention facility site, given its proximity to FirstOntario arena and other amenities.

Maybe that is the best possible outcome under the circumstances, but it seems a shame that the SJAM property, if not the facility itself, cannot be put to good use in some way that supports community development. It’s hard not to contrast SJAM’s uncertain future with that of the nearby former Coppley building, which is the site of an exciting new development with the potential to accomplish precisely those objectives.

The Hamilton Community Foundation is partnering with Toronto based TAS, to redevelop the 70,000-square-foot building on York Boulevard when it opens in 2023. It could include space for art crawls and public events, a rooftop area for outdoor events with a view, small retail spaces, spaces for non-profit and charitable operations. And the 165-year-old building will also have its own environmentally-friendly carbon plan.

Most of us are familiar with HCF and its admirable track record on community investment and development. Many will be less familiar with TAS, but that is likely to change. It’s not your average development company. Rather, it strives for “positive social and environmental impact,” looking for ways to help the non-profit and charitable sectors to “build an asset base.”

So there you have it. The historic Coppley building with a bright future on the urban revitalization landscape, and on the other hand the SJAM site, with an equally important location but with considerably less bright prospects. Perhaps some of the Coppley karma might rub off on SJAM.

These Arkells, they just don’t stop …

Arkells, among Hamilton’s favourite exports and musical success stories, are more than a famous rock band. They’re also philanthropists, most recently spearheading a fundraising project to raise $80,000 to upgrade a central city basketball court.

The aging court facility at Woodlands Park will get an infusion to become a professional-level space with spectator stands, an acrylic playing surface plus quality backboards and hoops, along with lighting for night use. The band isn’t doing it alone. They reached out to their network and friends, including the Foxcroft family, Raptors coach Nick Nurse and Canada Basketball.

This is a brilliant idea, and a winner for all involved. Other prospective philanthropic and community development advocates should take heed. There’s no shortage of need and opportunity in Hamilton.