Would-be film production hub starts buying Hamilton’s vacant west harbour lands

The would-be builders of Hamilton's Hollywood North have bought the first of what the city hopes will be many of the taxpayer-owned properties in the west harbour block once earmarked for a football stadium.

Now Aeon Studio Group is asking residents this week to share your ideas" of what belongs in the eventual mega-development of a planned film production hub and live-work condos worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Aeon agreed in principle back in 2019 to buy 14 acres of city-owned land originally bulldozed a decade ago for a failed west harbour stadium dream. Council later bought another neighbouring two-acre parcel on behalf of the studio - bringing the taxpayer tab for vacant land in the area close to $13 million.

But Aeon partners recently bought back the latter parcel at 242 Queen St. N from the city for $3.9 million, land records show. The remaining vacant lands bordered by the CN rail yard, Queen, Tiffany and Barton streets remain city-owned.

We have purchased the first parcel from the city," confirmed Aeon's Jeff Anders in an interview Monday.

The former Stelco property is expected to become part of a strip of condos or other creative live-work units along Barton Street West, with commercial and film production buildings setting up shop closer to the noisy rail yard.

The film group has posted maps and concept plans" for the studio district on its website that show low-rise film production buildings, mid-to-highrise condos and a public plaza" within the creative hub. Any buildings taller than eight storeys will likely require future zoning changes.

But nothing will be set in stone until Aeon's finishes public consultation, said Anders.

That includes virtual town halls for Ward 1 and 2 residents this week, as well as an in-person tour of the group's existing 80,000-square-foot production studio in the former AVL Manufacturing plant on Queen Street.

The concept art is just a starting point for conversation," Anders said, adding residents can ask questions at the virtual meetings or share opinions in a survey. So far, he said Aeon has already heard from residents keen on maintaining public access to the land and using some of the residential-zoned space for affordable housing.

He said the group is open to the idea, although it is too early to say how many condos or rental units will be built. We're really interested in having some rental, some condo, and then have some of both of those things be subsidized or affordable."

It's not yet clear when Aeon will buy the remainder of the bulldozed city-owned Barton block, which is currently only used as a snow dump. But a city report last fall suggested development is likely at least two years away.

City waterfront point person Chris Phillips said Monday the next step under a memorandum of understanding with the film studio is for Aeon to submit a business case" and master plan for the land by the end of February.

Anders said Monday that, while the former Stelco property will probably be the first to earn environmental approvals for residential development, Aeon's current plan is to get shovels in the ground first on the film studio side of things."

That could be additional sound stage, production support and film office buildings, for example.

Have a question about the west harbour film hub? Here's your chance:

• Ward 2 residents virtual meeting (Zoom): Feb. 8, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Register online at AEONstudiogroup.com;

• Ward 1 residents virtual meeting (Zoom) Feb. 9, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Register online;

• James Street North businesses virtual meeting (Zoom) Feb. 10, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Register online;

• Bayfront Studio Tour (in-person), 243 Queen St. N, Feb. 12, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Register in advance (COVID limits on capacity).

Matthew Van Dongen is a transportation and environment reporter at The Spectator. mvandongen@thespec.com