Mayor backs Hamilton museum at waterfront Discovery Centre

A local history museum paired with the public library would make for an exciting" combination at the Discovery Centre on Hamilton's west harbour, Mayor Fred Eisenberger says.

Eisenberger offered that feedback during a staff update Tuesday on efforts to establish a use for the municipally owned building amid a massive waterfront redevelopment.

He said a city museum would mesh well with the Hamilton Public Library's interest in the centre at Pier 8, where 1,500 residential units are planned.

Quite frankly, I think there's an opportunity here to marry two uses together."

What to do with the centre, situated beside an outdoor skating/roller rink and Williams Fresh Cafe - and whether to keep it in public hands - has been a topic of discussion for years.

The building opened in 2004 as the federal Marine Discovery Centre before the museum closed in 2010.

More recently, Sarcoa restaurant operated there, but vacated the space amid a legal dispute in 2017, leaving its sun-soaked waterfront patio empty.

Now, city staff are partway through an opportunity study" that involved an internal scan" that identified interest from the public library and suggested the potential to deliver historical and heritage programming."

Last November, council directed staff to explore possible venues for a civic museum, which has been the goal of a local citizens' group for a few years.

The Discovery Centre seems to be the perfect opportunity," Dermot Nolan, spokesperson for the Hamilton Museum Citizens' Committee, told The Spectator.

We're very enthusiastic about the idea of situating the museum in that site."

The building would also be a unique location" for the public library, said Tony Del Monaco, HPL director of facilities and finance. A waterfront branch could offer books, study areas, computers, as well as a display area for its local history and archival materials, said Del Monaco, noting the concept is only preliminary.

We're really looking forward to working with the city and the community and helping to program that space."

Del Monaco and Nolan alike said they're eager to collaborate on showcasing Hamilton's history at the waterfront location.

But the city will also ask the community to weigh in on the Discovery Centre and conduct a market assessment to evaluate commercial uses for the site.

Staff expect to present a report summarizing that feedback early next year, which the new council, to be elected on Oct. 24, will consider.

Museums are definitely among many ideas that we have heard in the past," said Coun. Jason Farr, who also noted many North End residents would welcome a library branch on the waterfront.

For now, Waterfront Shores Corporation, the developer behind the Pier 8 condo and townhouse development, including a proposed 45-storey tower, is expected to lease a part of the centre for a sales office for up to five years.

In June, the city officially opened Copps Pier Park, a $6.5-million 1.4-hectare promenade that includes a mini-beach, playground, seating areas and art installations.

The park is part of a $140-million revamp of Piers 6, 7 and 8 that includes a new boardwalk and a triangular Gateway Park," which is expected to be finished by the end of this year.

Future plans also include a public greenway" to serve as a pedestrian corridor through the Waterfront Shores subdivision and two new public buildings - an artisan market" and open-air pavilion" - at Piers 6 and 7 in the commercial village.

Planning staff expect to present a recommendation on the proposed 45-storey tower, which has been the subject of public feedback and design-review sessions, to council later this year.

Teviah Moro is a reporter at The Spectator. tmoro@thespec.com