County Fair Plaza redevelopment on Hamilton Mountain will have 'a little bit of everything'

Details are scant, but the president of New Horizon Development Group says the firm has submitted a concept plan to the city for a residential development of the County Fair Plaza site.

The four-hectare property at the corner of Mohawk Road East and Upper Sherman Avenue will have a little bit of everything," said Jeff Paikin. New Horizon purchased the land parcel in 2021.

Paikin said New Horizon submitted the concept plan on Oct. 31 after waiting for the municipal election to run its course.

He declined to reveal details of the plan, but said the concept includes highrise condominiums facing the streets and some lower-rise units.

Paikin, who attended the Hamilton Golf and Country Club Foundation's annual charity fund disbursement event Nov. 2, said revealing details of the plan would be premature at this stage.

We want the city to have the first right to comment," he said. We believe it's nicely appropriate to the neighbourhood."

When asked about the proposed number of residential units, Paikin noted, I will say that the number we're proposing does not require additional servicing."

Paikin added that with Macassa Park located across the street on Upper Sherman, the area already has a wealth of parkland.

In an interview with the Hamilton Spectator in December 2021, Paikin suggested the County Fair Plaza redevelopment could accommodate up to 1,500 condominium units and support existing retailers at CF Lime Ridge Mall.

In the meantime, while plans for the redevelopment are mapped out, Paikin noted County Fair Plaza will continue to lease out the site's existing retail spaces. The former Walmart Unit is now home to OPM Sales, a division of SVP Sports. Spirit Halloween had been recently occupying the former No Frills grocery store space and The Beer Store continues to operate its long-standing retail outlet on the plaza's west side.