Dundas Hatt Street Millworks concept features two 8-storey buildings
City staff are reviewing a proposal for two eight-storey residential buildings plus two levels of parking on the former Valley City Manufacturing site at 64 Hatt St.
Forge & Foster, which bought the property in June 2017 and soon after announced a redevelopment vision called Millworks, submitted a formal consultation request to the City of Hamilton on Jan. 12, 2021. City of Hamilton spokesperson Michelle Williams said the proposal was circulated to city departments and outside agencies on Feb. 17 and staff comments are expected on March 11.
A summary meeting with the applicant team will be scheduled once all of the key comments are received," Williams said.
The city provided the consultation request form to the Dundas Star News, but no drawings or concept images of the proposed buildings were included.
She said if Forge & Foster, and planning consultant GSP Group, decide to pursue the concept outlined in the consultation request, official plan and zoning bylaw amendments would be required.
The former Valley City building is not a designated heritage building, but is on the heritage planning work plan for future review. It is in the city's Inventory of Buildings of Architectural and/or Historical Interest.
When changes are proposed to an inventoried property, heritage planning staff can comment on how to accommodate it in a way that's sympathetic to the heritage character and context, and can require a Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment to review potential for any adverse effects and how to mitigate them.
According to a description of the proposal in the consultation request form, architects developed a high level" plan that maintains the existing heritage building for commercial uses and building a new eight-storey residential building in Phase 1, including two levels of parking, at-grade at the rear of the building."
The proposal description states a second phase includes eight storeys constructed above the existing heritage building for a total of ten storeys of residential units, including two levels of parking, at-grade at the rear of the building. It is proposed to step back the Phase 2 building along the front, rear and most easterly elevations. The intent is to retain the historical courtyard and chimney."
The proposal notes setbacks from Spencer Creek, and floodproofing measures, must be established based on additional engineering and geotechnical work.
Hamilton Conservation Authority manager of watershed planning Mike Stone said the formal consultation request was circulated to HCA for review and comment.
He said the authority is still reviewing the proposal and had not provided comments as of March 4.
Notwithstanding this, we have reviewed earlier proposals for this property and confirmed the site would be subject to flooding under a regional storm event," Stone said. We have had some prior discussion with Forge & Foster regarding the property. Any development proposal for the site will need to consider the flooding and erosion hazards, and the related applicable policies of the Dundas Special Policy Area and HCA's regulatory requirements. This would include consideration of floodproofing requirements."
Roy McKay, a resident of 4000 Creekside Dr., a condo building that partially faces the Millworks site, said he assumes owners in the building, particularly those on the side facing 64 Hatt, would not be in favour of the eight-storey proposals.
I believe many residents would not want to see more highrise buildings and would wish to see the height of the buildings limited to six stories," McKay said. There is traffic congestion at Memorial Square and Hatt Street now which would be much worse if these buildings are built."
Dane Kerstens of Forge & Foster and Nancy Frieday of GSP Group did not respond to requests for comment by deadline.
STORY BEHIND THE STORY: We wanted to learn more about potential impacts of a development concept proposed for 64 Hatt St., the former Valley City Manufacturing building.