Mill Street property for sale for $15M. It's what Waterdown heritage advocates 'have been horrified about'
Waterdown heritage advocates are voicing their concern after a real estate listing for a sizeable property on Mill Street highlighted the development potential of the site.
The listing, for 40, 34, 30, 24 and 16 Mill St. North in Waterdown, indicates the property can potentially be developed into townhomes or mid-rise live/work apartments" due to the property's C5A zoning to allow for mixed-use medium-density development with a pedestrian focus. The 1.7-acre property - including the historic Nicholson and Stetler Jam factory building, which is believed to have been built in 1865 - is listed for $15.8 million.
Andy MacLaren, the chair of the Waterdown Mill Street Heritage Committee and a resident who lives adjacent to the property, said he and the other community members are particularly concerned about the jam factory building.
The City of Hamilton rezoned downtown Waterdown as part of the city's updated Official Plan, including part of the heritage district, to C5A that allows for six- to eight-storey development. While MacLaren said they understand the property is a very large lot and something will likely be developed there, a development of the type hinted at in the listing is exactly what the group was worried about.
Exactly what's happening now is what we've been horrified about," he said, noting they want to be assured the jam factory building will be protected.
While the in-progress Waterdown Community Node Secondary Plan is supposed to provide protection, the concern is if someone contacts the city about the property, it is technically zoned C5A - even though it is in the heritage district.
The city is giving mixed messages," he said. (Zoning) says you can go up six to eight storeys, but heritage says you can only go up three.
We've been advocating for this for four years and nothing's changed."
Ward 15 Coun. Judi Partridge said the development potential suggested by the real estate listing is somewhat inaccurate.
I recognize and I completely understand the concern - I was concerned when I saw the listing because it's not entirely accurate," she said. It's a little bit misleading to say that you can do all of this stuff."
Partridge said the Secondary Plan, which has been in process for more than two years, will limit development that can be done within the heritage district - and within the entire downtown core. She said the plan is expected to be approved in May, and between now and then there is not enough time for the land to be purchased and a development plan to come forward.
Even if a development came forward in that time frame, she said, it would have to meet the requirements of the Secondary Plan.
I am not concerned," she said. There is a lot of protection in place for the heritage - I'm a heritage advocate."
Partridge said she would not support the development of the block of land in question, particularly the jam factory. She added any development would require heritage, Niagara Escarpment Commission, CN-CP and conservation approvals, due to the proximity of the rail line and Grindstone Creek.
She said the setback requirements from the creek and rail line would likely limit most development on the property.
Requests for comment from realtor Donna Bacher were not immediately returned.