68 townhouses on the Mountain are being converted to condos

For some, converting 68 rental townhouses to condos in Hamilton Mountain's Quinndale neighbourhood is cleaning up an area in disrepair. But a housing advocate worries it's another example of low-income people losing more affordable places to rent.

The pride of home ownership is important is well.- Tom Jackson, Ward 6 councillor

City council's planning committee approved a plan this week to convert 68 townhouses at 515 Queen Victoria Dr. into condos.

The plan includes renovating and upgrading the property, which has been "not in a good state of repair over the years," said Coun. Tom Jackson of Ward 6.

The plan also gives the tenants of the units — 36 two bedroom, 30 three bedroom and two four-bedroom rentals — first option to buy. Those who don't want to buy can stay as renters for as long as they want. Eighty-one per cent of the current tenants support the conversion.

• Amid tight rental market, 29 downtown apartments to be converted to condos
• Hamilton's apartment vacancy rate is up because younger adults can't leave home

It's a good solution for a property that needed attention, Jackson said. New owner First Rock Properties Ltd. wants to improve the units, he said. And the residents are happy.

Whenever we take something out of the market, we're limiting housing choices.- Renee Wetselaar, affordable housing advocate

"When I have someone who has come along and bought the property and says they want to upgrade it and improve it for the lives of families there and for the neighbourhood in general, I'm definitely open minded and want to be supportive of that," he said, adding that First Rock held an extra public meeting on the file.

'Best of both worlds'

"It's the best of both worlds," he said. "The pride of home ownership is important is well."

But others say there's more to the story. Renee Wetselaar, co-ordinator of Hamilton's Affordable Housing Flagship, said this is part of an ongoing Hamilton trend to convert rentals to condo units. It's the first time she's seen it happen with townhouses.

"Whenever we take something out of the market, we're limiting housing choices," she said.

Hamilton's hot housing market has led to more conversions. It's been such an issue, in fact, that the city issued a moratorium on condo conversions in 2015.

The two-year moratorium has finished. And vacancy rates are 3.8 per cent right now — above the two per cent threshold that prompts a moratorium. Hamilton's official plan also allows conversions if 75 per cent of residents agree to them.

Past problems with the property

The issue in such cases is making sure tenants have the right information about their units before they buy, said Tom Cooper, director of the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction.

"We've heard time and time again situations where people purchased condos and weren't necessarily aware of the fact that repairs needed to be done."

Historically, the area around 515 Queen Victoria Dr. has not been without its problems.

In late 2015, for example, a taxi driver was robbed at knife point near there. In 2007, a fight over $80 led to a murder.

City council will cast a ratification vote on Jan. 25.