Heritage committee at odds with councillors over fate of historic Gore Park buildings

Hamilton council will have to ignore its own heritage committee next month if it wants to allow a new proposal to redevelop a group of heritage properties next to Gore Park. And heritage advocates worry that's exactly what will happen.

Advocates for the Gore buildings fear council will disregard the municipal heritage committee's recommendations to preserve some of the heritage buildings when its votes next month on the issue. 

Hamilton was literally built up around these very buildings.- Ned Nolan, Friends of the Gore

"We'd like to see progress in the Gore," said Ward 2 Councillor Jason Farr, who represents the downtown area. 

Farr was instrumental in prompting the last-minute heritage designation three years ago that offered the properties some protection. But he is also committed to finding a workable plan to maintain the heritage feel of the Gore while compromising with the developer, Hughson Business Space Inc.

"I would not be surprised if council maintained their current path, which is unanimous towards achieving what was presented to us in April — a redevelopment of 24, 28 and restoration and designation of 18 and 22," Farr told CBC Hamilton. 

• Developer withdraws application to demolish Gore Park buildings
• Wilson Blanchard plans apartments and retail for vacant Gore buildings

On Dec. 14, the city's heritage committee voted a different way. It voted to reject Hughson Business Space's application to demolish 18 to 29 King St. E., while maintaining the facades at 18 and 22. 

There's just so much potential and we're starting to see it all over downtown where projects are going ahead that really celebrate heritage character.- Ned Nolan, Friends of the Gore

Friends of the Gore, a local collection of heritage activists, is fighting to save the properties for the second time in almost four years.  

"I don't think the issue is dead," said Ned Nolan, a member of the group.

"These buildings, I think, are important to people all over the city who see this as our historic city square," he said. "Hamilton was literally built up around these very buildings."

Despite Farr's reassurance that a compromise has been met to maintain the site's heritage, Nolan remains hopeful that Hamiltonians' interest in these historic buildings will once again influence their fate.

Public outcry changed the direction over the original plan, which halted the developer's proposal three years ago, he said.

The community's dissent prompted city council to designate them as heritage buildings and ultimately forced David Blanchard, a key player in the development, to stop the demolition.

We'd like to see progress in the Gore.- Councillor Jason Farr

"These are important shared assets," said Nolan.

"For the developer they are part of a land assembly, a portfolio, they're investments … but with our historic built heritage you have this whole other dimension that needs to be considered, which is about the community."

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The city planning committee is scheduled to meet on Jan. 17 to put the issue to a vote, taking into account the recommendations advised by the heritage committee.