$35 to $55 Million in Changes to Waterfront!

By now everyone should know that there are big changes planned for the Waterfront. Pier 8 will be developed with between 750 and 1000 residential units sometime within the next 10 years. Recently the City also announced massive planning changes to the waterfront from Bayfront Park to Pier 8!!

All docks in Macassa Bay will be removed and replaced by new floating docks in a proposed new Marina Basin. The aim is to concentrate all boat dockage in a large basin in front of the current Royal Hamilton Yacht Club and Port Authority Marina behind a larger floating breakwater. The shoreline between Pier 4 Park and Pier 8 will be straightened and raised to meet current standards and City Staff insist they will not spend money to improve the waterfront as it exists now.

Some of the Major Changes to Boating will be: demolishing and re-building at least 5 buildings + a new break wall + new docks + new water’s edge treatments.
Macassa Bay Yacht Club – Current building torn down and club relocated to newly built shared facility in space between Leander and RHYC
Macdonald Marine – All buildings removed and possible relocation to current Port Authority location in new buildings. No on shore storage to be allowed during the summer.
Hamilton Bay Sailing Club – Relocated to new shared facility on current location of MBYC
Leander Boat Club – Current building torn down and new shared facility built on current location of MBYC
Royal Hamilton Yacht Club – Current buildings torn down and new shared facility in space between the existing Leander and RHYC buildings.

Many in the boating community are completely opposed to these plans. This applies especially to Macassa Bay YC, as the only self-help facility will no longer exist in its current form. There is the danger that, after agreeing to these plans, they will be changed and the clubs will end up with facilities that do no meet their needs.

Major Changes to Waterfront Parks:
Pier 4 Park – Add trees and use green space to create outdoor winter skating rink
Bayfront Park – Washrooms and a picnic shelter will be built on site. We have asked these be located close to the beach.
- We have also asked that any food concessions and boat rental facilities be co-located in the planned Leander / HBSC building on the MBYC site, rather than on their own in the park.

While there are some good things in this plan and the City is hoping the Province and Federal Governments will chip in, it’s still awfully expensive! We feel improvements can be made to the waterfront without the proposed massive changes or cost.

For more information
go to www.hamilton.ca/wag or
call Bob Bratina’s office (905- 546-2711) and
for our response to these planned changes go to http://www.northendneighbours.com/ or
e-mail Stephen Park (NEN VP) at s_park@sympatico.ca

North End Traffic Video

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Traffic

We as an association have been heavily involved with the process of developing a workable plan which will work for all North Enders in regards to traffic. We call for a Child and Family Friendly Neighbourhood and reduced speeds.

We, like you, are concerned about all the traffic that flows into our neighbourhood when events are going on. We are especially concerned about future development and how that will affect the flows and speed of traffic and parking.

For more information on this contact Sheri Selway at nen.president@gmail.com

Picton Library



To all North Enders; here is the recommendation (Below Letter) from the Chief Librarian in regards to what is there desired direction for Library Service for the North End of Hamilton. As President of North End Neighbours and a resident it is sad to see that the Library Board has recommended that the partnership with North Hamilton Community Health Centre is not a working relationship that the Board can work with. I would like to point out a few things in the Boards argument against relocating the Picton Branch, they as a Board had for years expressed interest in this project now that they are showing short falls in other projects this project in the North End is no longer viable. The Board recommendation mentions increased costs as a concern, as I understand the costs were reduced, the Board as I understand was concerned about a 20 year lease, this as I understand was reduced. The Board was concerned that library patrons would have to walk through a waiting room of a health facility to access the Library Branch, not the case as I understand it would have had an entrance just off the main entrance of the new building. Another concern is that residents of the East End of Hamilton have limited Library service, Kenilworth and Red Hill to the best of my knowledge are not planned to be converted to a Bookmobile. In the Boards own words the partnership would have provided lower operating cost allowed for longer hours of operation and would have accessed a different clientele, how can the Board of Directors for the Library walk away from this, I don’t think they have thought this partnership through thoroughly and for that reason the Neighbourhood of the North End will suffer. My hope is that the elected officials when voting on the recommendation by the Board from the Library reverse this recommendation and either keep status quo (The Picton) or reconsider the NHCHC proposal.

Sincerely
John Mattinson
President
North End Neighbours



Date: June 11, 2008

To: Chair and Board Members

From: Ken Roberts, Chief Librarian

Subject: North Hamilton Community Health Centre Proposal

RECOMMENDATION:
That the Library Board no longer consider the option of sharing space with the North Hamilton Community Health Centre in its new facility, and

That the Hamilton Public Library Board continue to operate the current Picton Branch until such time as alternative service delivery can be arranged; and

That the Library Board commits to use any saved funding to improve service in the north and east ends of the city in order to provide improved services to those residents of the city most affected by poverty.

FINANCIAL/STAFFING/LEGAL IMPLICATIONS:
We do not have an agreement with the North Hamilton Community Health Centre. Previous Board motions had directed us to see if an agreement could be reached. Still, architectural fees directly connected with providing for space that the library might use, if an agreement could be reached, were incurred. The Library Board should pay any reasonable and fair architectural fees related to the preliminary design of this space.
BACKGROUND:
The North Hamilton Community Health Centre Board approached the Hamilton Public Library Board with a proposal for a 20 year lease of approximately 1000 square feet in return for a total estimated investment of $200,000, including all furnishings and related work. The Library Board authorized administration to see if an agreement could be reached and expressed support for the concept since it allowed for lower operating costs of a north end branch and, potentially, allowed for longer hours and access to a different clientele.
Several months later the cost estimates were revised to $300,000 for the 20 year period of time. The Library Board still expressed support for the concept.
We learned this last April that the costs have now escalated significantly. The North Hamilton Community Health Centre Board presented two potential solutions at a June 4th special Board meeting. The North Hamilton Community Health also invited the Library Board to submit a counter-proposal. A deadline date of June 20th was given.
Staff have not been directed to prepare a counter-proposal.
Library Board members have expressed a commitment to improve services in the north and eastern areas of the city and have expressed a desire to see limited funds make the biggest impact on literacy issues related to poverty. There are a number of neighbors in this area of the city that currently receive very limited library service.
Staff recommend that the available funds be used to purchase a second bookmobile, one that is accessible and is capable of improving library service.
In terms of performance, the current Picton Branch does about 22,000 circulations a year while a well-used bookmobile can generate almost 10 times as much use with a smaller operating cost. The difference in cost would allow for more outreach programming in order to bring people into libraries and to encourage use. We also hope to partner with community organizations for more wifi access and after-school homework assistance.
In comparison, moving to the NHCHC within the terms that are offered mean that we could only offer limited hours in a fixed location, with no outreach. It means that residents of other areas in the city where there is a need for library service continue to receive nothing within their neighborhoods.

Waterfront Development

North End has its west and north borders at the West Harbour.

West Harbourfront development should not come at the expense of those who call the North End home. We are a residential neighbourhood.

Traffic, both speed and amount, noise, parking are all issues that need to be addressed.

FYI - for more information on the Waterfront go to www.hamilton.ca/wag There's a lot going on here so take a careful look.

A Real Neighbourhood Bank

The Board from North End Neighbours had the pleasure of meeting with Bryan Egan Branch Manager at the Scotiabank. The meeting was a meet and greet and a true pleasure. You may or may not know that the Scotiabank is the only bank located in our neighbourhood, after meeting with Bryan he has indicated that they are truly a neighbourhood bank and plan to be in our neighbourhood for many many years. So as neighbours please consider this bank for your future banking needs.
Bryan Egan can be contacted through his email. Or stop in and see him.

bryan.egan@scotiabank.com

Night Out Event 2008

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North End Night Out Sept. 13th, 2007

North End Night Out Sept. 13th, 2007
A good time was had by all.

Bunge Bridge Over Burlington Street

Bunge Bridge Over Burlington Street
Principal Nancy D’Olimpio St Lawrence

Bunge Bridge over Burlington Street

Bunge Bridge over Burlington Street
Principal Mrs Millen Bennetto

July 12th 2007

July 12th 2007
10 Years After Plastimet

Environmental Concerns

North End Neighbours is committed to our environment. We believe that every individual, business and institution has a responsibility to share in that commitment. The following are some environmental issues that we are following... Waterfront Development, Local Industrial Development, Litter and Pollution issues.