North End Neighbours

An Evening With Jason Farr

2011-11-09T19:09:00.000-05:00

North End Neighbours and other Ward 2 neighbourhood associations are working with "Town Halls Hamilton" and Hamilton Civic League to help organize a "town hall" meeting to highlight issues important to our neighbourhoods. We encourage all to attend and invite your neighbours!

Town Hall: "An Evening with Ward 2 Councillor Jason Farr"

Thursday, November 10 7 - 9:00 pm.
(Doors open at 6:30)
Council chambers, City Hall

For more information about Town Hall Meetings - http://townhallshamilton.blogspot.com/

Here is a link to an article about the North End at the Raise the Hammer website: http://raisethehammer.org/article/1493/north_end_neighbourhood_one_of_hamilton%27s_hidden_gems

We hope to see you there!

2011-09-09T15:51:00.000-04:00

WHAT NEXT FOR BARTON TIFFANY ?

Back in 2005 City Council approved a new Secondary Plan for the North End and parts of Beasley, Central, and Strathcona Neighbourhoods. The portion of this area known as Barton-Tiffany, just south of the CN rail yard, was to be re-zoned for residential development. CN Rail opposed this part of the plan, and appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board. This appeal was parked during the Stadium debates, and is now set to resume. This affects our entire community.

The City has now reversed its position and bent toward the CN view – WITHOUT public consultation. This decision would make a very large piece of land off limits for potential residential uses. This is a major change to the Setting Sail Secondary Plan – yet the City maintains there is no need to have a public discussion. We think that's wrong.

What do you think?

Please join us on

Tuesday Sept 13

at 7:00

for an information session and public discussion at the

Workers Arts and Heritage Centre

51 Stuart Street

More people living in the centre of our city means more support for businesses and public amenities. Residential intensification makes our schools, churches and recreation centres stronger and safe from closures. It is possible for the rail yard and new residents to co-exist in Barton-Tiffany – just as they do at C.P. Rail’s Aberdeen Yard in the southwest near the Chedoke Golf course.

sponsored by Rethink Barton Tiffany : www.rethinkbartontiffany.ca

and North End Neighbours

2011-08-18T21:12:00.000-04:00

Macassa Bay

Yacht Club

Open House

Saturday, August 20 - 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

(Raindate - Sunday, Aug. 21)

- Charity BBQ Benefitting Welcome Inn

- View our dock & boats (step aboard some boats)

(Children must wear a lifejacket if on dock - ‘loaner’ jackets will be provided)

- Knot-a-breast Dragonboat Display

- Power Squadron Water Safety displays

- Historical/Architectural/Cultural Display

We’ll also have small gifts for younger children - bring your camera!

As neighbours and friends in the North End, we invite you to join our BBQ & tour our clubhouse, grounds and dock.

BBQ 11 to 3 - $5 (Hotdog or hamburger or sausage-on-a-bun plus soft drink)

Please Note: Children must be accompanied by an adult

In Your Neighbourhood

2011-06-20T16:40:00.004-04:00

You opinion is needed

Project Update:

Real Time Control for

Management of Wastewater from

Combined Sewer Overflows

The 30 day environmental assessment started on July 15 and will end on August 15.

This is the new design of the building planned to replace the house at 115 Ferrie E.

The new control building will be used to house city technical equipment as the City completes a sewer project called Real Time Control.

Site Plan:

Hardcopies will be available for review at:

Office of the Clerk
City Hall
71 Main St. W., 1st Floor
Hamilton, ON
L8P 4Y5
Mon-Fri:8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Public Works Department
City Centre
77 James St. N., Suite 400
Hamilton, ON
L8R 2K3
Mon-Fri:8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Hamilton Central Library
55 York Blvd.
Hamilton, ON
L8N 4E4

The City will also be posting online at:

http://www.hamilton.ca/CityDepartments/PublicWorks/WaterAndWasteWaterDev
/Reports+and+Studies/ReportsandStudies.htm

Underground construction will take place in 4 areas of the North End reduce combined sewer overflows (CSO) to the West Harbour and in some cases to reduce the risk of basement flooding.

Permanent above ground control buildings will be constructed to house technical equipment in 2 locations.

Work will be done at: Ferguson & Ferrie, Mary & Ferrie, Ferguson & Burlington, and Wellington & Burlington.

Chris Gainham from Public Works presented an update on this project, the problem and solution, what is below ground, what is planned above ground, and the scope and schedule of this work at a neighbourhood meeting June 23. Councillor Jason Farr also attended.

Background: The 30 day environmental assessment ~~is soon to start~~. has started!

Real Time Control is an operating strategy for collecting and managing wastewater which will result in the construction of new and upgraded structures (gates & dams) underground, and monitoring equipment housed in buildings above ground in 2 locations.

A Public Information Centre was held on Dec. 1 2010 at Leander Boat Club. Further communication between North End Neighbours and the City on this project resulted in an additional meeting in January at Bennetto Rec. Centre to discuss site specific questions and concerns was attended by residents and Councillor Jason Farr.

After an overview of the project, the group discussed problems associated with the construction such as dirt, noise, vibrations, traffic and our concern that any control building take into consideration the character of the neighbourhood so as not to negatively impact property value.

For more information contact: Christopher.gainham@hamilton.ca

For information about Real Time Control - the link below is the information from the Dec. 2010 meeting.

http://www.hamilton.ca/CityDepartments/PublicWorks/WaterAndWasteWaterDev/Reports+and+Studies/

The information that went to council in April is in the following link below:
http://www.hamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyres/B432AD00-FAB8-41D1-B2FF-BE63C2B17CB7/0/Apr18EDRMS_n155887_v1_7_2__PW11031.pdf

Here is an article on Real Time Controls:
http://www.uimonline.com/index/webapp-stories-action?id=268&archive=yes&Issue=2009-06-01

Open Streets June 12

2011-05-31T21:45:00.000-04:00

Join North End Neighbours at Open Streets on June 12.

Our group is happy to be part of this great community event. Find us near "New Horizons" between Picton and Macauley on James Street North.

Rapid Transit: Moving Forward with A-Line!

2010-12-06T22:48:00.001-05:00

Click here to take the survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/F9Y8WRG

The North End is a "stakeholder" for the City of Hamilton's Rapid Transit Initiative, specifically on the A-Line. The A-Line is the proposed rapid transit corridor from the Airport to the Waterfront.

The City of Hamilton states in their letter to NEN "that Rapid Transit is about more that just moving people from place to place. It is about providing a catalyst for the development of hight quality, safe, sustainable and affordable transportation options for our citizens, connections dey destination pints, stimulating economic development and revitalizing Hamilton. Rapid transit planning strives to improve the quality of life for our community and the surrounding environment."

Sheri Selway and another NEN member met with the City consultants and staff for a stakeholder meeting on Dec. 3, making it clear that we were not prepared to take a position or respond to questions regarding the views of the community on Rapid Transit. Instead, we engaged in a discussion based on questions and comments submitted to an on-line survey regarding the North End and Rapid Transit.

Please click on the link below for a short survey about Rapid Transit composed using "Survey Monkey". The survey is only 5 questions will only take a few minutes of your time!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/F9Y8WRG

For more information about the City's Rapid Transit Initiative go to the link below.

http://www.hamilton.ca/ProjectsInitiatives/RapidTransit/

In addition, there have been several articles/opinion pieces/letters to editor in the Hamilton Spectator recently on this issue.

On December 9, the City will be launching the A-Line planning process through a public open house 6 pm to 9 pm at Mountain Arena.

Please attend this information session and help the North End learn about this project, ask question, and make comments.

Liveable Streets! Good For All Ages!

2010-11-03T14:45:00.002-04:00

Slower pace is good for the community! Enjoy this short video from "Streetfilms". Donald Appleyard is a scholar who studied the neighborhood environment and the ways planning and design can make life better for city residents. In 1981, Appleyard published "Livable Streets" based on his research into how people experience streets with different traffic volumes.

The Second Edition of Livable Streets will be published by Routledge Press in 2011.

This video explores three studies in "Livable Streets" that measured, for the first time, the effect of traffic on our social interactions and how we perceive our own homes and neighborhoods.

I notice that the right side of the video is not showing up and no idea why! The streetfilms website is: http://www.streetfilms.org/revisiting-donald-appleyards-livable-streets/

A Brief History in "Setting Sail"

2010-08-30T13:56:00.002-04:00

The position of NEN on a possible West Harbour Stadium (see below), was arrived at through long, hard debate and careful discussion.

But the story actually begins around September 2002 when the City issued a "notice of study commencement and Public Consultation" on the West Harbour called Setting Sail. This became a lengthy process.

In order to keep order during this study period, the City passed an interum control bylaw in March 2003, which effectively "froze" development in the Barton/Tiffany area. This may be why the notion exists even today that no one wants to build there.

However, at the time the owner of the former auto wrecking yard on the top of the bluff was proposing that the committee of adjustment amend the zoning to allow "four story multiple dwellings" as is still posted on a sign on the site today.

The City stopped this and everything else, and is still doing so. However, new residential development went ahead on the perimeter of the area, with houses going in at Hess and Barton on Hess, and more houses at Crooks and Barton on Crooks. All sold quickly, and their owners are paying taxes.

The planning process for the rest of the West Harbour, including North End and parts of Beasley and Central neighbourhoods, continued with public participation, and a Citizens' Advisory Group (CAG) and PIC's which ended in March of 2005 with a list of planning "principles" which are somewhat ironic in light of the stadium debate today!
The document begins with "Ensure new development respects and enhances the character of the neighbourhoods" and ends with "Generally avoid expropriation of residential and commercial properties."

North End residents participated fully in this process as this plan encompassed the whole neighbourhood plus some.

So, where is a stadium in all this?

In 1995, six sites in the area had been looked at for a stadium site (4 in the study area, and 2 just beyond). The study concluded there were no suitable sites. But Hamilton hoped to host the Commonwealth Games and in July 2003, the Commonwealth Game Federation executive came in town to review the proposed venues. They visited Bayfront Park to see the site of a proposed Commonwealth Stadium (but nothing had actually changed on the ground since 1995 re:a suitable site.)

Publicity shows a computerized rendering of a stadium on the Barton/Tiffany site with an oval track to the West between Queen and the stadium. THIS bid package is the source of the endlessly reproduced image of a computer-assisted drawing of a stadium that we see today! There are actually 2 versions, a smaller 15,000 seat version and a larger 25 - 30,000 seat version. The one we are being sold is the smaller one, although the larger one is the one that is needed, with the Tiger Cats as a legacy tenant.

This much reproduced rendering of an "imaginary version" of the proposed Commonwealth Stadium has been included in the Pan Am Bid book. (It is often credited in the Spectator as a "file photo", or "special to the Spectator".)

(In actuality, there is no architect and no design and no actual feasibility "study" to put a stadium on the site!)

By December of 2003, the PIC included a stadium option as well as 2 housing options, even though we had lost the bid to the Commonwealth Games. However, by March 2004, housing became the preferred option.

In March 2005, Setting Sail was approved by the City.

In June 2009, Hamilton approved the new Urban Official Plan and Setting Sail is incorporated as a Secondary Plan.

The Position of North End Neighbours on a proposed West Harbour Stadium

2010-08-05T01:19:00.002-04:00

Pending the provision by the City of further information sufficient to allow proper assessment of the impact of the Pan Am Games development proposed for the Barton-Tiffany lands upon the North End neighbourhood, and the The North End Traffic Management Plan, North End Neighbours continues to support the residential land use designation assigned to the Barton-Tiffany Lands in Hamilton's Official Plan.

Core Needs Families - NOT Stadium

2010-07-20T11:27:00.000-04:00

Herman Turkstra
The Hamilton Spectator
(Jul 14, 2010) Bob Young is in the process of saving Hamilton from making a major mistake.
That statement should be put in the context of our track record. We have a mostly empty coliseum. We have a mostly empty convention centre. We have a mostly empty Hamilton Place. We have an almost forgotten Football Hall of Fame. We have the elegant Sheila Copps memorial -- aka the Discovery Centre -- at the foot of James Street that is a great place to hold a kids' birthday party, given the absence of visitors. We have a storm water/storm sewer problem that we cannot afford to fix.
And in the midst of all this, one man came into Hamilton with real cash, paid no attention to the fact that the city stadium selection process sidelined him, and hired real experts to help determine where a successful stadium could be built. Every one of those experts said the west harbour site would fail. Ask Michael Fenn where the truth lies.
Anyone who witnessed the anger among drivers at Burlington and Bay streets after the July 1 fireworks knows where the truth lies. The west harbour has horrible vehicle access, even more so after council in 2005 cancelled the Perimeter Road which would have solved that access issue.
More importantly, our site selection process was pathologically skewed when Councillor Chad Collins moved, with no professional input, the elimination of Confederation Park. Unless the provincial government waives all the rules, Hamilton's site selection process to date would never pass the most basic rules of environmental assessment. We had to look at all reasonable sites and Confederation Park is, on many criteria, clearly the best.
What also seems to be missing from the discussion about the west harbour is that the city engaged in a five-year planning process called Setting Sail to determine how to best use the Rheem site and its neighbouring sites. This process combined input from dozens of agencies and local residents. The unanimous conclusion was that housing should be built in the Barton-Tiffany brownfields, not a stadium.
Council approved that conclusion on three separate occasions. That strategy for Barton-Tiffany "urban renewal" is now part of Hamilton's Official Plan. It is the stadium that has no place there.
The best thing that Hamilton's urban core could get is hundreds more families living as close to King and James as possible. Living there 365 days a year, shopping there 52 weeks of the year. Working there year after year. That was the conclusion of the Setting Sail planning process. It is a very sound conclusion.
The problem arises from our municipal addiction to "projects," and specifically to projects in the wrong place. The west harbour is often, mistakenly, referred to as our waterfront. It is not our waterfront. It is a four-block section of shoreline at the edge of two high-density residential neighbourhoods that functions extraordinarily well as it is. It needs no further capital investment to perform a great role for the city.
Meanwhile, Hamilton's real waterfront is virtually abandoned. Our real waterfront lives on the shores of Lake Ontario and stretches for miles from Burlington to Grimsby.
When the discussion turns to what other cities have and have not done with their stadiums, and most successful stadiums are located at the confluence of major public transit, we tend to look for those that are at the host city's waterfront. Like Toronto. But every shoreline city from Kingston to St. Catharines has looked to its Lake Ontario shoreline as its waterfront. That includes Toronto. We are building a $14-million bridge to link our Lake Ontario waterfront to the east end of Hamilton and the Mountain. It is perfectly situated at the intersection of every major expressway in the area. It has incredible visibility. The existing lonely local restaurants would benefit immensely from more restaurants and stores in the area to make it a destination. It is seriously underused.
In this context, one person brought in the expertise needed to give us good guidance. That case was made by Young to the mediator. From the Fenn report it is very clear that the west harbour site will fail.
We simply do not need one more monumental failure on our hands. We have enough.
Young, almost single-handedly, is helping us walk away from making a huge mistake that will cost our future residents for a generation. He needs our gratitude.
Herman Turkstra is a Hamilton lawyer and a North End resident.

Stadium Plan B: East Mountain

2010-07-13T12:05:00.001-04:00

NEN president, Sheri Selway, attended the July 7, 2010 Committe of the Whole special meeting where Michael Fenn presented the "Report of the Facilitator: City of Hamilton and Tiger-Cat discussions on the location of the Hamilton stadium facilities for the 2015 Pan Am Games and subsequent uses".

The report looked at the West Harbour precinct stadium location and an East Mountain Location. For the West Harbour, the parties disagreed "in respect to the adequacy of highway access and the availability of parking, both volume and convenience." Both parties acknowledged that the level of analysis was not yet sufficient to answer all the operational and financial questions. In addition, the City plans further transportation and traffic studies to support any required roadway, transit and traffic improvements and modifications.

Although the Tiger-Cats expressed concern over the limitations of the West Harbour site, neither the City or the Cats could produce a detailed proposal for the alternative location, as proposed in the Terms of Reference.

The parties agreed that the criteria for an alternative site would include: meeting City's public policy goals, not at the expense of the West harbour development, , meeting as many as possible of the Tiger Cats objectives.

The Tiger Cats objectives were - highway access, seating for 30,000 with expansion to 45,000 for a Grey Cup, potential for increased revenues, prominent visibility for "naming rights", avoiding uncertainty of land-use and environmental approvals, along with allaying neighbourhood impacts, and assemble the land quickly and at a reasonable price.

The Facilitator recommended that City advise the PAG officials, & the government of Ontario that Hamilton participate in the Pan Am Games at one of two definite locations, with the final location to be selected by the City Council by August 31, 2010.

In addition, technical analysis of the West Harbour site be completed by Aug. 12 and a similar range of technical analysis on the East Mountain site.

The City Report stated in their update that pursuing option B will still result in redevelopment of the West harbour precinct to achieve city building goals.

The Pan Am Games update from the meeting can be found at this link:
http://www.hamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyres/279A9E4C-D3D6-4CC9-A26E-C33C202F3B37/0/Jul07EDRMS_n90768_v1_CM09006e_3.pdf

The Report of the Facilitator can be found at: http://www.hamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyres/45BA04EC-ACBA-48E0-B374-9DEEDFA7A9E2/0/TCM09006eAppendixA.pdf

Bob Young's letter to the Mayor can be found at: http://www.900chml.com/Other/Bob%20Young%20Letter%20July%206.pdf

No mention of the Velodrome, was made, but it seems fairly logical to consider putting the Velodrome at the West Harbour, then add greenspace, and housing to increase density and to achieve Hamilton's goal for progressive developments in its downtown and promoting the West Harbour.

Comments for Committee of the Whole: Feb. 18, 2010

2010-02-18T18:18:00.001-05:00

Last February, citing concerns for our neighbourhood, North End Neighbours urged council not to make Barton-Tiffany the preferred site for a new stadium, but to stick to the designation from Setting Sail.

Today, Council will vote to put a stadium on the West-Harbour, our doorstep.

Within our neighbourhood the issue of putting a stadium on that location is hotly debated. But, for or against, the worry is how a stadium at the West Harbour will affect our neighbourhood. We want a healthy, child and Family-Friendly community. We want to be protected from the negative impacts of a stadium at our doorstep including traffic and parking.

We are interested in making sure a stadium is transportation-friendly for walking, biking, and with shuttles bringing people in rather than driving through our residential streets.

We are interested in a LEED stadium built with excellence, incorporating environmentally-friendly designs and concepts.

Issues that have been brought forward and continue to be discussed amongst neighbours include: before and after game parties, game noise, what the stadium will look like, what kind of use it will get, will it be a “wall” facing the neighbourhood, how lights will affect neighbourhood, community use, traffic, parking, how streets will be blocked off, and which streets will become main arterials.

All will impact our neighbourhood.

A West Harbour Stadium combined with the West Harbour Recreational Master Plan puts our neighbourhood under real pressure especially with the increased traffic and parking. While we certainly see changes coming, and coming fast, we want to remain a healthy, pedestrian friendly community. A neighbourhood welcoming and safe for seniors, handicapped, singles, and families with children. We call it a Child and Family Friendly Neighbourhood.

In keeping with the Hamilton vision of the Best Place to Raise a Child, North End, (and other adjacent neighbourhoods) needs to be protected from major increases in through traffic and event parking. We strongly urge a 5th recommendation be added to the 4 recommendations being voted on today.

a) that approval of the site includes implementation of a program to ensure that the North End Neighbourhood is protected from adverse traffic and parking impacts related to the stadium/velodrome site uses, through comprehensive traffic and parking management strategies to be developed in consultation with residents of that neighbourhood.

Does A Stadium Enhance A Neighbourhood?

2010-02-15T22:35:00.003-05:00

March 2009 after City Council voted that the West Harbour be submitted as the preferred site for the Pan Am Stadium, NEN requested of City Manager Chris Murray and David Adames, the Pan Am “point man”, that NEN be kept informed during the site selection process. That did not happen.

On Thursday Feb. 11, 2010 a meeting organized by Councillor Bob Bratina was held to inform residents of the up-coming recommendation by City staff to select the West Harbour location for the stadium site. The business plan had been completed, and the preferred site was in fact going to be recommended to council on Thurs. Feb. 18. About 75 people attended this meeting, organized on very short notice, hotly discussing this decision & the process, and asking many questions about the affects to the neighbourhood.

NEN’s position has been that until we can properly assess the effects of a stadium, NEN continues to support the residential land use designation on the Barton-Tiffany land in Hamilton’s Official Plan: (medium-density residential, small shops/commercial, and parkland).

Board members read the 200 page business report which includes the IBI traffic report (80 page appendix) , that will be presented to Committee of the Whole on Feb. 18. In addition, we spoke at that meeting focusing our comments on our concerns for our neighbourhood.

Issues that have been brought forward and discussed are: before and after game “partiers”, noise, what the stadium will look like, what kind of use it will get, will it be a “wall” facing the neighbourhoods, how lights will affect neighbourhood and harbour, shading, traffic, parking, community use, how streets will be blocked off, which streets will become main arterials and more.

We are interested in making sure a stadium built in the West Harbour is transportation friendly, with shuttles bringing people in rather than driving through residential streets. We are interested in a LEED stadium built with excellence, incorporating environmentally-friendly designs and concepts.

NEN is not opposed to the Pan Am Games. We do want to know how building a stadium will enhance our neighbourhood, enhance residential growth, and be true to Hamilton’s vision of the Best Place to Raise a Child, promote innovation, engage citizens, and promote business.

A West Harbour Stadium combined with the West Harbour Recreational Master Plan which recommends over 75,000 sq. ft. of commercial buildings, puts our neighbourhood under pressure. Change will happen, and we need to be part of the process to maintain our community and as we continue to work toward becoming a Child and Family Friendly Neighbourhood.

MEMORIES

2010-02-08T18:15:00.001-05:00

Memories Night was a huge success! A great time was had by all. A big thanks to all the people who shared their stories and especially to Ed Stewart!

We want to do it again, and hopefully record it!

Thanks to Route 66 Oldies Cafe for hosting this event.

Rezoning? Your Comments Are Needed!

2010-01-15T16:09:00.002-05:00

Readers of this blog may have noticed a "Notice to Rezone" sign at 366 Bay Street North! NEN president Sheri Selway, met with Timothy Lee at the City planning department, as a 3 story 6 unit condominium is planned to be built at this site if it is rezoned.

What would a 3 story, 6 unit condominium look like? Some concerns from residents include:

that it would be "out of character" with the surrounding neighbourhoood,
height (see photo, previous entry),
blocking view of water,
loss of privacy,
increased traffic and parking issues.

However, Mr. Lee clarified that rezoning is separate from "urban design". Before the plans can be approved, the zoning by-law must be changed. This is frustrating for residents, as the "design" is linked to the usage or zoning! Essentially, the change in zoning is NOT linked to the plans.

In principal, increasing density in urban core neighbourhoods meets with provincial initiatives to increase populations in the City boundaries rather than constantly expanding our city borders and building new subdivisions. As there are several other places in the North End (and in the downtown) where "infill" housing can take place, it is important for this to be done properly if rezoning takes place. Your comments on this project are needed!

To further our understanding of the plans, the architect, John Mokrycke, and owner Clark Cerello spoke to the January NEN board meeting bringing the "photos" (below) and drawings. Below, are notes from the meeting in point form, many of the points are in answer to questions raised.

planned to be "higher end" conominiums - $250,000 and up - all are to be sold (rather than rented)
planned to "fit into neighbourhood" with style of building, designed with a "historical" angle
environmentally friendly
existing house remains and will be rebricked.
the existing house is 2 1/2 stories so new building will be taller. Plans show it to be 36 ft high.
"green" roof over parking spaces (8 - 9) in the back
bedrooms will be facing the backyard (in creased safety in back)
the plans do not touch the alley

Please send comments to Timothy Lee at the Planning Department of City Hall. 905 546 2424 ext. 1249 or email timothy.lee@hamilton.ca

Also Bob Bratina needs to know at 546 2424.

The City will prepare a recommendation to be sent to the Economic Development and Planning Committee of City Council. There will be public meeting organized as well.

If you choose to NOT comment and the rezoning is approved, you have no further recourse with the OMB (Ontario Municipal Board).

366 Bay Street North - "Artistic Rendition" of planned Condo

2010-01-15T15:34:00.000-05:00

After speaking with City planner Timothy Lee, North End Neighbours invited architect John Mokrycke and owner Clark Cerello to the January board meeting. Members of NEN living near the site were informed and invited to attend the meeting. Mr. Mokrycke agreed to allow these "artistic rendition" of the planned condos to be posted.

Traffic Greeters Part 3

2009-10-04T13:44:00.000-04:00

Join NEN Monday October 5 and Tuesday October 6 to "greet" the traffic on James Street North at Ferrie at 8:00

Many children and parents need to cross this busy street on their way to school. It was identified by residents as a place where traffic needs to go slow and be respectful of the North End as a Residential Neighbourhood.

2009-09-13T15:57:00.001-04:00

"Traffic Greeters" Slow Down Traffic

2009-09-08T14:45:00.007-04:00

NEN and supporters are gathering the first week of school to remind vehicles "rushing" over the John Street bridge, that 2 schools (Bennetto and St. Lawrence) are just ahead and they need to drive slowly and carefully! The School Council at Bennetto joined in as well as people walking by with their children. We are all concerned about the speed of traffic coming over the John Street North railroad overpass.

Residents are supportive and appreciative, joining in and carrying signs - even giving out coffee and treats! Many people stop and talk! More and more people are joining in - even students on their way to school.

"Traffic Greeters" events are organized by the Board of Directors of NEN to address the problem of speeding drivers in a area that is hard hit by the volume and speed of traffic cutting through the North End. Our "Child and Family Friendly Neighbourhood" initiative will see speed reduced on all streets to 30K. Supported by Councillor Bob Bratina, 30K is an important part of making our neighbourhood and the City of Hamilton The Best Place To Raise A Child.

We were happy to notice that cars, buses, taxis, and trucks responded with waves and slowed down and we hope that drivers will remember our "greeting" and understand that is is a potentially dangerous area for local school children!

Join NEN!

2009-08-28T22:01:00.004-04:00

NEN is working hard to encourage north enders to join the neighbourhood association. By working together, we are making a difference in our community.

Our membership fee is only $2 and it is good until October 2010!
Donations are always welcome. Our annual general meeting is on October 20 at Bennetto Recreation Centre.

Members can run in the election to be a director and can vote for directors.

City Wants Your Opinion on a Pedestrian Friendly Gore Park

2009-08-28T21:43:00.006-04:00

The Gore Park Master Plan is looking for our input into the plan to make Gore Park more pedestrian friendly. The plan is to remove the buses from the south side and make the area open for some changes.

Have your opinion heard and hear other people's ideas. There will be 3 sessions on September 9 to see display boards and to get our ideas.

2 p.m display boards set up in Gore Park. No presentation, but staff on hand to answer questions.
Two other presentations will take place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 150 King St. East, Pavilion A, Level 3

3 - 5 p.m. with a 3:30 presentation
6 - 8 p.m. with a 6:30 presentation

For more information see the website below.
http://hamiltonlive.ca/hamilton-news/2009/8/28/city-wants-to-hear-from-you-about-gore-park.html

2009-08-19T23:13:00.004-04:00

2009-08-19T23:11:00.001-04:00

2009-08-19T14:25:00.001-04:00

Greeting Rush Hour Traffic

2009-08-19T13:10:00.001-04:00

North End "greeters" met traffic using Bay Street to cut through the neighbourhood, or to attend a 7:30 Rotary Club breakfast at the Chamber of Commerce.

About 20 residents carrying signs saying "Children Live Here - Drive Slowly", "Pedestrian Friendly Driving", " Is Driving Fast Fair To Residents?" walked the Bay Street sidewalk beginning at 7:00 am.

Drivers slowed down! One driver, Tim, stopped and came by to talk to us, saying he was fully in support! Thanks Tim!

Park N'Party - A Fun Time for the North End!

2009-08-14T11:09:00.007-04:00

Weather co-operated and the crowds showed up! (Over 700!) A great time was had by all! And thanks for everyone waited so patiently for food!
Thanks to our many sponsors of this fabulous event, too many to mention all of them, but a few deserve our special thanks.
Bunge, Columbian Chemicals, Liberty Energy, and Westway: thank you for your generosity!
Harvey's, Liuna Station, Our Corner, James Novak: great food!
City of Waterfalls: cold water, hot barbecue, and helping hands!
Welcome Inn, Hughson Street Baptist Church, Immigrant Cultural Art Association for tables, chairs, and trucks.
NEN wishes to especially thank North Hamilton Community Health Centre for partnering for this event! Great partners in a great community.

2009-08-14T11:05:00.004-04:00

North End Neighbours - selling t-shirts, memberships, and having a great time!

2009-08-14T11:02:00.002-04:00

Thanks to our own Anne Marie Pavlov! Proud to be a North Ender!

2009-08-14T10:54:00.003-04:00

Watermelon, hot dogs, vegetarian pizza, snow cones! YUMMY! Thanks to our sponsors: Our Corner Restaurant, Harvey's, Liuna Station, James Novak & City of Waterfalls (Chris Ecklund)

2009-08-14T10:50:00.001-04:00

Recycling worked! Very little garbage was left thanks to these "recyling instructors"! And the park was spotless! What a great group!

2009-08-14T10:45:00.003-04:00

The games were a lot of fun - and so were the prizes!

2009-08-14T10:27:00.001-04:00

Park N' Party was a great success. Everyone enjoyed the weather and friends, and even touched reptiles!

Standing Firm for a Safe Neighbourhood June 9, 2009

2009-06-09T23:15:00.012-04:00

For many years residents of the North End have worked hard to ensure our neighbourhood stays a great place to live and raise our families. We thought we were making progress. We thought we were close.

Now the City is developing a new Official Plan for the urban area of the City. That new plan will cancel the progress we have made. There will be 3 meetings with the City to receive citizen input, June 10, 11, and 16.

NEN will be there. Our organization will be standing firm in our commitment for a safe neighbourhood, a Child and Family Friendly Neighbourhood.

Please come to the public meeting on:

June 11, 2009 7:00

at the Hamilton Convention Centre!

Your attendance is important!

The meeting begins at 6:00 with a presentation by the City. At approximately 7:00 will be the public presentations. We encourage everyone to attend and bring your children. (Your choice of arrival time.)

Join the campaign!
1. Come to the Public Meeting on June 11.

2. Phone Councillor Bob Bratina at 546 -2424 ext 2711

Leave a message on his machine and let Mr. Bratina know you are concerned with keeping our neighbourhood a great place to live.

3. Join North End Neighbours - a deal at only $2 per year.

North End Traffic Management Study Goes Before Council

2009-01-27T12:34:00.003-05:00

The Traffic Management Study which we have worked so hard on the last few years is going before Council Wednesday evening.

Contrary to what was published in the Spectator, the Public Works Committee has agreed to a 30 km/h speed limit on all streets except James and Burlington.

We have gathered 700 plus signatures on our petition in support of a Child & Family Friendly Neighbourhood and blanket 30 km/h limit from residents, visitors and businesses. It should be noted that more than 95 % of those approached agreed to sign the petition, which shows the high level of support in the Neighbourhood for this action.

Just this weekend we have also gathered 70 signed letters of those living on and close to James and Burlington demanding that these streets are included in the pilot project with 30 km/h speed limits. Not to do so will mean the neighbourhood is divided into 3 areas, require a lot of signs and generally cause confusion in drivers and pedestrians and negates the idea that cut-through commuter traffic should go around the neighbourhood, not through it.

We strongly encourage you to attend the Council Meeting tomorrow evening to support the implementation of a full Child and Family Friendly Neighbourhood.
City Council Meeting - Wednesday, January 28th, 7:00 p.m. Hamilton Convention Centre – Albion Room.

$35 to $55 Million in Changes to Waterfront!

2007-04-26T17:42:00.000-04:00

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 Neighbourhood Business Plan

2007-03-02T16:28:00.000-05:00

An Agreement between the People of the North End Neighbourhood,
The City of Hamilton and
The Hamilton Police Service
Principals:
North End Residents
“North End Neighbours” Neighbourhood Association
Councillor Bob Bratina
The Hamilton Police Service
Banyan Community Services
Our Objective
To identify the policing, security and “quality of life” issues within our community and to work in partnership with one another to address those needs.
“We want to make the North End Neighbourhood a healthy environment to live work and play.”
Strategic Directions
Communication
Road Safety
Reduction in Property Crime
Youth Issues
Prostitution
Goal One
Communication
All participants will work together to develop an improved communication network
1.1) Members of the North End Neighbourhood through their Neighbourhood Association will organize, where possible, a community network and e-mail out system.
1.2) Members of the North End Neighbourhood through their Neighbourhood Association will develop a “phone tree” for dissemination of information.
1.3) “North End Neighbours” will implement a website and use same for community notification and updates
1.4) The Hamilton Police Service will have a representative at community meetings to facilitate the exchange of information and enhance the communication process.
1.5) The Hamilton Police Service will access all available media venues (North End Breezes) to update and advise the community on policing issues.
1.6) The Hamilton Police Service will hold, when applicable, community information meetings to address “emergent community issues”.
1.7) The Hamilton Police Service will add to it’s corporate website a “North End Community” page which will be updated by the North End Community Crime Manager.
1.8) Councillor Bob Bratina and the City of Hamilton will implement and hold quarterly meetings with representatives of all Neighbourhood Associations in his ward. This will facilitate the exchange of information.
1.9) All participants will link websites and Banyan Community Services will “link in” as well.
Goal Two
Road Safety
2.1) The North End residents, through the North End Neighbourhood Association will endeavour to develop and have implemented a “Road Safety Initiative” for the North End Community.
2.2) The Hamilton Police Service will implement an “Adopt a Corner” initiative for North End patrol officers. This will require two hours of enforcement (or high visibility deterrence) a week at pre-determined intersections (See appendix A).
2.3) Councillor Bob Bratina will assist and offer support for implementation of the North End “Road Safety Initiative”.
Goal Three
Reduction in Property Crime
3.1) All participants will work cooperatively to facilitate the exchange of Crime Prevention measures and information. Medium: Public Notices, presentations, crime trend notices and website postings.
3.2) The Hamilton Police Service will implement two projects dedicated to the investigation, and enforcement of property crime offences in the North End.
3.3) Patrol officers will develop intelligence information on property crime offenders and identify trends.
3.4) North End Neighbours and the Hamilton Police Service will facilitate security audits, where applicable, following Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design protocol.
Goal Four
Youth Issues
4.1) The Hamilton Police Service will identify “high risk young offenders” in the North End and monitor through the S.T.O.P. program. (strategic targeted offender program)
4.2) The Hamilton Police Service Youth School Officers will attend all North End neighbourhood schools monthly.
4.3) The Hamilton Police Service north end patrol officers will continue with their “adopt a school” initiative.
4.4) The Hamilton Police Service patrol officers will dedicate pro-active patrol time to identified “youth trouble spots”.
4.5) The City of Hamilton through councillor Bratina’s office will eradicate graffiti on City Property A.S.A.P.
4.6) Banyan Community Services will implement and run programs targeting “at risk” youth in the north end.
4.7) North End Neighbours and Banyan Community Services will conduct an “audit” of available youth programs accessible to North End residents and: a) Inform the Community and b) participate where possible
Goal Five
Prostitution
5.1) The Hamilton Police Service will do monthly enforcement initiatives in identified “trouble areas”.
5.2) The Hamilton Police Service will seek “alternative approach” initiatives to assist addicted sex trade workers and work in partnership with community organizations in this endeavour.
5.2) The Hamilton Police Service will, through the judicial process, petition the court system to assist with a mind to offence specific and “community invested” sentencing.

This plan will be reviewed in Sept of 07 for the purpose of determining progress, successes and failures. Amendments, where required will be made at that time.

Events to keep an eye on.

2007-02-03T09:12:00.000-05:00