Statement from Councillor McHattie on Stadium site
Kirkendall
As many of you know I have been a strong supporter of the West Harbour stadium location for the Pan Am Games (see the web site). The West Harbour site is a city-building location with many benefits, including:
- facilitates redevelopment of a brownfield site that may not otherwise be redeveloped
- provides support to our downtown
- has real social inclusion/poverty reduction benefits for adjacent challenged neighbourhoods and schools
- close to the upcoming full day GO Train service
Today, based on push-back by the Hamilton Tiger Cats who have stated that they will never play at a West Harbour stadium location, City Council moved to have staff investigate the possibility of a stadium at Longwood and Aberdeen (SW corner, where the warehouse is currently located) in the McMaster Innovation Park. Some of you had previously corresponded with me on this site based on media stories. I had replied that I believed the site to be off the table as it had been considered and rejected during earlier discussions with the Tiger Cats, which was facilitated by Michael Fenn. I believed that Council had a strong vision for these lands to work with McMaster University to focus on innovation and high quality jobs. I am sad to say that I was wrong and the site is back on the table.
Today at Council, I voted against consideration of this site and unsuccessfully moved a motion asking that no Future Fund monies be used for a Longwood stadium site.
I believe that the Longwood and Aberdeen site has a number of problems, including:
- there are already plans for a high-tech, research style redevelopment featuring well paying jobs as part of the McMaster Innovation Park vision
- the recent Kirkendall Transportation Plan demonstrated that Aberdeen and Longwood already have significant traffic issues, not to mention capacity issues on the Highway 403 ramps and highway system
- the Innovation Park is already considered small by industry standards and the loss of 20+ acres for a stadium exacerbates this problem
- there has been no public consultation to date on this site
You may remember that I held a community meeting in April to consider the West Harbour location. I am now planning a community meeting on September 14th to share with you what we know about the Longwood and Aberdeen site for a stadium, and to solicit your comments on the subject. A separate email with details on the meeting will be forthcoming.
Thanks,
Brian
Adrian wrote:
Brian, thanks for your willingness to stand up for the long-term vision of MIP. In the battle between short-term emotions and political fortunes vs. facts and long-term economics, you’ve clearly chosen the facts. Had all of council behaved this way from the get-go, I doubt they’d have adopted the unfortunate negotiating strategy that they did.
Posted 31 Aug 2010 at 10:29 pm ¶
Edward HC Graydon wrote:
I am not only opposed to the stadium at Long Wood and Aberdeen due to the fact that it will present a traffic nightmare.I believe that the city should not be supporting any public funds into a private enterprise and believe that if the tiger cats are not happy her than maybe we should show them the exit door. I believe that the tiger cats take up far to much of the city’s time that could be spent on far more important issues. I am not opposed to development on its on merit I am however opposed to all financial nepotism that is shown to the Tiger Cats
Yours truly
Edward HC Graydon
Posted 02 Sep 2010 at 12:38 pm ¶
carrie wrote:
Not only will the stadium present a traffic nightmare. But parking issues, garbage, noise and pedestrian traffic are all going create a less desirable neighbourhood to live in. Property values will drop and the crime rate will increase. This will the beginning of the end of a great neighbourhood.
Posted 03 Sep 2010 at 11:19 pm ¶
Sherry Davidson wrote:
City Hall has a group of clowns running Hamilton. They have humiliated Hamiltonians with their mismanagement of the whole situation of this PAN AM GAMES scenario. Next time they plan to have a party and open a bottle of champayne to celebrate a so-called win; perhaps they should have a plan in place before they open their mouths.
Where is all this money for this coming from? Look at the statistics – our downtown looks like a old running shoe. Hamilton will never be what it was. We were a steeltown and now the parade is over! Wake-up!
Posted 15 Sep 2010 at 9:52 pm ¶
Edward HC Graydon wrote:
Sherry
I agree with your scenario in regards to the Pan AM Games,but I am positive that the parade is not over in regards to the steel town image associated with Hamilton. I am extremely optimistic in the future use of the steel plants land,I believe that you will see 30,000 jobs created in Hamilton in the next 6 years ,due thanks to the $5.5 Billion dollar investment coming into Hamilton from massive Chinese investors including our own investment banking and take over professionals. I believe that major changes are possible ,but I believe it takes a mayor with major business conections,and the insight to improve the whole Niagra region .
Yours truly
Edward Graydon
Posted 16 Sep 2010 at 11:53 am ¶
Edward HC Graydon wrote:
To all ward 1 residents
If the city decides to go ahead with the idea in principle to pave the rail trail that connects Aberdeen rail yards to Fortinos ,they are totally “”out to lunch” I can not support any paving of the rail trail and believe that this is a problem waiting to happen if it is indeed paved,the only thing that will come from the paving of the rail trail will be flooded basements from water run off.I also truly believe that if the trail is paved it will take away the natural feel and in the long run believe the costs of upkeep after paving will be far to great .
I oppose this project 100% and would offer my help in seeing that it never takes place.Paving the trail to me makes very little long term sense.
yours truly
Edward HC Graydon
Posted 15 Oct 2010 at 10:17 am ¶