City of Hamilton can go ahead with long-delayed Jamesville redevelopment after province intervenes
CBC
The Ontario government has sided with the City of Hamilton in its push to continue a long-delayed James Street N., housing redevelopment, which proposes the creation of several hundred homes in the north end.
On Wednesday, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing announced it had issued a Ministerial Zoning Order (MZO) to get the project moving, at the city's request. That will override the ongoing dispute between the city and CN Rail at the Ontario Land Tribunal.
“The province is unlocking this vacant land … to build more homes and keep workers in tariff-hit sectors on the job in the face of economic uncertainty,” the ministry said in a news release.
Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath, in another news release, thanked Municipal Affairs Minister Rob Flack and the province “for recognizing the importance of this project and taking action."
The city evicted residents from 91 of its affordable townhouses in a community known as Jamesville about a decade ago, saying it would quickly redevelop the property at 405 James St. N.
However, a disagreement between the city and CN Rail, which operates a nearby yard and tracks, stalled work. The private rail company said it has concerns about the impacts of odour, vibration and noise on residents. It appealed the city's plans to the land tribunal in 2022, but that process was also delayed.
In spring 2024, Mayor Andrea Horwath accused the privately-owned rail company of holding up a resolution.
All the while, the vacant homes sat empty and fenced in.
In January, City Housing Hamilton requested an MZO to override any municipal land conflicts and allow the housing work to go ahead.
In July, Horwath urged residents to share feedback on the proposed order, which the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) posted online.
According to a summary on the website, the proposal received 704 comments, including supportive comments from the public, several non-profit organizations, and a home builders’ association.
“The majority of comments were supportive and noted the need to address the worsening housing and homelessness crisis in Hamilton and voiced concerns about the current state of the subject lands,” the summary said.
“Some comments minimized the land use compatibility concerns raised by the nearby rail operator, stating that the subject lands and the surrounding area have historically been used for residential purposes.”
The ERO said some unsupportive comments noted concerns about increased intensification in the area, and others said the entire project should be affordable housing.
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