New proposal for harbour stadium
Plan includes developer's condo dream
July 21, 2010
Emma Reilly
The Hamilton Spectator
(Jul 21, 2010)
A landowner with property interests in the west harbour has come forward with an expanded proposal for the Pan Am stadium site that includes condos, luxury hotels and a stadium with a retractable roof.
Marino Rakovac, who owns property near Bay and Barton streets, has created a website that provides extensive details about the proposal.
The plans, detailed at hamiltonbay.blogspot.com, include hotel and condo towers, a bayfront village with restaurants and shops, and a retractable roof on the stadium that "consists of four arch truss frames covered in synthetic fabric or solid panels." The proposal also includes walkways connecting the stadium to Liuna Station on James Street.
Rakovac's website proposes the new stadium should be managed by the City of Hamilton, the Katz group -- the company of Edmonton Oilers owner Daryl Katz, which has expressed interest in operating the Pan Am stadium -- the Tiger-Cats and "perhaps others."
Rakovac could not be reached for comment about his proposal.
David Adames, the city's Pan Am point person, said he has met with Rakovac and the man brought "lots of enthusiasm" along with his ideas.
"We welcome creative ideas and get a lot of proposals and concepts about the stadium. This one is a little more developed than others."
Adames said there was no conversation about financing when he met Rakovac.
Rakovac bought the White Star property -- home to the former White Star Auto Wreckers -- 13 years ago and had hoped to build a 150- to 200-unit condo complex on the site. However, as the area is zoned for heavy industrial uses, the property needs a rezoning to residential before those condos can go ahead. While the city supports the rezoning, CN says there should be no new homes within 300 metres of its tracks.
According to downtown Councillor Bob Bratina, the city told Rakovac he needed approval from CN before they rezoned the area. Now, Bratina argues the city should rezone the land regardless of CN's position.
"He's trying to combine his residential part with a grander vision that may be so big it may interest the Tiger-Cats, so we'll see," Bratina said.
"It doesn't mean it's a slam dunk, but we would be crazy not to evaluate the situation."
Ticats president Scott Mitchell said he hadn't heard of the proposal before today.
"This is the first we've heard about it, and any business that has any credibility whatsoever would have contacted us previous to this."
Mitchell said the new plans don't change the football club's stance on the west harbour.
"I think it begs the question, after these shenanigans continue to go on, of 'Who is benefiting from these developments in the west harbour?,'" he said.
"The deadline is upon us to find a compromise solution. And if we don't find a solution, the stadium and everything that goes with the stadium is in jeopardy, including the Tiger-Cats."
The city and the football club have until Aug. 31 to reach an agreement on a stadium site. The Ticats are backing a location on the east Mountain.
http://thespec.com/News/Local/article/811397
