jje1000
Senior Member
It's among the best sets of developments in Hamilton going on at the moment, and I've always also liked the Core Urban (the developer)'s work. They've done an excellent job at King William and Hughson Street as well IMO.What a well-mannered group of buildings! The architects have a nifty portfolio - on my visits to downtown Hamilton, I've admired their work, but didn't know it was one firm. They sure have a skilled hand with restoring and integrating fine-grained street architecture.
Does anyone know what the facade material is on the one facing James St.? I hope it's not the dread EIFS. Precast, maybe?
*edit: I just looked back through the photos. It does indeed look like precast.
Honestly I wouldn't mind if they get handed a bunch of parking lots to redevelop around downtown, if only to repair the damage done to the streetscape over the last 60 years.
I don't think they own the entire site, so the parking lot around the Medical Arts building is still an issue for any viability of an activated alleyway.While i like these buildings, it feels like a really missed opportunity to not plan the block and activate the alleyways between the buildings. There could have been really cool in between spaces but they’re just vehicle access. Not sure if it was the developer or the city but it feels shortsighted to me.