Premier Doug Ford’s government copied, word for word, a developer’s requested changes to Hamilton’s official plan to allow an eight-storey condo at the current site of a designated heritage building — blindsiding city planning staff, elected officials and residents.
The application for the condo building had been rejected by city staff and council in the spring of 2022.
The request was emailed to then-Housing Minister Steve Clark by planner Matt Johnston on behalf of developers Sergio Manchia and Frank Spallacci on Oct. 4, 2022, one month before the province announced these amendments and dozens of others to Hamilton’s official plan.
I think there is value in heritage preservation, but I have no nothing about this building. No idea if it deserves it. What I do know is that a property zoned that way would be substantially cheaper to buy, and so this is another case in a pattern of Doug changing zoning after his buddies/supporters bought something at a discount.
Heritage preservation is a bullshit reason NMBY’s use to not build housing. You can preserve some buildings, but we need more housing. We need to change zoning laws, because that’s what has led us to the current housing crisis we have now.