City Councillors on Hamilton’s Planning Committee are expected to ratify the recommendation of Hamilton’s Municipal Heritage Committee to permit the demolition of the heritage-designated Tivoli Auditorium at 108 James Street North.
Planning Committee is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, January 14, at 9:30 a.m.
In early November, the development corporation that owns the auditorium presented the City with a 193-page report detailing severe structural and safety issues that prevent the auditorium’s retention and restoration.
The auditorium has been in varying states of disrepair and neglect for two decades, especially since 2015, when then Ward 2 Councillor Jason Farr pushed a tall building rezoning through Council despite the planning staff’s recommendation to deny the application by land speculator Diamante Investments.
At the time, the Beasley Neighbourhood Association called for “an enforceable guarantee” that the auditorium would be saved.
No effective measures were put in place to prevent demolition by neglect.
In 2022, the site was sold.
A 2024 engineering inspection determined that partial roof collapse was permitting moisture to enter the auditorium, saying “exterior brick and clay tile walls are significantly deteriorating on both the interior and exterior sides,” asbestos-containing materials had decayed, and carcinogenic dust was likely present throughout the structure.
Ward 2 Councillor Cameron Kroetsch stated it was ‘difficult to accept’ the facts of the report. Kroestch said, “I know, if the City’s Heritage staff could, they’d save this treasure from demolition by neglect.”
At the December meeting of the heritage committee, Kroetsch voted in favour of the demolition recommendation.
Conditions on Demolition
The City is requiring a $1-million bond from developers Aventus to ensure that auditorium features that can be salvaged are conserved and integrated into a proposed 800-square-foot public space to be included along James Street with the planned tall building development.
New Development Proposal: Two Tall Buildings of 32 to 35 Storeys
Aventus plans to apply for zoning amendments to permit the development of two tall buildings on the Tivoli site and adjoining Centre Point Plaza property.
The plan includes a bar and event space on the 25th floor. The developer says this is a public amenity that will partially offset the loss of the auditorium
Pending City Council ratification on January 22, 2025, Aventus will have until January 31, 2026, to complete the demolition of the historic auditorium.
The staff report is available as part of the planning committee agenda.
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Published: January 10, 2025
Last updated: January 10, 2025
Author: Joey Coleman
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