Ward 4 Councillor Tammy Hwang supports Hamilton’s affordable housing strategy. The plan includes leveraging municipal lands for housing.
The City is moving forward with a plan to rezone an under-utilized municipal parking lot at 70 Hope Avenue, near Kenilworth Avenue, to permit housing.
Many area residents and businesses are passionate on both sides of the issue.
Businesses that utilize low-cost parking wish to keep the parking lot. Other businesses support the housing plan.
Some nearby residents oppose the change. Some because they use the parking lot, others in support of the businesses that wish to keep the parking, and others are concerned about increased density, parking values, or other concerns common to any new housing project.
Some nearby residents support the project, citing the need for affordable housing across Hamilton.
Hwang Posts to Instagram Sharing Her Perspective
On Thursday, Hwang posted a seven-minute video to “share [her] perspective.”
In the video, Hwang explained the history of the process leading to the March 26 public open housing.
History of the Council Process
In December 2023, Council voted to begin the rezoning process at 70 Hope Avenue to permit “multiple dwellings (DE-2) of three storeys and report back to General Issues Committee with a disposition strategy for a nominal value sale to a non-profit affordable housing provider or a direct partnership with a non-profit housing provider, for the purpose of affordable housing;”
The March 26th public open house meeting was a stage in the process that will lead to the zoning bylaw amendment being voted on at a planning committee meeting, followed by the land transaction.
Definition of Affordable
Hwang says the proposed affordable project will be for “middle-income” renters.
“We’re in an affordable housing crisis,” Hwang said. This project will be “geared towards middle-income families typically making between $50,000 and $95,000 per year.”
“They’re looking at opportunities to get into housing. These are going to be like new graduates. They might be your teachers, your nurses, anyone who’s making a good amount of money today, but perhaps cannot afford to get into the market.”
“This affordable housing is geared towards middle-income families that are in this neighborhood already.”
Cost of Maintaining the Parking Lot
The parking lot generates less than $5,000 annually, which means the City is subsidizing it because the maintenance costs exceed revenue.
Hwang says the City need to be “building assets that actually generate revenue, so ideally to lower property taxes in the future.”
More Consultation as Plan Moves Forward
Hwang says she expects the process of developing this site to take around three years, with many more public input opportunities.
Francis Comments
Ward 5 Councillor Matt Francis opposes converting parking lots into housing, arguing that parking at low costs to the users is important for small businesses.
He posted a response in the comments below in Hwang’s video, challenging her position supporting the housing conversion.
“Cllr. Hwang, you are the process. You did not support the overwhelming majority of my community who did not want the very well used parking lots at 5 and 13 Lake Ave. S. to be converted to housing in Ward 5. However, you did vote to support my request for consultation in December 2023, which I am thankful for, as this feedback from my constituents made my decision very clear. You had the opportunity to do the same with Hope Ave. which you elected not to do. If you are going to set the record straight I believe that accuracy is important.”
Francis opposed a similar affordable housing project in Downtown Stoney Creek and succeeded in having seven other councillors vote with him to block the project.
Mayor Andrea Horwath used a Strong Mayor veto and bylaw to break the 8-8 tie, enabling the plan to move forward.
Hwang Replies to Francis
Hwang responded to Francis writing:
“Thanks for your comment Cllr Francis. As you know, this has been the process for many years now. Staff provide recommendations, Council gives direction, staff execute a public information consultation (PIC) session to get consultation in the community, and following the PIC, staff create a report that Planning Committee decides on. I supported you in your decision to do it differently from the original process, as I believed that you understand your community best. I chose to follow through on the original process and have heard, and continue to hear from the community. I hope we can support each other as we serve our wards in the best way we know how.”
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Published: April 6, 2025
Last updated: April 6, 2025
Author: Joey Coleman
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