The owners of 49 Walnut Street South and the City of Hamilton reached a last minute settlement in an odd fashion last week.
Following the construction and opening of a 26-storey residential building on the property, the owners appealed the new assessed value.
Unable to reach a deal, the two sides were in front of the Assessment Review Board for a long awaited contested hearing.
The ARB, similar to other Tribunals Ontario branches such as the Ontario Land Tribunal, is required by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to obey the open courts principle.
Steve Pocrnić, the property owner’s agent, expressed concerns about the presence of observers and the sharing of information from the hearing.
ARB Member Subuola Awoleri ordered any information shared in the hearing was “confidential.”
Shortly after the confidentiality order was issued, Pocrnic and City of Hamilton lawyer John O’Kane asked for a recess, stating they were close to reaching a settlement.
Two hours later, they jointly announced a confidential agreement had been reached between the parties and the appeal was withdrawn.
No information regarding the appeal was made public.
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Published: May 4, 2025
Last updated: May 4, 2025
Author: Joey Coleman
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