Hamilton City Council unanimously approved an undisclosed land action regarding properties at 455 and 457-459 King Street East during a confidential session of the General Issues Committee on October 22, 2025.
Council did not provide any advance public notice that this specific property transaction was on the agenda and has not disclosed any financial or procedural details regarding the matter.
The confidential item was entitled, “Redevelopment of Property in the City of Hamilton (Ward 3).”
Council voted unanimously to meet in closed session and to maintain secrecy, citing the “proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land for City or a local board purpose” exemption under the Municipal Act.
To comply with Ontario’s open meeting laws under this specific exemption, Council’s formal resolution must have been limited to directing City staff to engage in the acquisition of the property, with confidentiality needed to protect the bargaining position.
In a statement to residents, included in her newsletter on October 31, Ward 3 Councillor Nrinder Nann partially disclosed the confidential direction to City staff, confirming 455 and 457-459 King Street East as the property Council discussed.
“I am sharing an update on a recent motion I brought to the General Issues Committee (GIC) on October 22,” Nann wrote. “While the bulk of the motion remains confidential, it does provide important direction to staff that should allow them to take necessary steps towards improving the public realm adjacent to the privately owned lands.”
She further revealed that staff were directed, in closed session, to “take all measures possible to reopen the street and sidewalk adjacent to the properties as an interim safety measure, while facilitating demolition.” Nann added, “I look forward to bringing a further update by year’s end towards a more permanent solution.”
The specific direction to City staff to reopen the street and sidewalk was not made in open session. The meeting minutes from the General Issues Committee make no mention of this staff direction.
Council’s confidential decision comes more than three years after the building’s partial collapse. Early during the morning of August 5, 2022, the facade of 457 collapsed onto King Street East.
A subsequent engineer’s assessment found all three buildings were structurally unsound and ordered the immediate evacuation of all tenants. The north sidewalk and one vehicle lane on King Street East have been closed since that time.
The City of Hamilton planned to demolish the structures in late Spring 2024, but determined doing so would undermine the structural integrity of neighbouring 461 King Street East.
Demolition was supposed to occur in 2025, but has not.
No financial details of the City’s pending acquisition have been released.
No new timelines for demolition have been announced.
Nann concluded her statement to residents by writing, “I look forward to bringing a further update by year’s end towards a more permanent solution.”
Production Details
v. 1.0.0
Published: November 1, 2025
Last updated: November 1, 2025
Author: Joey Coleman
Update Record
v. 1.0.0 original version