City Council will vote next Wednesday [May 21] on a proposal to give $900,000 to New Vision United Church to fund approximately 80 percent of the initial cost to convert the downtown church sanctuary space into a 994-seat concert hall.
The City’s 2013 Music Strategy stated that Hamilton needs a mid-size music venue (500 to 1000 seat capacity), and successive councils have approved this as a priority in the Tourism Strategy and the Economic Development Action Plan.
The $900,000 will be funded from the economic development initiatives budget.
Church Building Modifications
The staff report states the $900,000 will fund the initial $1.12-million needed to open the music hall. The building requires structural reinforcement, environmental abatement, repairs to existing walls and ceilings, and minor renovations.
The structure is currently subject to a building department order due to loose masonry on its parapets.
City Funding Will Complete Phase 1
The Music Hall Alliance, a non-profit corporation that will exclusively lease space from New Vision Church, states it has the remaining $220,000 needed to complete the first phase of work.
The concert venue will be able to open following this work.
$2,843,000 is the estimated cost to add modern requirements and complete renovations to the church building. The City staff report states they do not expect any requests for further municipal grants.
The report states that $703,120 has already been spent on the project. [No municipal funds have been involved.]
City Says There Are Public Benefits
City staff recommend the funding “given the public benefit that the Grant can provide by preserving the heritage building while supporting the adaptive reuse of a needed mid-sized music venue in the City.”
The grant contract will include a commitment from the Church to permit the City to use the Music Hall space at a daily rate of $400. Additionally, the Church commits to supporting the City’s IDEA [diversity, inclusion, equity, accessibility] goals by ensuring the Music Hall is inclusive and provides spaces for underrepresented artists.
Council’s general issue committee meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 21. The music hall grant is the 17th item on the agenda.
Production Details v. 1.0.0 Published: May 17, 2025 Last updated: May 17, 2025 Author: Joey Coleman Update Record v. 1.0.0 original version