Hamilton to expedite demolition of 15 vacant townhouses for 126-unit affordable housing project

Hamilton will expedite the demolition of 15 vacant units to make way for a 126-unit affordable housing complex on Upper Wentworth Street scheduled to be built next summer.

The tenants of the 15 existing units were re-located last year by Hamilton East Kiwanis Non-Profit Homes and the units now stand vacant, creating safety concerns and added security costs, prompting the need to expedite the demolition permit.

Kiwanis, which already has conditional site plan approval, is proposing to redevelop the northeast corner of 1540 Upper Wentworth Street with an eight-storey multi-residential building with 126 units of affordable rental housing. The units will be a mix of 43 one-bedroom, 74 two-bedroom and nine three-bedroom dwellings appropriate for seniors and families.

Seventy existing townhouses remain on the property and will be retained, bringing the total number of units on site – once the new building is completed – to 196.

Ward 7 Councillor Esther Pauls said expediting the demolition so the affordable housing units can be built on schedule next summer is crucial to Hamilton’s future.

“We need affordable housing. We need these built.”