Hamilton Councillor out of line on MacMaster

Councillor Bob Bratina blew it recently when he stated, with disgust, that the university is "an unwieldy leviathan ruining everything around it," and a "huge nuisance".

MacMaster University-with more than 19,000 full-time undergraduate students, almost 3,000 grad students and more than 7,500 employees--has a huge positive impact on our city with its ability to attract bright minds, research money and prestige.

Bratina made the comment at a council meeting that concerned a proposed zoining change so a developer can build a 10-storey apartment building to house 600 students between Rifle Range and Ewen roads, south of Main St. West.

I don't particularly agree with multi-user apartments and if you talk to a lot of the students, they don't like them either; too much like residence. They like to live in homes but of course the city finds that hard to swallow. But since the school can't afford to build housing, and the municipality/province won't subsidize, just where are the students to go?

At a special "student housing" meeting last week with Councillor Brian McHattie, Realtors from the area (including yours truly) were met with several proposals concerning new regulations and bylaws designed to limit student housing in the immediate area surrounding MacMaster University. This despite the lack of housing available.

Naturally, the Realtors let him know that new laws and even licensing wasn't going to solve the problem. In fact, it isn't much of a problem it seems. Of all the resident complaints about bad, noisy, or derelict housing, it affects less than 200 students (out of 1,900 at any given time). Most student housing is responsible, healthy, and affordable. Socially, it's a preferred environment that fosters independence and responsible behaviour--at least once they've finished first year.

It's comments like these made by uniformed councillors which cause those of us who help put students and investors together cringe. Student Housing is a viable, high yield investment. And there are some good investors out there--the majority in fact. In other words a win/win/win situation for students/MacMaster/investors.

Make laws that stop the slum lords, the partiers, etc. But don't stop student housing, regardless of its form. MacMaster is a vital part of Hamilton and to lose it would make losing Stelco a minor glitch in the economy in comparison. And of course, no housing....no students!

In hindsight, perhaps City Hall is that leviathan that is, more often than not, the nuisance.

Just a thought.

Robert J. Morrow is editor of www.HamiltonHomeReview.com, an online real estate magazine serving Greater Hamilton, Ontario. Click here for a FREE SUBSCRIPTION sent to your email monthly. Click here to receive new Hamilton area listings in your email daily.