Hamilton, Ontario - Is It Finally Getting The Break It Deserves?

For as long as I've been around, the City of Hamilton (Steeltown as it's affectionately known) has been viewed by some as a less than desirable place to live and unjustly so, for the most part in my opinion. Turn over enough rocks and you'll expose the seedy underbelly of any city. As Hamilton's "next door neighbour", I've heard it all. Some would even view Hamilton as the "Cousin Ed" of Ontario. Who I'm referring to, is Cousin Ed in the movie National Lampoon's Vacation. You remember him don't you?

Is that all about to change for Hamilton? It will, if real estate developer Harry Stinson has his way. Stinson and a group of private investors recently purchased the Stinson School located on Stinson Street. Apparently the name is just coincidence. According to what I've read, Harry Stinson is not aware of being related to the founder, Ebenezer Stinson. This project must have been meant to be.

Stinson School, built in 1895 on a 1½ acre lot, was a former elementary school in downtown Hamilton. It is now designated a heritage building. Stinson is planning to build 70 lofts and townhomes. Small lofts will start at $250,000 and the penthouse will go for a respectable $600,000 according to the Toronto Star newspaper. Here is a link to the project: www.stinsonschool.com.

This isn't the only good news coming out of Hamilton these days. It seems as though the artsy crowd have taken a shine to the city as well. Apparently some of Toronto's art studios have packed their bags and opened up shop in Hamilton as well.

Is Hamilton going to become "the" place to live? It just might be one day. I guess only time will tell, but in the meantime, Cousin Ed, you better put on your Sunday finery, things are going posh in Steeltown.

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