There are very few things that come close to the entertainment value provided by the "City of Hamilton Knights of the Round Table"....as they try to come to a consensus on anything...let alone something of the size of the Pan Am stadium. After all, we have known about the need for a Stadium location for a long time. They also knew that the TiCats were not interested in the West Harbour...and wouldn't be part of the equation there.
Now...a couple days after the last deadline, it would appear that the Stadium is going to be built in the Longwood/Aberdeen McMaster Innovation Park area. THIS IS A GREAT LOCATION! It's out of the way...walking distance for all of the students from McMaster University...fantastic highway access and doesn't require expropriation of homes.
Councilor McHattie...who happened to support the West Harbour stadium...a proposal that could have had a very negative impact on the property owners in the Bay area because of narrow streets, small lot frontages and limited parking, is now opposing the Longwood/Aberdeen area, a place right off of a 400 series highway...where no one lives.
This is the problem with our current City Councilors. The Not In My Backyard attitude. Ward 1 is huge. It encompasses McMaster University up to the escarpment, over to Queen Street and down to the Bay. It is home to thriving commercial areas. Westdale proper, Locke Street and Dundurn Street to name a few. How can we have any forward movement in this City when we have Councilors not willing to view things in a balanced, logical and caring fashion? Councilor McHattie would rather see a hundred or so homes be devalued in another Ward, putting them under seige everytime there's a stadium event, rather than support a Stadium built on Industrial land with 4 lane roads all around it and great highway access in his Ward? I don't believe that his reaction and resulting vote would truly represent his constituents.
McHattie doesn't have to worry about his job too much...as of right now there's no one running against him in Ward 1, but perhaps he may have thought that his vote was a way to gain support in the upcoming election just in case he found himself in a race. I think that many of his constituents wouldn't agree with his vote and will view it as being very weak. There's a good chance he will be acclaimed in Ward 1...the stadium will go in...and by the next election...he'll look like a saint! That's Hamilton politics!!!!
Absolutely Immaculate!!
• 2 bath, 2 bdrm 4-level split - - Incredible River View!
Caledonia, Haldimand County - This 2 + 1 Bedroom townhome is not only beautiful on the inside, it's perched right along the shores of the picturesque Grand River in Caledonia. It's uplifting and bright interior features a super sized dining area, large enough for a separate sitting area where you can enjoy the incredible view plus an open concept kitchen, perfect for entertaining.
The Living Room is incredibly spacious, with a bay window and sliding patio doors to the rear yard. Upstairs you'll find a guest room, 4 piece bath, plus a huge master bedroom, complete with spectacular view of the river, walk in closet and 4 piece ensuite!
The lower level gives you an extra bedroom plus a roughed in bath!
Definitely a must see!!!!
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I know that if I was a Councilor...and it was only two months away from my performance review...and I knew that I had voted for something that wasn't going to meet up to millions of dollars worth of funding guidelines...I may be flip flopping around on my desk as well. Yes...just like Councillor McHattie did today...I may be tempted to grab a microphone and start a little micro campaign against the stadium location that I had supported less than a couple of weeks ago. McHattie also used the well known slight of hand trick by trying to get the focus away from his flip flopping and get the focus on some true evil...some other mystery Councilor who really wanted to sabotage the Mayor but wasn't gutsy enough to have his name in the ring yet. I love this City!!!
First of all...in my humble opinion...the West Harbour stadium was a good idea...just half baked, and I wonder how many of the Councilors actually drove up and down the streets within a block or two of the proposed site. It could have worked if the City would have set out to expropriate a couple of extra city blocks, allowing for a larger area for parking, access and transitional commerce...but they didn't. Then with the assistance of a mediator a chunk of land on the East Mountain is pulled out of a hat. Now, I don't want to mess up things here, but hasn't anyone, including all the brilliant engineers the City has working for them, ever thought that perhaps the flooding problems we're having in the lower City, and our new water ride aka "The Red Hill Creek Expressway", could...just maybe could, be a result of us building in, around, and all over the Stoney Creek Mountain...home of the expansive Eromosa Karst? So lets build a Stadium right next door to Leon's. I seem to remember that when Leon's was built...a good portion of the building dropped due to some nasty unstable land. No one seems to remember that.
Kudo's to the Pan Am organizers. They appear to be extremely patient and compassionate, but exactly how long can they torture themselves by watching the brainiacs running our City try to figure this all out. Or do you think that we look so pathetic that they just can't pull the plug? I somehow imagine a Pan Am meeting with rep's from all the participating municipalities sitting around the table...and then in comes the Hamilton crew, continuing the food fight they started on the Go Bus.
When the City looses out on Government Funding of any kind, we actually take a double hit. Not only do we not benefit from increased commercial tax base, but we loose out on getting some benefit from all of the Income Tax, HST, Land Transfer Tax...and any other Provincial or Federal tax we pay. Our Provincial and Federal tax dollars end up going to other Municipalities, and we're left with escalating residential Property Taxes. That seems to be the way it is in Hamilton, so let the saga continue!
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Caledonia, Haldimand County - We invite everyone to visit our open house at 7-40 Braemar Avenue on August 29 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
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Absolutely Immaculate!
• 2 bath, 2 bdrm single story - $257,900 - Bungalow Townhouse!
Caledonia, Haldimand County
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With record rainfall this year, lot's of area homeowners are experiencing basements that are falling victim to moisture issues. It was once explained to me by a reputable contractor that given the right circumstances any basement will leak. Concrete is permeable and if water is left to pool up around your concrete foundation, it's only a matter of time before the outside water comes in. Keeping the water away from your home may take a bit of effort, but when compared to costly waterproofing, it's an excellent option!
Here's a great idea from FineHomebuilding!
http://www.finehomebuilding.com/how-to/articles/keep-basement-dry-with-a-curtain-drain.aspx?nterms=61678
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Eastgate, Hamilton - We invite everyone to visit our open house at 604-75 Glenburn Court on July 25 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
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East Mountain, Hamilton Mountain - Announcing a price reduction on 6 Rideau Crescent, a 1 bath, 3 bdrm 3-level split. Now $236,000 - Fantastic East Mountain!!.
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Here we go! It sounds like everyone has taken off their Buzz Lightyear suits at City Hall and finally come to a sane conclusion as to the location of the Pan Am Stadium....just in the nick of time! I know I was surprised, not only by the fact that Mayor Fred was quick to shout "Yes!", but by the location that everyone seems to be smiling about. The East Mountain, close to where the Red Hill Creek Expressway and the Linc meet. Now, this does seem a bit odd, because it is such a realistic location, and I for one, am not accustomed to this type of rationale from Hamilton City Hall.
I personally had problems with the West Harbour site, mainly because it wouldn't be fair to the residents. I, for the love of me, couldn't imagine how the traffic was going to flow in and out of the stadium, let alone where all of the cars were going to park. I've frequented Ivor Wynne Stadium hundreds of times over the years, and the overflow parking there jams the streets for blocks. What a nightmare this would be for the residents of much narrower streets in North West Hamilton. The traffic jams would hold the residents hostage for hours, and why would that be considered an option when there are other good locations that wouldn't cause this type of hardship?
I know the City had a vision of land remediation and light transit and I don't think they have to scrap that at all. There's so many things that could go in down there that would totally enhance the Downtown/Bayfront lifestyle. A lot of Cities have wonderful commercial sections right on their water fronts. Shops, restaurants, and promenades. Hess Village, Locke Street and James St. North are strong examples of what the typical downtown resident wants and it would be fantastic to see our waterfront expanded in a positive, non intrusive fashion.
So, thank you Mr. Bob Young for dangling the monetary carrot and getting everyone to "quickly" embrace the East Mountain location....you're a genius and the location is absolutely perfect!
Eastgate Square area, Hamilton- Just listed! Fantastic 3 bedroom condominium in a super convenient East Hamilton/Stoney Creek area! 
Only $134,900 !!!
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East Mountain, Hamilton Mountain - We invite everyone to visit our open house at 6 Rideau Crescent on July 4 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
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I don't think that anyone will argue with the statistics that the majority of people are making their initial searches on line when they're considering making a move. With that being said, it has become more important than ever to make sure that the pictures we use on line tell the best story possible!
Getting great pictures isn't as easy as it sounds and even calling in a professional photographer doesn't give the best results. Houses are just like models...they have their good, bad and neutral sides.
After a few bad experiences paying a hundred dollars or more for "marketing" pictures and not being able to find a dozen good ones in the lot, I decided to take my own pictures. In the usual 6 or 7 room home, I'll take anywhere from 60 to 80 pictures. Different angles, different lighting conditions and different staging techniques. When I sit down to select pictures for on line presentations, I'm usually successful in getting enough good quality pictures to correctly portray the property...if not...I take more pictures!
Thanks to technology, taking more pictures is easy and more than affordable! There's absolutely no doubt in my mind that home buyers may very well not consider viewing a property if the first thing they see are poor pictures! Every single home deserves to be treated like a supermodel :)
What gives here in the City of Hamilton???? Our poor little airport seems to be on a bumpier ride than a Cessna 172 coming into land on a hot, windy day! It's up...it's down...it's sideways...it's in an overshoot getting ready to make another attempt at landing!
I came across this article from BusinessEdge News...published on September 15th, 2006...things looked good then... http://www.businessedge.ca/archives/article.cfm/hamilton-airport-expansion-plans-take-flight-13430 however...we're in June of 2010...and at www.Raisethehammer.org , Ryan McGreal writes a scathing article about the debacles of the Airport Development.
Hamiltonians. Why do we always look like the little City that could...but just can't??? We cry for leadership...but shun absolutely everything, and anything that any form of leadership proposes. We cry for lower taxes, yet scream and shout at any form of development that would add to the commercial tax base because it doesn't meet with our lofty standards. Our City Council has a very difficult time setting aside personal agenda's and seems to be in a continual horn lock over the smallest of issues. Why?
Expropriation has commenced for the West Harbour Stadium, yet the City still has an issue with the Tiger Cats, seconded by Hamilton's cycling centre about this location. www.thespec.com/article/768558 So, here we go again. NOWHERE or should I say we're just spending thousands of taxpayers dollars running around in a circle!
My note to our Mayor and Councillors...JUST DO SOMETHING! Go see the Wizard of Oz and get some courage, wisdom and a heart. Yes, you may get some people mad, but good, sound and decisive leadership is one of those things that the majority of people love. Make a decision, stick with it and let's get this City going in a direction that we can all be proud of!
Royal LePage Real Estate has just provided us with the 2010 Housing Trends! Real Estate....a great investment that provides you shelter!
http://docs.rlpnetwork.com/rlp.ca/PressReleases/100107_trends.pdf
Yes, it sure sounds like all the participating offices for this years "Garage Sale for Shelter" not only helped many clients declutter their homes and gave garage sale shoppers fantastic bargains, they combined to raise a record $300,000 for the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation PLUS contributed thousands of dollars directly to their local shelters! 
http://www.royallepage.ca/en/media/shelter-foundation-charity/100519-record-breaking-garage-sale-for-shelter-2010.aspx?toolstips=1052&relatedcontent=1074