With the Television City condo project scheduled to proceed to an Ontario Municipal Board hearing next week, HamiltonForward is able to present new information about an updated plan for the site.

The most striking change to the plan is the amendment of tower heights. The west tower has increased in height from 30 to 32 storeys and the east tower has decreased from 40 storeys to 32 storeys, creating a stronger twin tower presence.

This change increases the height of the west tower from 103.15 meters (including mechanical) to 108.75 meters (including mechanical) and reduces the height of the east tower from 135.5 meters (including mechanical) to 108.75 meters.

The reduction in height has resulted in the Floor Space Index (FSI) slightly shrinking from 10.10 FSI to 9.98 FSI, as well as a slight reduction in Gross Floor Area from 45,136 square meters to 44,577 square meters.

Amenity space for residents increases from 339 square meters to 424 square meters in indoor amenity space and increases from 642 square meters to 721 square meters in outdoor amenity space.

Total unit count grows from an original 618 units to an updated 642 units. Vehicular parking loses almost 100 spots as the number goes from 397 to exactly 300. More than half of the original bicycle parking spaces are lost, decreased from 500 spots to 238 spaces.

Of the units in the new plan, 114 are studio (18% of units), 342 are one bedrooms (53% of units), 178 are two bedrooms (28% of units), and 8 are three bedrooms (1% of the units). In the previous plan, 116 were studio (19% of units), 234 were one bedrooms (38% of units), 252 were two bedrooms (41% of units), and 16 were three bedrooms (3% of units).

Also of note, the count of units that have less than 50 square meters (538 square feet) in space has increased from 234 to 284, and the count of units that have more than 50 square meters in space has increased from 384 to 358.

As well, the tower base has been completed redesigned with a distinctly Durand character—ditching the previous glass base has now made way for a more traditional stone materials.

With the redesign of the base, retail space has increase from 1,031 square meters (over 4 retail units) to 1,694 square meters (over 5 retail units).

A casualty of the base redesign has been the loss of the two car-share parking spots located off of Caroline Street South, next to the residential entrance.

The residential entrance off of Caroline serves both towers, with the East Tower elevator bay containing 3 elevators nearby the entrance door, and the West Tower elevator also containing 3 elevators slightly further down the hallway.

As well, the design of the privately-owned-public-space (POPS) at the corner of Caroline St. and Jackson St. has been redesigned and accompanied by an updated rendering.

Unfortunately, we don’t have access to the landscape plan of the updated courtyard, but the rendering suggests a sizable increase to the open space.

In sum, it is clear that Lamb Development Corp. is making understandable concessions with height to work with the City on a possible settlement deal rather than undergo a full OMB hearing.

In addition, yesterday, Councillor Jason Farr (Ward 2) added a motion relating to a possible Television City settlement offer. The motion was discussed in-camera so we are not clear on what the end decision was, but we will keep watch for any updates.

Likewise, it is not clear if the 2x 32 storey plan is the official settlement offer, though the refinement and clear intent from OMB evidence shows that these changes have been made with cause to build a more palatable project to both the City and the community.

HamiltonForward will be at the hearing from Monday, March 25th to Friday, March 29th and will present oral evidence in favour of the project at either height as we remain steadfast in our support for new construction of housing in Hamilton.