CITY OF HAMILTON
MOTION

City Council: Date TDB

MOVED BY COUNCILLOR MARK POWELL
SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR TBD

Subject: Purchase or Expropriation of the rail yard at 400 Longwood Road South

WHEREAS, the City of Hamilton is committed to expanding residential space within our Urban Boundary;

WHEREAS, there is an immediate need to establish long term plans and goals due to the demands of the provincial government;

WHEREAS, there is an immediate need due to the current housing crisis;

WHEREAS, there is an immediate need to reduce our local emissions;

WHEREAS, it is understood the City of Hamilton previously sought the purchase of the land for a stadium;

WHEREAS, the City of Hamilton is committed to building new, ecologically friendly infrastructure

WHEREAS, the City of Hamilton seeks to build a new “Chedoke” neighbourhood in the heart of Ward 1, connecting Kirkendall, Ainslie Wood, and Westdale

WHEREAS, the City of Hamilton is committed to extending the Rail Trail and creating additional green spaces

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:

(a) That staff be directed to undertake a study on the process related to the purchase or expropriation of the rail yard at 400 Longwood Road South

(b) That staff be directed to establish the market value of the property at 400 Longwood Road South

(c) That staff report back to City Council with recommendations and cost estimates in Q3 2027

SUBJECT LANDS:

PROPOSED INFRASTRUCTURE:

(i) Re-purpose of western rail bridge as roadway – Extending Baxter Street eastward to intersect with Studholme Road

(ii) Extend Longwood Road to intersect with the Baxter Street Extension

(iii) Zone new Baxter to Longwood, Longwood to Aberdeen corridors for mixed use, high density commercial and residential space

(iv) Sewer and Water infrastructure suitable to support residential zones in the surrounding lands

(v) Establish side streets around these main arteries, zone for appropriate residential housing

(vi) Retain sufficient parcels of land to build one high density City Housing facility on the new main corridor, and one mid to low density area for families within the new neighbourhood

(vii) Rail Trail extension utilizing east bridge over Aberdeen, and the resulting defunct rail line to Dundurn and Main intersection – connecting Hill Park and the future LRT development corridor to our trail network

OBJECTIVES:

(1) Increase the available residential space within our urban boundary

(2) Reduce local pollution through closure of an industrial site with perpetual diesel emissions

(3) Reduce city’s carbon footprint through building modern, Eco-friendly infrastructure; examples include kinetic power generating roadways and solar power sources

(4) Establish a model for building new, modern neighbourhoods within our Urban Boundary rather than traditional suburban sprawl

(5) Improve Aberdeen interchange effectiveness – connecting Ainslie Wood to the Chedoke zone will redirect traffic away from Longwood Road and Main Street, reducing congestion at major intersections