Hamilton mayor urges Ontario to push through Jamesville housing development despite CN's appeal

Samantha Beattie · CBC News

· Posted: Jul 15, 2025 4:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 11 minutes ago

Mayor Andrea Horwath is appealing to the Ontario authorities for assistance successful getting astir 500 homes built successful Hamilton contempt CN Rail blocking the task for years.

The city evicted residents from 91 of its affordable townhouses — a assemblage known arsenic Jamesville — nearly 10 years ago, with the anticipation of rapidly redeveloping the spot connected James Street North.

But CN Rail, which operates a gait and tracks that are adjacent by, antecedently said it's acrophobic astir the impacts of odour, vibration and sound connected aboriginal residents.

The private railway company appealed the city's Jamesville plans to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) successful 2022, but the proceedings person dragged on.

The partially demolished tract has sat vacant ever since, and is fenced disconnected and deteriorating. 

A proceeding was expected to instrumentality spot last February, but that was cancelled, said the metropolis successful a quality merchandise the period before. At that time, some sides had requested a lawsuit absorption league oregon colony proceeding for May oregon June.

Province accepting comments

But arsenic of past week, nary statement had materialized, and Horwath announced she's asked the province to contented a Ministerial Zoning Order (MZO) to interruption the "logjam." An MZO would override immoderate municipal land conflicts and let the lodging enactment to spell ahead. 

"Right now, we person a existent accidental to get it crossed the decorativeness line," Horwath said successful a video posted to Facebook. "But we request your help."

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing is accepting feedback until Aug. 12 astir the Jamesville redevelopment earlier it makes its decision. The politician urged residents to stock their thoughts connected redeveloping the site. 

"You cognize what it would mean to spot families, seniors and young couples thriving present again — not a boarded-up ammunition of what erstwhile was," the politician said. "So let's get it done Hamilton."

The task would see 315 backstage marketplace units and 160 affordable units successful some stacked townhouses and flat oregon condo towers. The stacked townhouses would beryllium built first, notes the MZO posting. 

The tract would be developed by FRAM + Klokker, Melrose Investments Inc., Marz Homes and DeSantis Homes, with CityHousing Hamilton and Indwell providing the affordable units — immoderate with wraparound supports. 

CN Rail did not respond to a petition for remark earlier publication. The communicative volition beryllium updated with immoderate response.

In April 2024, a spokesperson told CBC Hamilton that portion it is simply a portion of the Hamilton assemblage and wants to alteration these kinds of projects, it has a work to support aboriginal residents surviving adjacent its infrastructure.