Hamilton's economy? - Page 16

king10 · #**301** Posted **Jul 16, 2015, 4:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by realcity

Back to economy
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/22...-parkway-site/
New Hotel on Centennial Pkwy

I never go to that part of the City, does anyone know if it was built?

Being built as we speak. The foundations are in and they're working on the first floor. Last I heard it was to be the first 6 story all wood structure after the government increased the height restriction for all wood buildings from 4 to 6 floors.

Apparently there is supposed to be a Moxies and Dennys in the hotel. Similar to how a Dennys is in the Sandman hotel off the QEW in Oakville/Burly. I believe Moxies and Sandman are owned by the same BC company.

EDIT: Found some news articles from May

http://dailycommercialnews.com/Proje...lton-1007321W/

The $12-million project is under the direction of British Columbia based Northland Properties, the driving force behind not only the Sandman Hotel Group, but also Moxie's Grill and Bar, the Chop Steakhouse and Bar, Denny's Restaurants, the Dallas Stars and the Northland Asset Management Company.

For this particular project, Sandman Hotels submitted a site plan application to the city for a six-storey hotel that also will include an indoor pool, a 432-square-metre Denny's restaurant and a 840.5-square-metre Moxie's Bar and Grill restaurant as well as 277 parking spaces. Upon completion, it is expected to employ approximately 350 people.

You have to think the Holiday Inn and Golden Griddle across the street will take a hit when this opens.

NortheastWind · #**302** Posted **Jul 16, 2015, 6:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by king10

You have to think the Holiday Inn and Golden Griddle across the street will take a hit when this opens.

The Holiday Inn is so awkward to access. A parking lot on either side of the building has to be driven through to get to the entrance. And it's full of speed bumps to prevent people from cutting through to Keefer Court. They should build a new entrance on the south side, where it would eventually face the future GO station.

matt602 · #**303** Posted **Jul 17, 2015, 1:08 AM**

Yeah, the Holiday Inn kinda screwed themselves with the awkward access and insane amount of greenery surrounding the place from the highway and the street (which is usually a good thing in any other case). When the GO station goes in in 2019 it'll probably help them out quite a bit though.

ScreamingViking · #**304** Posted **Jul 19, 2015, 5:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by NortheastWind

The Holiday Inn is so awkward to access. A parking lot on either side of the building has to be driven through to get to the entrance. And it's full of speed bumps to prevent people from cutting through to Keefer Court. They should build a new entrance on the south side, where it would eventually face the future GO station.

That whole block of land around the hotel and plaza is a prime spot for better development that will take advantage of the new GO station.

I expect that plaza will eventually get knocked down and replaced. It's never really done well... some small offices have called it home, but as a retail location it failed.

king10 · #**305** Posted **Jul 29, 2015, 3:59 PM**

‘Predatory’ lenders an embarrassment to Hamilton: Councillor

http://www.thespec.com/news-story/57...on-councillor/

I agree with Matt Green. These payday loan stores need to be regulated and they cause more problems than the benefits they provide.

Stan Keyes disagrees with Green. The former Liberal MP for Hamilton-West, who is now president of the Hamilton-based Canadian Payday Loan Association, says the industry is unfairly "vilified" and is simply meeting the need for short-term loans unavailable through traditional banks and credit unions.

Keyes also disputes the claim that they target poor people by setting up shop in low-income neighbourhoods.

How can you say that with a straight face? You dont find payday loan stores in Ancaster or Winona.

bigguy1231 · #**306** Posted **Jul 30, 2015, 6:24 AM**

There are 5 payday loan places in the area of Upper James and Mohawk, not exactly a high poverty area.

They are legitimate businesses that are highly regulated. No one is forced to use their services.

HillStreetBlues · #**307** Posted **Jul 30, 2015, 12:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigguy1231

There are 5 payday loan places in the area of Upper James and Mohawk, not exactly a high poverty area.

They are legitimate businesses that are highly regulated. No one is forced to use their services.

Your use of the phrase "legitimate businesses" made me laugh out loud.

As for that cluster on Upper James, it's good evidence that these businesses locate such for easy predation on the poor. The only of the city's "priority" neighbourhoods not in the Lower City is Rolston, which begins just a block east of Mohawk and Upper James.

king10 · #**308** Posted **Jul 30, 2015, 2:33 PM**

Legitimate businesses?

Highly Regulated? (they're barely regulated). A tier 1 bank is highly regulated. Not a payday money loan shop.

Upper James and Mohawk not high poverty? (its the only upper city area on the "high priority list")

They are anything but that. Did you read the article?

Nobody is forced to use their services of course. But the people they prey on aren't educated about the reprecussions of defaulting and how credit builds up. They prey on the uneducated and compound their already difficult financial situation.

Beedok · #**309** Posted **Jul 30, 2015, 2:37 PM**

The Kingpin from Daredevil/Spider-man is always big on saying he's a Legitimate Businessman too.

mishap · #**310** Posted **Jul 30, 2015, 9:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beedok

The Kingpin from Daredevil/Spider-man is always big on saying he's a Legitimate Businessman too.

I'll bet his rates were better, though.

bigguy1231 · #**311** Posted **Jul 31, 2015, 3:10 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by king10

Legitimate businesses?

Highly Regulated? (they're barely regulated). A tier 1 bank is highly regulated. Not a payday money loan shop.

Upper James and Mohawk not high poverty? (its the only upper city area on the "high priority list")

They are anything but that. Did you read the article?

Nobody is forced to use their services of course. But the people they prey on aren't educated about the reprecussions of defaulting and how credit builds up. They prey on the uneducated and compound their already difficult financial situation.

Their fees and the interest they can charge are regulated. As far as credit building up, not paying your cable or phone bill will give you just as big a hit as defaulting on a payday loan.

As for the Upper James area being "High Priority" I think the poverty industry may be overstating things a little.

king10 · #**312** Posted **Jul 31, 2015, 12:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigguy1231

Their fees and the interest they can charge are regulated. As far as credit building up, not paying your cable or phone bill will give you just as big a hit as defaulting on a payday loan.

As for the Upper James area being "High Priority" I think the poverty industry may be overstating things a little.

Thats not "highly regulated" as you first stated.

Phone bill or cable bill is once a month. Not bi weekly with 6 different loans and 6 different payday loan companies.

Beedok · #**313** Posted **Jul 31, 2015, 2:14 PM**

I am a bit confused as to how they're an embarrassment to Hamilton though. They're an embarrassment to Canada. They're in poor parts of every city I've properly explored. (Though Hamilton does seem to have a bit more of them.)

markbarbera · #**314** Posted **Jul 31, 2015, 3:06 PM**

There are 9 Money Marts within a 5km radius of Hamilton (three downtown, one in the east end, and five on the mountain).

As a comparison, there are 14 within a 5km radius of Toronto, 8 for Oshawa, and 10 for London.

king10 · #**315** Posted **Jul 31, 2015, 3:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by markbarbera

There are 9 Money Marts within a 5km radius of Hamilton (three downtown, one in the east end, and five on the mountain).

As a comparison, there are 14 within a 5km radius of Toronto, 8 for Oshawa, and 10 for London.

money mart isn't the only chain though.

king10 · #**316** Posted **Jul 31, 2015, 8:06 PM**

So apparently slaintes got an eviction notice from the superior court

ScreamingViking · #**317** Posted **Aug 2, 2015, 6:02 PM**

That's unfortunate. Slainte has been a great place for a long time. But I'm surprised it took this long before the issue led to closure -- the owner has apparently had a troubled history regarding finances for the pub. I'm curious about the bigger story here... are there similarities to the Chris DesRoches saga? Or has it been mostly about poor revenue?

Hopefully it will re-open under new ownership. With the new condos coming there will be a larger market in the immediate vicinity, and whenever I've been there it's been busy. And I've always liked the atmosphere and interior decor; I would not want to see it renovated in a substantial way, though I'm sure there are things that could be upgraded.

Still recall when it was The Keg.

matt602 · #**318** Posted **Aug 2, 2015, 9:36 PM**

I think it'll be back open within 6 months. That place is an institution and they make a killing every st. patty's day.

SteelTown · #**319** Posted **Aug 3, 2015, 7:04 PM**

^ And they get decent lunch time crowd too, lots of lawyers and office workers. When I worked at the downtown McMaster campus for a bit I had lunch at Slainte, always great food and drinks. I'd say more than half always got the fish and chip.

king10 · #**320** Posted **Aug 3, 2015, 7:58 PM**

Ya im surprised. During the winter months it is the go to spot for young 20 year olds.

Line ups 50 ppl deep waiting to get in and pay 5 or 10$ cover charge. I dont think revenue was the problem.

You add that they seem to do well during the week during lunch hour as well.

Yet he couldnt pay his taxes or mortgage? Something doesnt add up.

He must have been allocating his revenue elsewhere instead of paying bills.