The Connolly, Hamilton, Ont.
Builder/developer: Stanton Renaissance
Size: 451 to 2,000 square feet
Price: from $199,000
Contact: To register, phone 905-573-9999 or visit theconnolly.ca
In Hamilton’s historic downtown core, a crumbling religious landmark will become a contemporary sanctuary with retail space for the public and recreational amenities for residents in private suites above.
“The congregation would tell stories about how they would hear stone falling inside the walls … every time buses would go by. And in the basement, the foundation suffered serious washout of all the mortar,” says Drew Hauser, principal of McCallum Sather Architects Inc., which has worked on other heritage and sustainable projects, such as this 30-storey one with developer Stanton Renaissance.
“Now the remaining portion – which is the most significant architecturally – will be stabilized and be part of a larger project so it will remain in Hamilton’s collective memory for the next 100 and some odd years.”
Situated at 98 James St. S., south of Main Street, the James Street Baptist Church – built by 1882 after it collapsed during initial construction years prior – will be restored and fused with a glass-clad galleria that will house commercial outlets and a private third-floor terrace, games, fitness and multi-purpose rooms.
“It’s something the mass public would not have enjoyed before unless you were part of the congregation,” says Louie Santaguida, president of Stanton Renaissance. “The design is about keeping the history of what was once part of the downtown nomenclature, now is being maintained and hopefully will have life for another 130 years.”
The 259-unit highrise, which was named The Connolly after Joseph Connolly, the Irish-Canadian architect of the Gothic Revival-style church, will preserve more than 20,000 square feet of stone façade and repurpose doors, windows and columns.
“The galleria contains a two-floor living wall and terminates into a restaurant that faces south to the [Niagara] escarpment and contains the saved stained glass windows that were removed during the demolition of the western portion of the church,” Mr. Hauser explains.
“The upper level of the galleria and remaining church are expected to become an event space with spectacular stained glass and views of the city.”
Inspired by the urban and rural backdrop, as well as original stained glass fragments, the infill project’s exterior will bear colourful accents shifting from grey and silver up to green, white and blue.
“One thing that is quite unique to Hamilton, is that to the south is the escarpment and to the north is water, so there are no bad views from this building,” Mr. Hauser notes. “Our tower became informed by the environment around it, both the city environment to the very natural lush green environment we’re very fortunate to have, as well as the sky and lightness above the escarpment.”
Though the building is slated for completion in 2017, the area is already established with shops, galleries, museums and medical institutions. Plus a new health centre is being constructed nearby.
“Hamilton is the best community to invest in in Ontario,” says Michael St. Jean, vice-president and sales representative of St. Jean Realty, which is handling project sales. “As far as location – being in Hamilton, on James Street and on the south side – you can’t get any better than that. And you’re only 200 meters from the current GO station.”
What the area lacks is new housing, much less eco-friendly ones such as this one that will operate on geoexchange and co-generation systems.
“If you look around Hamilton, whether it’s anything built in the last 30 years – which hasn’t been almost anything really – or look at projects underway currently, most are refurbishments and renovation,” Mr. St. Jean says. “This is definitely the most advanced as far as construction and technology, especially the greenest project.”
Preview events underway give buyers a peek at one to four-bedroom plans. Many average 700 square feet, and all have open-concept designs, nine-foot ceilings, laminate and porcelain tile floors and European-style kitchens with Caesarstone or quartz counters and stainless steel appliances.