Hamilton Municipal Heritage Committee Meeting — August 18, 2026

The Hamilton Municipal Heritage Committee on Aug. 18, 2026 approved several heritage permit applications, including tree removal at 295 Bay Street South, retroactive and prospective work at 286 Victoria Avenue North, repairs at 252 James Street South, and the relocation of the house at 398 Wilson Street East to 17 Academy Street. The committee also received a pre-consultation presentation on a proposed Stelco office addition at 440 Victoria Avenue North.

Topics Discussed

1. TREE REMOVAL: 295 Bay Street South

The committee approved Heritage Permit HP 2026-23 / HP20226023 for the removal of five trees along the public right of way at 295 Bay Street South in the Durand Markland Heritage Conservation District. Lisa said the trees were being removed for safety reasons: "These are trees that are lowhanging and they impede pedestrian and traffic. Um, so the trees aren't specifically dead, but they are impeding um safety and uh traffic, so we'll need to remove them."

Committee members discussed the existing tree buffer on the property and whether replacement planting would be needed. Graeme said the site already has several layers of trees and that removing the five trees at the edge would still leave a substantial barrier. The approval included standard conditions requiring any proposed changes to be submitted before alterations begin and setting a two-year permit term. Lisa added that staff are still using the standard two-year timeline for now: "We are looking to move to a three-year expiry as part of our procedural bylaw updates, but until that goes through, we're sticking typically with our standard two-year."

2. BABY'S DISPENSARY GUILD: RETROACTIVE HVAC WORK AND DOOR REPLACEMENT AT 286 VICTORIA AVENUE NORTH

The committee approved retroactive Heritage Permit HA2026001 for completed HVAC and utility work at 286 Victoria Avenue North, the Baby's Dispensary Guild building, which is subject to a municipal heritage easement agreement. Committee member Graeme criticized the timing of the application, saying: "It would have been nice if we would have had this before it was completed." The motion carried with no conditions.

The committee also considered HA 2026002 for replacement of a broken front door at the same building. Members questioned whether the proposed replacement matched the original proportions and asked for clearer documentation. Lisa told the committee the doors being replaced were not protected heritage features: "The doors themselves are not um so while they are replacing them, they're not original features um or at least weren't deemed protected under the HCA."

Members also discussed break-ins and security at the property. One committee member remarked, "There's no glass that resists breaking. Any any glass can be broken. They just need one hammer. See you later." The permit was approved with conditions requiring final door specifications, materials and colour to be reviewed by planning and heritage staff.

3. GRIFFITHS PALATIAL HOME: STEP AND PAVING REPAIRS AT 252 JAMES STREET SOUTH

The committee approved HP 202622 for repairs to the front steps and replacement of interlocking pavers with a sloped concrete pad at 252 James Street South. During discussion, members asked whether the steps were original. The owner said they were concrete and had been repaired several times.

A committee member thanked the applicant for bringing the work forward before construction, saying: "I'm glad you came to us ahead of doing the work this time. Really appreciate that." The motion carried unanimously with standard conditions and a two-year expiry.

4. MAR HOUSE RELOCATION: 398 WILSON STREET EAST TO 17 ACADEMY STREET

The committee approved HP202621 / HP 2026021 for the relocation of the designated 1850 Mar House from 398 Wilson Street East in Ancaster to 17 Academy Street. Applicant representative Matt Johnston said staff had reviewed the proposed approval conditions and supported them: "the intent of the presentation is just to provide some additional context… we've reviewed the proposed conditions of approval and uh, have no concerns and um, would be happy to have uh, those conditions applied as recommended by staff."

Committee members asked about the mechanics and risks of moving the building. One member asked, "Do they ever have it when they fall down? Like you know what I'm saying? When it collapses in moving. How common is that?" Another explanation to the committee said dismantling and reassembly had been considered, but the building was structurally sound enough to move intact: "the notion of dismantling and cataloging and reassembling was briefly considered, but because the structural integrity is is so sturdy, there's confidence in uh in this lift and and relocation."

Committee member Graham supported the revised destination, saying: "I am very glad because I 100% oppose this building coming off Wilson and that Lauren Avenue location was a horrible place to put it… Now going at least on Academy, it's going to have a use. It's going to be seen and that's I think is pretty important." The committee approved the relocation with conditions including a new designation bylaw for the new location, a heritage easement agreement, a survey, and a letter of credit covering stabilization, relocation, restoration and monitoring costs.

5. STELCO OFFICE ADDITION PRE-CONSULTATION: 440 VICTORIA AVENUE NORTH

The committee received a pre-consultation presentation on a proposed addition to the heritage-designated industrial building at 440 Victoria Avenue North for use as Stelco office space. Planner Megan Hopson described the site's industrial history: "So this is a historic photo of the site. So it was built for Otis elevator company um later during World War II munitions were uh manufactured here and then it was the Studebaker plant. So it's got a very significant sort of um history to the industrial sector in Hamilton."

Maureen Wilson described the design approach for the addition: "So here's the sort of floor plan and on the right is the heritage portion and you can see that all of it being integrated and conserved and on the left the blue is the new addition that wraps around on that side at the around the back where there's no heritage fabric." Committee members commented on façade rhythm, materials and how the wartime history of the building should be commemorated. The committee later voted to receive the presentation as a consultation item.

Motions

• Heritage Permit HP 2026-23 / HP20226023 — 295 Bay Street South: Approved with staff-recommended standard conditions.
• Heritage Permit HA2026001 — 286 Victoria Avenue North: Retroactive approval granted.
• Heritage Permit HA 2026002 — 286 Victoria Avenue North door replacement: Approved with conditions requiring final specifications, materials and colour review by planning and heritage staff.
• Heritage Permit HP 202622 — 252 James Street South: Approved unanimously with standard conditions.
• Heritage Permit HP202621 / HP 2026021 — 398 Wilson Street East relocation to 17 Academy Street: Approved unanimously with conditions including designation changes, heritage easement, survey and financial security.
• Pre-consultation presentation — 440 Victoria Avenue North: Motion to receive the presentation carried.

Attendees

Committee members or councillors identified in the notes as present: - Graeme / Graham - Sandra - Matthew - Andy - Maureen Wilson

Other speakers identified in the meeting record: - Lisa - Michael Khalil - Mr. Lou - Matt Johnston - Megan Hopson