Adaptive Reuse » Ontario

Big Plans Loom At Old Knitting Mill

pete — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 00:59:46 +0000

The Cannon Knitting Mills in Hamilton’s poorest neighborhood, Beasley, may soon breath new life thanks to a recent public-private partnership. Made up of five buildings and totaling 110,000 square feet, the vacant mills were purchased in January by Hamilton Realty Capital Corporation (HRCC). The company, owned by Forum Equity Partners president Richard Abboud, was lent $2 million by the city to get started. HRCC intends to use the project as “catalyst” for additional redevelopment in the neighborhood. No set plan for the adaptation of the complex has been set, but some “possibilities include residential, retail, office space, artists’ studios, museum space, a post-secondary campus or maybe a mix of all of that.”

The three-storey massive structure is dotted with broken windows and littered with pigeon droppings inside. There is water damage which has caused the wood floors to buckle and paint flakes to fall from the wooden ceiling like snowflakes. It looks as though it’s been vacant a long time, although the last of the equipment was moved out just a few years ago.

This is Forum’s first entry into a restoration/adaptation project, but as Abboud stated they are “bullish on Hamilton.” The complex was once a fixture and economic engine for the neighborhood and the rehabilitation has the potential of giving it that place again. It will be interesting to see just what the city and HRCC decide to do with the property.

Revival of a Tarnished Beauty

pete — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 03:21:21 +0000

The 131-year-old Treble Hall in downtown Hamilton, Ontario, is set to be restored and find a new purpose. Designed by James Balfour, who was also the architect of the Detroit Museum of Art and Hamilton City Hall (since demolished), the building is fixed with metal detailing in honor of Hamilton’s heritage as a metal town. Built in 1879 for Henry J. Larkin, the building original had four retail storefronts on the first floor, offices on the second, and a public assembly hall on the third floor. Under the plans of the new owner Jeff Feswick, the building will go through a $3 million adaptation which will see the storefronts restored and art lofts and a rehearsal and performance area on the upper floors.

Rescuing the Castaways

pete — Sun, 29 May 2011 19:41:55 +0000

When people first hear “adaptive reuse,” they automatically assume that the building being adapted is quite old and outlived its initial use. The real estate crash of 2008 changed this perspective. James Krohe looks at how the economic shift has reimagined adaptive reuse – now being utilized for even new or recent construction projects. The crash created a glut of buildings that either couldn’t sell or were foreclosed on and shut down. The largest impact was on housing, which Krohe provides examples of opportunities for affordable housing as well as subdividing McMansions. Some areas have or are projected to lose significant student body counts. While many schools may be shuttered for future use when the resident numbers go back up, others are being converted and in many cases as housing. Additionally, the suburban malls have lost out as many of these bedroom communities have shrunk. Many of these malls are being repurposed both for community uses as schools and art galleries. Many communities have instituted bylaws to make reuse of old or disused buildings easier. A couple of examples provided by Krohe are Hamilton, Ontario, and Salt Lake City, Nevada.

(You will need an APA account in order to read the article.)

Developer Turning Old Boot Factory Into Trendy Commercial Space

pete — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 20:58:45 +0000

From manufacturing to commercial space, the old industrial buildings along King and Breithaupt Streets in Kitchener, Ontario, are going through a renaissance. These six buildings date back to as early as 1903 and have since had their heavy machinery removed to make way for new life. The first phase, The Breithaupt Block, will provide 175,000 sf of new commercial space marketed to the high-tech, research and creative sectors. The facades of the buildings will be maintained while new courtyards and driveways are incorporated to provide division to the buildings. While some parking will be provided on ground level, the developer is incorporating below-grade parking in some of the basements.

The Candy Factory Lofts

pete — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 14:44:21 +0000

History
Dating back to the 1930s, this warehouse is located west of downtown Toronto in the West Queen Street neighborhood. It previously had been used as a Ce De Candy Company factory, the makers of Smarties.^[1]

(Re)Developer
Quandrangle Architects undertook the conversion of the warehouse. The firm focuses on the rehabilitation and conversion of existing buildings, as well as historical restorations and renovations.

Outcome
Creating new loft residences out of the factory, the building now provides a great housing option in a neighborhood of restaurants, art galleries, and bars. The six-story post and beam loft building now houses 121 loft units. Some of the amenities enjoyed by the residents include 24-hour concierge service, a party room, a guest suite, fitness room, roof terraces and wide hallways.^[2]

Historic Guasti District Getting Mixed Makeover

pete — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:55:12 +0000

As part of the Historic Guasti District project in Ontario, California, the City and developer Oliver McMillan have started adapting nine buildings in the Guasti district. The nine buildings (totaling 175,000 sf) are part of the 55-acre project that will include a mix of restaurants, entertainment, hospitality and lifestyle tenants. The redevelopment of Guasti Village will eventually include 400,000 square feet of retail and restaurants, 600,000 square feet of office, residential units and two hotels. The nine buildings that make up the first phase of the project include the Guasti Villa, a firehouse, five worker cottages and two residences. The adaptive reuse project includes historic preservation measures in order to protect the buildings as well as murals and other artifacts from the Villa. The project is a major tool in the strategic development that will be incorporated at a number of sites in the city.