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City of Hamilton

‘Vertical sprawl’ concerns as Province kills Hamilton’s 30-storey height limit

There were very slow volumes this week, as only four sales occurred.

The week marks the slowest point during our current bear market. However, last week witnessed some of the most significant volumes we’ve seen in a while. The last couple of months have seen atypical ebbs and flows in deal volumes.

This week’s largest transaction occurred in Woolwich, where an industrial property traded for $3.4 million ($194/sq. ft).

The week’s remaining deals included two industrial units in Hamilton and a former school in Flamborough.

In the news, the Province has nixed Hamilton‘s 30-storey height limit, Hamilton inaugurated its new city council and mayor, and the Hamilton City Centre Mall will close on December 26 to prepare for development.
News Headlines
Concern over vertical sprawl after province nixes 30-storey height limit
The Hamilton Spectator, November 15, 2022

Who owns the land in Hamilton’s endangered Greenbelt?
The Hamilton Spectator, November 17, 2022

A new era for Hamilton as city council and first woman mayor inaugurated 
CBC News, November 17, 2022

Hamilton City Centre Mall to close on December 26th in preparation for development
CBC News, November 18, 2022

Hamilton immigration census data
The Hamilton Spectator, November 11, 2022

OLT denies developer near Hamilton airport 
The Public Record, November 8, 2022

Hamilton Bulldogs Owner: Being forced to leave FirstOntario Centre during renovations was shocking and unexpected news
CBC News, November 16, 2022

Ontario wants greater grip on regional governance
CBC News, November 16, 2022

Beginning of the end for Canada’s housing market downturn?
RBC Monthly Housing Market Update, November 15, 2022

BMO economist: Housing market correction about halfway done
The Globe and Mail, November 16, 2022

Intelligent Investment: Canadian Cap Rates & Investment Insights Report
CBRE, Q3 2022
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230 James St N

14-storey residential development proposed for King & Caroline in Hamilton

230 James St. N. in downtown Hamilton has sold.
This week witnessed a good level of transitions for all subject markets.

For the second consecutive week, the largest purchase occurred in Kitchener, where a 58-unit, multi-residential building at 475-477 Lancaster St. W. sold for $16.5 million ($285,000/unit). It’s a slightly high purchase price, but that’s understandable, considering multi-residential is the most robust asset class.

In Hamilton, the most exciting transaction was for 230 James St. N. The downtown mixed-use building was purchased for $2.35 million ($358/sq. ft). This purchase price appears fair: In 2021 and 2022, James St. has witnessed similar buildings trade in the high $300s to low $400s/sq. ft.  

Hamilton’s Design Review Panel has reviewed three proposals, including a 14-storey, 68-unit multi-residential development for the southwest corner of King and Caroline, which is currently the site of a small retail plaza.

The intersection is on the future LRT line and is attracting extensive development:

  1. The northeast corner is the site of the Radio Arts residential development by Canlight.
  2. The southeast corner saw a 30-storey proposal in 2021 by Vrancor Group.
  3. Just one address to the east, McMaster University’s 30-storey graduate residence is under construction.

The GHA Sales Transaction Database offers you this week’s CRE transaction activity.

Ales Manojlovich

News Headlines

Hamilton Design Review Panel: October 2022
215-217 King St W
160 King St E
2900 King St. E.

ArcelorMittal Dofasco’s ‘green steel’ transformation to start in January
The Hamilton Spectator, October 14, 2022

Municipal Benchmarking Study, Greater Toronto Area
Altus Group, September 27, 2022

Canada’s permanent resident application backlog is forcing thousands of skilled workers to quit and return home
The Globe & Mail, October 12, 2022

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Confederation GO Station

Ford announces construction on new Hamilton GO Station

This week witnessed an excellent level of transactions, with Brantford, in particular, picking up some slack.

Hamilton narrowly avoided a month without a multi-residential sale. On the books for September is the sale of an eight-unit building near Stoney Creek. It traded for close to $300,000 per unit, a high value.

Also in Hamilton, Spallacci Homes purchased 5.92 acres of land near Lime Ridge Mall for $3 million. It’s a peculiar purchase as the site appears to be a cemetery.

The largest purchase this week took place in Kitchener. The 401 Group of Companies purchased an 81,000 sq. ft industrial building for $28 million ($344/sq.ft). That’s a high purchase price for an industrial facility, but it also includes approximately 3.5 acres of excess land.

In the news, Doug Ford has announced construction on a new GO Station in Hamilton, twin towers have been proposed in Stoney Creek, and Ontario plans to cut development fees on affordable housing.

The GHA Sales Transaction Database offers you this week’s CRE transaction activity.

News Headlines

Dundas seniors housing demo for 11-storey condo proposed
The Hamilton Spectator, October 3, 2022

Empire’s planning application for Hagersville quarry property explained
The Hamilton Spectator, September 27, 2022

Ontario government investing $90M in skilled trades programs
CBC News, September 26, 2022

Long approval times, high municipal fees adding ‘unnecessary costs’ to new GTA housing: Study 
CBC News, September 27, 2022

Kitchener 8 storey, 166 unit development approved
The Record, September 27, 2022

Amazon fulfilment facility under construction in Cambridge
The Record, September 28, 2022

Toronto’s largest film studio announce major expansion
BlogTO, September 27, 2022
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Dundas seniors housing demolition for 11-storey condo proposed

This week witnessed a subpar amount of transitions. It appears the CRE markets are feeling the impact of increased interest rates in what is already traditionally the slowest month of the year.

The largest transaction for the third consecutive week was a Hamilton residential land sale. Cedar City Developments purchased 31 acres of land on Stoney Creek mountain near Elfrida for $15.4 million ($487,000/acre).

Hamilton hasn’t witnessed a multi-residential transaction in the month of September. This is notable as the city hasn’t gone a month without a multi-residential transaction since November of 2021. However, September transactions are still trickling in. In addition, multi-residential remains arguably the strongest asset class, and rental rates continue to escalate as more home buyers are removed from the market with rising interest rates.

In the news, the proposal for an 11-storey condo tower includes plans to demolish Dundas seniors housing, the Hagersville quarry project explained, and the Ontario government is investing $90 million into skilled trades programs.

We’re moving!
Sept. 28 was Forge & Foster’s last day at 67 Frid St.
As of Oct. 11, our new address will be: 29 Harriet St. Hamilton, ON L8R 2E5

The GHA Sales Transaction Database offers you this week’s CRE transaction activity.

Alex Manojlovich's photo and signature

News Headlines

Dundas seniors housing demo for 11-storey condo proposed
The Hamilton Spectator, October 3, 2022

Empire’s planning application for Hagersville quarry property explained
The Hamilton Spectator, September 27, 2022

Ontario government investing $90M in skilled trades programs
CBC News, September 26, 2022

Long approval times, high municipal fees adding ‘unnecessary costs’ to new GTA housing: Study 
CBC News, September 27, 2022

Kitchener 8 storey, 166 unit development approved
The Record, September 27, 2022

Amazon fulfilment facility under construction in Cambridge
The Record, September 28, 2022

Toronto’s largest film studio announce major expansion
BlogTO, September 27, 2022

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Emblem Purchases Third Downtown Development Site

This week saw an average amount of transactions, with Brantford noticeably slow during August and September.

The most significant transaction for the second consecutive week was a high-density residential land sale in Hamilton. Emblem Developments has purchased its third site in the city, 100 John St. N. and 61 Wilson St. — currently the site of an office and a retail building — for $8 million (approximately $13.8 million/acre). It’s slightly above market value, but this valuation could signify things to come with increasing condo unit values.

In the second largest transaction of the week, NorthWest Healthcare Properties REIT sold a medical office building for $294/sq. ft in Hamilton‘s east end.

In the news, more details have been revealed about last week’s Connolly sale, the Television City condos are expected to be built by 2026, and a study has found that OLT decisions have favoured developers 97% of the time.

News Headlines

Connolly Site Sold
The Hamilton Spectator, September 22, 2022

Television City condo expected to be built in 2026
The Hamilton Spectator, September 9, 2022

Ontario Land Tribunals decisions have favoured developers 97% of the time
The Hamilton Spectator, September 20, 2022

Deeply affordable Cityhousing building first of its kind in Hamilton
The Hamilton Spectator, September 24, 2022

Plan to build 23 homes on small lots in Kitchener sparks concerns over traffic
The Record, September 21, 2022

Renting growing twice as fast as home ownership
CBC News, September 21, 2022

Job vacancies hit record high in Q2 
BNN Bloomberg, September 20, 2022

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Connolly Site

Connolly Site at 98 James Sold to Milborne Group

The number of transactions this week was about average, with Niagara seeing an increase in activity while Brantford was a no-show.

This week’s most exciting and expensive sale was at 98 James St. S. in downtown Hamilton. The Connolly Site sold for $24 million ($75 million/acre). It’s an astronomically high price, but it could make sense at an estimated value of $80/buildable sq. ft, although that’s still very high for Hamilton. Alternatively, the price could include some other form of value, like an approved site plan or pre-construction deposits.

The former James Street Baptist Church, constructed between 1878 and 1882, has had a tumultuous decade:

  • It was demolished in 2014, except for its historic stone facade, by developer Louie Santaguida for a planned $80-million, 30-storey condo development dubbed The Connolly.
  • That project was placed in receivership in 2017.
  • In 2018, it was sold to Hue Developments, which proposed a 31-storey tower with 315 units.
  • The buyer this time is Toronto’s Milborne Group. They bill themselves as Canada’s leading marketer of urban, master-planned, multi-phased communities. They’re affiliated with the 1 Jarvis development and the 75 James Condominiums, kitty-corner to 98 James St. S.
In the news this week beyond the Connolly, Lamb Developments has sold a 50% interest in 428 Main St. W. in Hamilton to local developer New Horizon Development Group for $2.25 million ($2.8 million/acre). Once the site of Zizzo’s Car Care & Mor (sic), 428 Main St. W. is now a vacant lot across from the Westgate on Main condo development by Matrix Development Group.

In the Niagara region, Starlight Investments has purchased a 75-unit multi-residential asset in Welland for $11 million (nearly $150,000/unit).

This week’s second-largest transaction was in Beamsville, where a grocery-anchored retail plaza sold for $15.1 million ($280/sq. ft).

In the news, Empire Homes has proposed 1,000 homes in Hagersville, Rentals.ca released their September rental report, and the former GM site in St. Catherines has been approved for high-density zoning.


News Headlines

Empire Homes proposes 1,000 homes on Hagersville quarry site
The Hamilton Spectator, September 13, 2022

Dispute over Land Back Lane injunction continues at court 
CBC News, September 13, 2022

September 2022 Rent Report
Rentals.ca, September 2022

St. Catharines high-density zoning approved for former GM site
The Standard, September 13, 2022

Redevelopment of Guelph parking lot approved
The Toronto Star, September 13, 2022

Waterloo residents fret as developer pushes for taller than permitted development
The Record, September 10, 2022

Monthly Housing Update
RBC, September 15, 2022

Housing inventory may reach crisis point in major Canadian cities
The Financial Post, September 12, 2022

Editorial: Canada’s population is booming and we aren’t building nearly enough
The Globe & Mail, September 17, 2022

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Hamilton rated one of Canada’s best locations to invest

Forge & Foster is moving! Sept. 23 will be our last day at 67 Frid St. By Sept. 27, we’ll be set up at 29 Harriet St., in the exciting, high-growth film district of Barton-Tiffany.
This week witnessed a large volume of transitions, typical for the transition period between months. It’s great to see these patterns holding even as interest rates continue to rise.
This week’s largest transaction occurred south of Kitchener in North Dumfries, where an industrial building on a large swath of land sold for $19 million.

The second largest transaction took place in Waterloo, where Village Developments purchased almost an acre of residential land for $14 million.

The largest transaction in Hamilton was in Stoney Creek, where 12.45 acres of industrial land sold for $13 million (approximately $1 million/acre).

In the news, Hamilton has been rated as one of Canada’s best locations to invest, New Horizon Development Group submitted a bid for taller buildings, and Toronto‘s average condo rents have surged to a record high.

We’re moving! 
Sept. 23 will be Forge & Foster’s last day at 67 Frid St.
As of Sept. 27, our new address will be: 29 Harriet St. Hamilton, ON L8R 2E5
The GHA Sales Transaction Database offers you this week’s CRE transaction activity.
News Headlines

Hamilton rated as one of Canada’s best locations to invest 
Invest In Hamilton, September 2022

Dundas site receives conditional approvals for 4 storey, 51 unit development
The Hamilton Spectator, September 12, 2022

New Horizon Development’s new bid aims taller
The Hamilton Spectator, September 12, 2022

Home construction authority moves to revoke Burlington developer’s license
The Hamilton Spectator, September 10, 2022

6 storey building set to replace three houses in Waterloo
The Record, September 9, 2022

Kitchener’s Mill St plan would transform area around LRT station with six towers up to 1,500 units
The Record, August 29, 2022

August 2022 Rent Report
Rentals.ca, September 2022

Toronto condo rents surge to record average $2,806/month
The Toronto Star, September 7, 2022

Ontario passes strong mayor legislations, providing Toronto and Ottawa veto power
CBC News Toronto, September 8, 2022

Bank of Canada expected to hike interest rate to 3.25%
The Hamilton Spectator, September 7, 2022

Tal: Interest rates could deepen Canada’s rental housing crisis
RENX, September 8, 2022

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Renderings for the Radio Arts building, which is set to begin construction in November at 206 King St. W. in Hamilton.

Radio Arts condo development to begin in November

This week witnessed below-average transaction volumes. However, there was a variety of noteworthy deals.

This week’s largest transaction was in Hamilton, where Guido De Brès Canadian Reformed High School Society purchased a former elementary school for $15.5 million ($175/sq. ft). That price is in line with a former school in Dundas that sold two weeks ago.

In the hospitality sector, Big Coffee Inc. purchased the former Masonic Hall in Dundas for $1.65 million ($332/sq. ft), and Radius Hospitality Corp. picked up 18-20 Hess St. S. for approximately $2.3 million ($446/sq. ft).

Also of note: local firm Effort Trust purchased 37.75 acres of vacant land in Thorold for $4.7 million ($124,000/acre).

In the news, the Radio Arts condo development will start construction in November, Hamilton saw a big drop in per capita municipal spending, and Canada will fund a rent-to-own program as part of its $2 billion housing plan.

The GHA Sales Transaction Database offers you this week’s CRE transaction activity.
News Headlines

Plan underway to remove 206 King St W building debris, Radio Arts development to commence November
CHCH News, September 4, 2022

Hamilton sees big drop in per capita municipal spending 
The Hamilton Spectator, August 27, 2022

MLS ® Residential Market Activity for REALTORS® Association of Hamilton and Burlington Areas
August 2022

Canadian universities rushing to address student housing shortage
The Globe & Mail, August 28, 2022

Revised plan for Schneiders site in Kitchener includes 12 new buildings, 2,400 rental units
The Record, August 26, 2022

Three highrises more than 500 rental apartments proposed for South Kitchener
The Record, August 31, 2022

Labour shortage has Canada planning to pick and choose immigrants 
The Financial Post, August 31, 2022

Canada to fund rent-to-own program under $2 billion housing plan
The Financial Post, August 30, 2022
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DiCenzo Homes has proposed a 12-storey, 165-unit residential tower at 639 Rymal Rd. in Hamilton.

DiCenzo Homes proposes a 12-storey residential tower on Hamilton Mountain

It’s great to see that over the last two weeks, we’ve continued to see good deal flow, despite interest rates tightening activity to some extent.

This week’s largest transaction took place in Grimsby, where Anatolia Group purchased 35.3 acres of vacant industrial land for $56.3 million (nearly $1.6 million/acre).

The price of Hamilton industrial land continues to escalate.

Other notable transactions include:

  1. A downtown corner property at 150 Main St. E. was purchased for $6.1 million ($9.5 million/acre), which is comparable to high-density residential land values.
  2. Granite REIT purchased 10 acres of residential land in Brantford for $6.3 million (nearly $630,000/acre).

It’s also great to see that multiple office transactions have taken place over the last two weeks, with the majority being medical-related.

In the news,

  • DiCenzo Homes has proposed a 12-storey residential tower.
  • Hamilton Council rejected a plan to exempt part of Ancaster from housing intensification.
  • The national industrial vacancy rate hit a record low of 1.6%.
The GHA Sales Transaction Database offers you this week’s CRE transaction activity.
News Headlines

Hamilton Design Review Panel: 639 Rymal Rd. W.
August 2022

253 King William development to lease units for as little as $85/month
Fast Company, August 19, 2022

Council rejects plant to exempt part of Ancaster from housing intensification
The Hamilton Spectator, August 16, 2020

Leap of faith: Hamilton church converted into apartments
The Hamilton Spectator, August 23, 2020

Evolving Workforces: Toronto Lab Market H1 2022 Report — A Nascent Real Estate Market On The Rise
CBRE Research, August 2022

Councillors approve townhouse development on Rymal Rd
The Hamilton Spectator, August 16, 2020

Last Stelco blast furnace demolished on Hamilton bayfront
The Hamilton Spectator, August 17, 2020

New Vision church needs $3.9M to transform into 1,000 seat music venue
CBC News, August 22, 2022

New Hamilton census data 
The Hamilton Spectator, August 24, 2022

How Hamilton, Burlington have changed since last census
The Hamilton Spectator, August 24, 2022

Hamilton’s Beasley Park to receive project funding
CBC News, August 27, 2022

Granite kicks off Brantford business park
RENX, August 19, 2022

Waterloo’s sky-rocketing rental prices show no signs of slowing
The Record, August 24, 2022

Niagara needs 32,000 homes over next decade
The St. Catharines Standard, August 22, 2022

Toronto area CRE deals total $7B, up 43% y/y
The Toronto Star, August 18, 2022

Ontario’s 1.5M homes by 2031 not likely 
The CBC News, August 16, 2022

National industrial vacancy rate hits record low of 1.6%
The Globe & Mail, August 22, 2022
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New Horizon Development plans to build 1,341 units at 1842 King St. E., where a Brock University satellite campus once operated.

Alex Manojlovich’s Weekly Market Report: Hamilton Council approves 1,341-unit condo development

New Horizon Development plans to build 1,341 units at 1842 King St. E., where a  Brock University satellite campus once operated.

 

This week witnessed a good volume of deals, which is to be expected when entering a new month. It’s great to see this pattern holding even when the current level of CRE transactions appears muted overall.

This week’s largest transaction was for an industrial building near Stelco in Hamilton. 460 Sherman Ave. N. sold for $19.9 million ($161/sq. ft). It’s a good price all around, considering the location and size of the asset.

In Stoney Creek, a former elementary school on 5.87 acres at 299 Barton St. sold for $5.3 million ($900,000/acre, $134/sq. ft). The site is adjacent to industrial properties, so it’s uncertain if it will remain zoned as institutional or if it will be rezoned as industrial. The price point meets market valuations for both asset classes.

Multiple office transactions took place this week, which is great to see. Over the last few years, it’s been very rare to see office transactions outpace land and industrial transactions.

In the news, Hamilton City Council approved a 13-storey condo building on a former Brock University site, Mission Services is leaving their James St. N. location in Hamilton’s downtown, and Sierra Supply Chain Services has opened a state-of-the-art, $65 million processing facility in Hamilton.

The GHA Sales Transaction Database offers you this week’s CRE transaction activity.

I hope you’re enjoying your summer! I’ll be off next week, so look for your next Market Update on August 30.

News Headlines

Condos to rise on 13 storeys on former east Hamilton university site
The Hamilton Spectator, August 11, 2022

Mission Services leaving longtime downtown James St North location
The Hamilton Spectator, August 14, 2022

Residents, developers clash over height of Jamesville project
The Hamilton Spectator, August 11, 2022

Ancaster’s Wilson St to get another townhouse development
The Hamilton Spectator, August 15, 2022

Hamilton median household income increases 14% in 5 years
Invest in Hamilton, August 8, 2022

Councillors OK controversial Stoney Creek warehouse
The Hamilton Spectator, August 15, 2022

Sierra opens state-of-the-art $65 million facility in Hamilton 
The Hamilton Spectator, August 08, 2022

Ontario set to introduce ‘strong mayor’ legislation to speed up housing development
CBC News, August 10, 2022

Toronto to receive new McMaster campus by year end 
Storeys, August 9, 2022

Developers criticize Toronto development fee increase
CBC News, August 9, 2022

New complete community could add 3500 homes, schools to Kitchener’s Western edge
The Record, August 10, 200

Office Report Q2 2022
Whitney Commercial Real Estate Services, Waterloo Region

Despite low unemployment rates, labour shortages persist in Canada
The Toronto Star, August 10, 2022
Exceptional Office Space for Lease

This turnkey office space offers prime exposure and a fantastic opportunity for signage on the main artery Wellington St. N. at Ferrie St.

The location’s well suited to medical professionals because of its proximity to the Hamilton General Hospital and the Ron Joyce Children’s Health Centre. (It’s just 300 metres away!)

This ample space in the downtown core includes:
— reception
— boardrooms
— private offices
— staff lunchrooms
— a wide, open riser stairway
— washrooms on both floors
— nearly 9,000 sq. ft available across 2 units

PRICED AT JUST $6+/SQ. FT!
This historic building was part of the Sawyer-Massey Agricultural Plant and previously housed the Gold Book Business Directory offices. Now, it’s graced by a mural of Nikola Tesla by sensational local artist Lester Coloma. The portrait celebrates that Hamilton was the first city in Canada to receive widespread electric power, which attracted innovative industries.

Set up your business here
& carry on this address’ legacy of innovation.

Please e-mail us at leasing[@]forgeandfoster.ca or call 289-203-6054, and we’ll schedule a private tour for you at your convenience.
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