City plans at odds with province's rezoning of former Hamilton Psychiatric Hospital lands

The provincial government is rezoning the former Hamilton Psychiatric Hospital lands to allow for single-family homes to be built — but city officials strongly oppose the change because it doesn't match up with their plans. 

"It is a welcome sign that the province is taking steps to develop this site, but it is our expectation that the site will be developed in accordance with the city's vision," said Mayor Fred Eisenberger in a media release. 

And that vision doesn't include residential development. 

The zoning order expands the mountain brow property from strictly institutional to residential, including single family, semi-detached, townhomes, and multi-residential dwellings. 

But Eisenberger said they expect for new development to complement what's already there — the existing Mohawk College and St. Joseph's Healthcare Centre for Mountain Health Services. 

This includes long-term care housing or development that advances "the educational and research sectors of the city." 

The city reviewed the lands in 2017 —  with Mohawk College and members of the public — and decided that the property was a key area for health care and education. 

In a joint statement with Coun. Terry Whitehead (Ward 14), Coun. John‐Paul Danko (Ward 8) said that the property should provide for healthcare, education and institutional jobs. 

"This is not the right site for intensive residential development," he said. 

The lands overlook the city's west end and sit next to St. Joseph's. The property used to house the former Hamilton Psychiatric Hospital, which started in 1876.

The area was isolated from the rest of town, but had its own farm, bakery, and tailor's shop. The hospital also ran a training school for psychiatric nursing. 

Danko and Whitehead said they're concerned the province is taking "unilateral action" without consulting those who had invested interest into the site's future, like the city, Mohawk College or other community partners.

City staff received notice that the Ontario minister of municipal affairs and housing Steve Clark had issued the zoning order on Thursday afternoon. 

"At this point, it is unclear what role the city of Hamilton will have in the future development of this site," they said. 

Residents previously voiced support for development that would maintain public access to the lands, they said, including the adjacent Niagara Escarpment and restoration of Century Manor, a heritage building (and ghost hunter local) located on the site.

Infrastructure Ontario owns Century Manor, which has sat vacant for years, leading local heritage advocates to fear for the state of the building. Mohawk College wanted to buy Century Manor, and under the previous provincial Liberal government, the province agreed to sell it and use money to build affordable housing downtown. When the PC government was elected, it scrapped that plan.

It took "many hours", Whitehead said, to find a solution for the property. He hopes the province will have it move forward "as originally intended." 

The property is also involved in Mohawk College's 20-year Fennell Campus plan, which shows botanical gardens by Century Manor and a new building on the corner of Fennell Avenue West and Juravinski Drive. 

Eisenberger said he looks forward to working with the province to ensure the development comes about in a way that "benefits everyone."