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Hamilton City Council has approved a developer’s plan for a 12-storey rental building at 520 Highway 8.

The 161-unit project, approved in a 9 to 6 vote, will stand in a predominately low-rise host neighbourhood.

The developer, One Way Path Communities (OWPC), faced opposition from area residents who voiced concerns over blocking sunlight, loss of privacy as well as potential parking and safety issues.

“In response to feedback from nearby residents regarding privacy and overlook concerns, we introduced additional step-backs on the south and west elevations of the building. To maintain the overall number of residential units while reducing the building’s perceived massing at adjacent properties, an additional floor was added, resulting in a 12-storey building instead of the previously proposed 11 storeys,” said Alex Young, CEO of OWPC.

The project supports the objective of municipal, provincial and federal governments delivering more residential dwellings amid a housing crisis.

“This project addresses an often-overlooked housing challenge for seniors living on moderate incomes. Many want to remain close to family, health care providers and neighbourhoods they have called home for decades but cannot afford expensive retirement living options. The project helps create housing that allows seniors to age in place, with optional support such as physiotherapy, organized activities, and laundry services, while maintaining independence and community connections at a price they can afford,” said Young.

The project falls under the city’s move to scrap development fees for three years in exchange for $572 million in provincial-federal infrastructure funds to stimulate the �鶹��ýӳ�� sector.

“We’re in a tumultuous time of investment, broadly speaking, but also locally, here within Hamilton, so, to have an application come forward that conforms to the provincial policy statement, supports city policies is what council has asked for by building within the urban boundary and for us to potentially say ‘no’ to that, I think sends a terrible signal to investment,” said Ward 12 Coun. Craig Cassar during a council meeting.

Young said although reducing municipal development charges helps, it’s only one component of a project’s overall economics. He pointed out developers are still responsible for significant infrastructure and the servicing costs needed to support new housing.

He added although the fee waiver welcome, it does not fundamentally alter the project’s budget, that is being kept confidential, or the timeline.

“Trade uncertainty is rippling through Hamilton’s economy and affecting everything from investment confidence to financing conditions. Combined with continued pressure from �鶹��ýӳ�� and borrowing costs, delivering new rental housing remains challenging. That is why, as we move toward �鶹��ýӳ��, we will be actively engaging potential partners to identify efficiencies and innovations that can improve project economics while maintaining quality,” Young said.

The purpose-built rental will have more than 4,800-square-feet of commercial space.

Amenities include:

• Ground floor retail space
• Gymnasium
• Semi-automated parking
• Rooftop garden
• Multi-purpose room
• Indoor and outdoor bicycle parking
• High efficiency HVAC
• Temperature controlled delivery boxes

According to the OWPC website, �鶹��ýӳ�� is set to begin in Q1 2027 and is slated for completion in Q1 2029.

CS&P Architects Inc is a project partner and lead architect and the OWPC is in the process of identifying or confirming other �鶹��ýӳ�� partners for the project.

This is one of two similar builds OWPC is undertaking in the area. The second is a 137-unit building on Millen Road that is projected to begin �鶹��ýӳ�� in Q1 2028 and finish in Q1 2030.