Hamilton Continues to Build on its Successes: The Potential for Growth and Change in the City of Hamilton

Locally known as the “Hammer” for its steel-town industrial roots, the City of Hamilton is a promising Canadian City. With one of the nation's most diversified economies, a relatively affordable housing market, and a new light rail transit system in the works, the City of Hamilton’s future is looking bright. This article highlights some of the reasons why!
 
It’s Location
In addition to the City’s proximity to Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area, the City of Hamilton is advantageously situated along the shoreline of Lake Ontario and in proximity to the United States. Due to the City’s location on Lake Ontario and proximity to the United States, Hamilton is uniquely positioned as Canada’s largest freshwater port and is a major hub for moving products to destinations within Canada and around the world (CLV Group, 2023).
 
A Thriving Economy and Commitment to Infrastructure
Hamilton’s harbour, among other factors, has also given way to a flourishing industrial presence within the city. In addition to a commitment to implementing robust infrastructure across Hamilton has proven itself to be a great place for businesses and investors to set up shop (CLV Group, 2023). While Hamilton particularly relates to the City’s industrial sector, the City of Hamilton also has a strong agricultural history and a growing creative and arts economy due to the presence of several post-secondary institutions such as McMaster University, Redeemer University, and Mohawk College, and an increasing number of restaurants and art studios (Invest in Hamilton, 2023).
 
A City of Strong Neighbourhoods
The City of Hamilton is also composed of many strong neighbourhoods that present significant development potential. For example, in 2024 alone, 18 draft plans of subdivision are expected to receive draft approval, with 26 already approved plans anticipated to be serviced within 2024 (Glennhendry, 2023; Hamilton, 2023). Furthermore, in 2023 there were approximately 37,000 units in various stages of approval, highlighting the significant rate of residential development within the city (Williams, 2023).
 
While several large high-rises paint the City’s downtown, the city is also characterized by significant gentle intensification. With the recent decision to permit the development of triplexes and fourplexes within low-density zoning in the City-wide Zoning By-law 05-200, gentle intensification in predominantly single-detached and lower-density neighborhoods will continue to play a key part in meeting the City’s density targets alongside higher density developments (Hamilton, 2024a).
 
The combination of both high-rise and gentle intensification developments among others, has also enabled Hamilton to remain relatively affordable amongst other Canadian cities of similar size. Due to its relative affordability to other Canadian cities, Hamilton has also become home for many looking for a place to live but have been priced out of other cities such as Toronto. As the City evolves and reaches its growth targets, housing will continue to be an important topic of discussion and action as inflation and land prices, especially in the city centre continue to rise (Hirstova, 2024; Manojlovich, 2023). 
 
Notably, the City of Hamilton is additionally making several investments into its public realm that are important for future housing development and redevelopment. This includes improvements to the City’s Harbourfront and a $3.4 billion investment in a new 14-kilometre light rail transit system that will provide greater connectivity across the City  (City of Hamilton 2024b; CRBE, 2023).
 
 
A City of Flourishing and Rich Biodiversity
 
Not only is Hamilton a great place for business and a viable place to live, the City also offers a flourishing and rich natural environment, particularly due to the escarpment that wraps around the urban partitions of the City. Due to its location, the City of Hamilton is also a major bird hub (Hamilton Conservation Authority et al., n.d.) and home to several key natural features including more than 100 waterfalls. It’s no wonder the city is known as the waterfall capital of the world (Ontario, 2024)!  As the city continues towards its sustainability goals, Hamilton's rich natural heritage will be important for its future resilience (City of Hamilton, 2022).

As we approach this year's OPPI Annual Conference in the City of Hamilton, it will be interesting to observe the future planning topics and lessons that emerge from the City of Hamilton and what it can learn from other places in Ontario, Canada and around the world.
 


References
City of Hamilton. (2024a, May 8). Residential Zones Project. City of Hamilton. https://www.hamilton.ca/build-invest-grow/planning-development/zoning/residential-zones-project
City of Hamilton. (2024b, February 8). Light rail transit. Light Rail Transit | City of Hamilton. https://www.hamilton.ca/city-council/plans-strategies/city-projects/light-rail-transit
City of Hamilton. (2023). City of Hamilton - Staging of Development Report. Planning and Economic Development, City of Hamilton. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.hamilton.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/staging-of-development-report-2024-2026.pdf
City of Hamilton. (2022, August). Hamilton’s climate action strategy. Hamilton’s Climate Action Strategy | City of Hamilton. https://www.hamilton.ca/home-neighbourhood/environmental-stewardship/environmental-plans-strategies/hamiltons-climate#:~:text=The%20City%20of%20Hamilton%20is%20on%20a%20mission%20to%20achieve,unavoidable%20impacts%20of%20climate%20change.
Glennhendry. (2023, December 8). Hamilton gets a peek at future development projects with staging of development report - inthehammer: Local online news. inTheHammer. https://www.inthehammer.com/hamilton-gets-a-peek-at-future-development-projects-with-staging-of-development-report/
Group, C. (2023, October 24). Hamilton is growing: Here is how and why: CLV Group. Hamilton Is Growing: Here Is How and Why | CLV Group. https://www.clvgroup.com/blog-and-news/hamilton-is-growing-here-is-how-and-why
CRBE. (2023, February 6). Hamilton is ready for its closeup | CBRE Canada. https://www.cbre.ca/insights/articles/hamilton-is-ready-for-its-closeup
Hamilton Conservation Authority, City of Hamilton, & Hamilton Naturalist Club. (n.d.). Nature in Hamilton. Hamilton Conservation Authority. https://conservationhamilton.ca/images/PDFs/Planning/Whats_Alive_in_Hamilton_FINAL_WEBSITE_COPY.pdf
Hirstova, B. (2024, February 20). If Hamilton wants more housing, city should stop selling its land, researcher says | CBC News. CBCnews. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/hamilton-vacant-surplus-land-map-housing-1.7112013
Invest in Hamilton. (2023, May 10). Diversity. https://investinhamilton.ca/diversity/#:~:text=Hamilton%27s%20diverse%20TALENT%20and%20workforce,is%20a%20strength%20for%20industry.
Manojlovich, A. (2023, January 6). New high-density dev. land sub-sector emerges in Hamilton. RENX. https://renx.ca/hamiltons-high-density-development-sector-maturing
Ontario. (2024, April 2). Hamilton Waterfalls. Destination Ontario. https://www.destinationontario.com/en-ca/attractions/hamilton-waterfalls
Williams, M. C. (2023, April 3). We need more housing, and also we need it faster | thespec.com. Hamilton Spectator. https://www.thespec.com/opinion/contributors/2023/04/03/we-need-more-housing-and-also-we-need-it-faster.html