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james t kirk · 07-22-2006, 01:50 PM

I was born and raised in Hamilton - west mountain area.

The area is going downhill a bit (not a lot, but a bit) The highschool I used to go to - Sir Allan McNab is supposedly a slum now, infested with gangs, metal detectors at the doors, security guards, etc. When I went there, it was like a castle on a hill and was arguably one of the best schools in the city of Hamilton. The most you had to worry about was a fist fight or two after school.

I have been living in Toronto for the last 12 or so years, more if you consider (as I used to) Mississauga to be part of Toronto.

Steel town is not without its charm. In fact, it has a great deal of potential. I was down in Locke Street a couple of weeks ago and was amazed at how alive that street has become (reminds me of Toronto [good thing there aren't too many Hamiltonians on here, or they'd be wanting to stone me for such heresy])

Westdale (especially by McMaster) is a very cool area to live in, as are some parts around Gage Park.

I was talking to a friend of mine who is moving back to Canada from the States (Wisconsin) the other day. His new office is in Oakville, and he grew up in Hamilton with me. But he doesn't want to live in Hamilton because of the commute and he said to me, "if you want to move up, you live in Burlington or Ancaster" and I thought how sad that people in Hamilton think in such 50's suburban planning like ways - burbs good - city bad.

But that's Hamilton's albatross. Old thinking.

The exact opposite of Toronto where most people I know want to live in a cool inner city neighbourhood and would sooner die than live in the burbs.

I also know another couple who were living in an apartment here in Toronto at Spadina and Bloor and who had been waiting years for the housing market to come down (but it never did) and now they can't afford anywhere in Toronto.

So they bought in Hamilton. She works downtown T.O. and is going to GO it, and he works from home. They are just gushing over the old house they bought in Hamilton with 4 bedrooms and hardwood floors that needs a bit of work, in an inner city neighbourhood for less than 200 grand.

What Hamilton's inner city needs is a dose of Toronto thinking as opposed to Hamilton thinking. (Sounds stupid, but it's true.)

07-22-2006, 01:50 PM	#11 (permalink)
james t kirk Junkie Location: Toronto	I was born and raised in Hamilton - west mountain area. The area is going downhill a bit (not a lot, but a bit) The highschool I used to go to - Sir Allan McNab is supposedly a slum now, infested with gangs, metal detectors at the doors, security guards, etc. When I went there, it was like a castle on a hill and was arguably one of the best schools in the city of Hamilton. The most you had to worry about was a fist fight or two after school. I have been living in Toronto for the last 12 or so years, more if you consider (as I used to) Mississauga to be part of Toronto. Steel town is not without its charm. In fact, it has a great deal of potential. I was down in Locke Street a couple of weeks ago and was amazed at how alive that street has become (reminds me of Toronto [good thing there aren't too many Hamiltonians on here, or they'd be wanting to stone me for such heresy]) Westdale (especially by McMaster) is a very cool area to live in, as are some parts around Gage Park. I was talking to a friend of mine who is moving back to Canada from the States (Wisconsin) the other day. His new office is in Oakville, and he grew up in Hamilton with me. But he doesn't want to live in Hamilton because of the commute and he said to me, "if you want to move up, you live in Burlington or Ancaster" and I thought how sad that people in Hamilton think in such 50's suburban planning like ways - burbs good - city bad. But that's Hamilton's albatross. Old thinking. The exact opposite of Toronto where most people I know want to live in a cool inner city neighbourhood and would sooner die than live in the burbs. I also know another couple who were living in an apartment here in Toronto at Spadina and Bloor and who had been waiting years for the housing market to come down (but it never did) and now they can't afford anywhere in Toronto. So they bought in Hamilton. She works downtown T.O. and is going to GO it, and he works from home. They are just gushing over the old house they bought in Hamilton with 4 bedrooms and hardwood floors that needs a bit of work, in an inner city neighbourhood for less than 200 grand. What Hamilton's inner city needs is a dose of Toronto thinking as opposed to Hamilton thinking. (Sounds stupid, but it's true.)