CN appeal stalls Jamesville redevelopment, puts affordable housing plans 'at risk'

• By Mike Heddle
• Posted Monday, Jan 09, 2023 10:00 am

CN appeal stalls Jamesville redevelopment, puts affordable housing plans 'at risk'

An appeal by rail giant CN has stalled the long-planned Jamesville housing redevelopment that was supposed to see 160 affordable housing units under construction this year.

After nearly a decade of planning, council signed off last year on zoning changes needed to build a 447-unit, mixed-income development on city-owned property along James Street North near the GO station. 

Social housing provider CityHousing Hamilton started emptying 91 subsidized townhomes on the site as far back as 2015 to prepare for the project, which would build new affordable units in a pair of seven-storey buildings.

But Canadian National Railway (CN) appealed the zoning decision to a provincial tribunal last September, citing potential for “conflict” with the new development due to odours, noise and vibration from its bayfront shunting yard on Stuart Street, less than 300 metres away.

Coun. Cameron Kroetsch posted a copy of the appeal online Thursday, noting the rail company apparently shared concerns about the project with the city as far back...[READ MORE]