Vrancor takes 'step back' from Hamilton affordable-housing pitch
Hamilton megadeveloper Darko Vranich's plan to build, finance and donate a 131-unit affordable-housing “legacy” project to the city has hit a snag.
Planning staff and would-be neighbours in the area have flagged problems with his pitch for a vacant lot on King Street East at Sanford Avenue.
That has prompted
Vrancor Group, which is Vranich's development firm, to mull over next steps.
“We're confused. We need to take a step back,” Mario Frankovich, vice-president of investment and strategic planning, told The Spectator.
Frankovich noted Vrancor opted to “table” its requests for minor variances in December in the face of a staff report that recommended the city's committee of adjustment reject them.
The proposal calls for two buildings on the site: a 12-storey tower with affordable rentals, which would be donated to the city or CityHousing, and a 15-storey twin with 167 market-rate units Vrancor would retain. They are to be connected by a podium with amenities.
Vrancor says the project would increase residential density along Hamilton's future LRT route in support of commercial development and ridership, and “does not present any serious deleterious impacts” on area homes when it comes to shadows or overlook.
The city, however, has pointed to a number of issues with the proposed height, massing and setbacks with a neighbourhood of low-rise homes to the south.
