Hamilton moves a step closer to a new downtown parking garage

Hamilton is one step closer to getting another downtown parking garage now that the city has identified three companies interested in building one.

City staff wants approval to formallynegotiate with three companies,Vrancor, A. Desantis Developments and Collins Corporation/MHC about building at least one parking garage downtown. The city hasbeen in "preliminary discussions" with the companies for months.

The garage would be multiple levels and ideally have some other use too, such as stores or offices on the ground floor.

The city put out the call two years ago after a consultant told council that downtown Hamilton will need at least one more parking garage in the next ten years.

The parking shortage around King and Bay streets and John and King Williams streets will be "critical" in the next 10 years, said the MMM Group.

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The city put out a call for interest, which drew nine potential developers. Itnarrowed the list to three.

Jason Farr, councillor for Ward 2, said whoever wins, he's not interested in any more surface parking lots. He wants a well-designed parking structure that adds to the downtown core, preferably with commercial uses on the bottom level.

"I have no interest in anything other than utilizing space to its best capacity," he said.

"I think we've got a bona fide three to move ahead with."

City council's planning committee will vote on Tuesday whether staff should enter detailed negotiations with the three companies.

The companies were chosen because they want to build in the next 10 years, want to build in the two identified areas of the downtown and "have the potential to improve the economic development of the area," staff said in a report.

This isn't the only parking-related call for interest the city has in the works. Farr also prompted the city to put out a call for developers interested in building on one of Ward 2's numerous surface parking lots. The idea, Farr said, is to build a structure that includes parking and other uses.

The city is working on a request for interest call for that project, Farr said. He expects it will be back at the council table in early 2016.