The new, old Royal Connaught a sign of downtown's revival

Hamilton residents will have the opportunity this week to preview what the citys manager of urban renewal is calling the powerful bellwether for the revival of thedowntown core.

Two years in the making, the first block of condos at the oldRoyal Connaughtare going on sale. At a gala event on Wednesday night, guests will have the chance to gawk at the storied former hotels restored lobby columns, admireits new crystalline chandeliers, and tour one of the 122 units in the buildings west tower that are about to go on the market.

The development, after the hotel sat for years as a decayingblight on the city's main street,promises to return glamour and activityto the sprawling complex at King East and Johnand in turn, bring more commerce to the already resurgent downtown core.

• Related: Construction underway at Hamilton's Royal Connaught Hotel
• Related: Royal Connaught renovation project launched

Both from Hamilton, developers Ted Valeri and Rudi Spallacci said their effort to revive the Connaught the downtown jewel-turned-white-elephant that closed its doors in 2004 is no ordinary project.

Rudi and I spoke this morning, and we both had a sleepless night, said Valeri, president of Valery Homes, sitting with Spallacci in the now-sparkling art deco lobby of the old Royal Connaught hotel.

We poured our hearts into it, but we dont know what the reactions are going to be from the people, said Valeri. But were anxious to find out.

The anxiety, said Spallacci, stems in part from the emotional connection that Hamiltonians have with the Connaught, which was builtin 1916.

When this landmark closed it put a damper on the mood of the city of Hamilton, he said.

Bringing it back, with all of this historical attachment its very, very positive.

Glen Norton, the citys manager of urban renewal, agrees. The Royal Connaught redevelopment, he said, is not only a large economic shot in the arm for the core the restoration of the west tower alone is expected to ring up as a $45-to-$50-million investment but also a powerful bellwether signallingdowntown Hamiltons revival.

There are no more excuses for people to say that the downtown isnt coming back.Glen Norton, manager of urban renewal, City of Hamilton

He said hes heard people groan that they wont believethings have turned around downtown until the Royal Connaught is redeveloped.

Now the condos are onsale and the construction well underway, there are no more excuses for people to say that the downtown isnt coming back, Norton said. There were several false starts along the way, including an ambitious plan by Toronto developer Harry Stinson that fell through.

Susan Braithwaite, executive director of the International Village Business Improvement Area, said store ownersin the area are beyond excited about the opening of the first stage of the re-opening of the Connaught. Occupants are expected to move into the complex's west tower sometime in 2016.

Commerce in the area, she said, is already on the upswing, in part because of the opening of the nearby Terraces on King, another Spallacci condo development.

It was a real turnaround for our area, she said. So we can only imagine what this will do for us.

The developers vision for the Connaught includesrenovating the hotels west and east towers and building new oneson site. The complex would boast a total of around 700 suites.

In addition, the Connaught renewal is expected to play a key role in the citys Gore Park master plan. Approved by council in 2008, the project will see the park and sections of the south side of King Street East turned into a pedestrian promenade modelled after aVictorian carriageway, said Norton.

The city is working with Valeri and Spallaccion planning the eastern stretch of the promenade, which is slated to be constructed after 2016.

The idea of what were trying to do is incorporating that section into the grounds [of the Connaught], said Norton.

Spallacci said the two developments are mutually beneficial and go hand-in-hand with each other.

Our's helps the Gore Park and the Gore Park helps our project.