Where will hundreds of people living in Hamilton social housing go during repairs?

The city is grappling with what to do with hundreds of people living in two north end social housing complexes who will soon be forced to temporarily leave their homes. Now, one Hamilton councillor says it should sell two of its own properties to someone willing to temporarily house them.

If that ball diamond was busy five nights a week, or even four nights a week, I probably wouldn't even consider the ball diamond.- Jason Farr

Jason Farr from Ward 2 says the city should look at selling two prime corner lots 344 Bay St. N. and 38 Strachan St. W. to a developer.

That developer would have to be willing to temporarily house residents from Jamesville and the 500 MacNab high rise two social housing mega projects up for repair and replacement.

Farr will pitch the idea at a March 21 planning meeting. One plot is a park, but it's right across from Bayfront Park. The other is a community garden, but there's space nearby.

• Jamesville and 500 MacNab will remain social housing after all

"Maybe everyone will say, 'Let's leave well enough alone,'" he said. But it's worth looking into.

Hundreds of people will have to temporarily move in the coming years as CityHousing Hamilton (CHH) repairs and replaces their units.

At 500 MacNab St., there are 146 units. CHH will spend $6.5 million to renovate the building, but doesn't know where people will live while it does that.

Meanwhile, CHHwill build a mix of housing types at the Jamesville townhouse complex. But even if it does the work in phases, dozens of families will need to find temporary housing.

Farr's suggestion involves two pieces of high-profile land. One parcel 344 Bay St. N. is at the mouth of Bayfront Park. The Strachan Street land is near the new West Harbour GO station.

Farr also suggests looking into selling one or both of the small ball diamonds at Eastwood Park for housing or a public parkade, and using that money to help do $3 million in repairs to Eastwood Arena. There are only two community events booked at the ball diamonds this year, he said. And people will only use it on Tuesdays.

"If that ball diamond was busy five nights a week, or even four nights a week, I probably wouldn't even consider the ball diamond," he said.

CHH doesn't yet know when it will do the work on Jamesville and 500 MacNab.

samantha.craggs@cbc.ca | @SamCraggsCBC