DEVELOPING

A picture of the headquarters of the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board taken by Flickr user juggybiv during the H Magazine/HIStory + HERitage walk in March 2008. (Licensed under CC)

The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board has filed for a demolition permit to take down their six-storey administrative building at 100 Main Street West in downtown Hamilton.

The property is to be sold to McMaster University. The University plans to build a downtown medical sciences building on the property where the present administrative headquarters that will be demolished stands.

The permit (number 12-106350-00) is presently being reviewed by City staff. As it is an non-residential building, the approval process does not involve review by city politicians and effectively acts as a rubber stamp ensuring the demolition plan is safe.

The permit description, as posted on the City of Hamilton website, states: “To demolish a 7,666.1 m², 6-storey office building as shown on the attached site plan.”

I’ve requested a copy of the demolition plan. and await a response from City staff to my request. At present, the permit is under consideration and not a public document. Once the permit is approved, I will resubmit my request.