Residents could help determine future of Hamilton’s Discovery Centre

The City of Hamilton has big plans for the site of a former museum building at a prime location in Hamilton that has been “underutilized.”

If you want to share your thoughts on the future of the Discovery Centre and a multi-use space option, you can attend a public meeting tonight (Sept. 12) or participate in the City’s short survey online.

The meeting runs from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Discovery Centre (57 Discovery Drive). The online survey’s deadline is Sept. 13.

The City said it is developing a strategy for the Hamilton Waterfront Trust Centre, formerly the Canadian Marine Discovery Centre museum, and nearby lands (47 and 57 Discovery Drive) on Pier 8 (West Harbour) .

The former museum building “is underutilized” because the museum had closed, the ownership of the property changed from federal to municipal government, and zoning by-law regulations placed constraints in attracting new uses, according to the City.

“The changed property ownership and planning context, property use constraints, along with the passage of time since the policy and zoning regulations were originally established, provides an opportunity to re-examine options for the use of the Subject Lands,” it said on the website.

As a preliminary option for the Discovery Centre Building, a multi-use concept would include space for a library, an Indigenous community gathering area that will be designed with members of the Indigenous community, exhibits and gallery space, café and on-site event catering and visitor facilities including restrooms and other amenities. The Hamilton Public Library is expected to lead the project work with “significant” Indigenous community and stakeholder engagement. The findings would shape the proposed concept, which would be presented to council for consideration.

Click here to do the short survey.