Things are really picking up along this Hamilton street
Published January 16, 2020 at 8:38 pm
Could Cannon become the new James Street?
One Hamilton property manager is optimistic and he’s hoping to make it happen.
Could Cannon become the new James Street?
One Hamilton property manager is optimistic and he’s hoping to make it happen.
Adam Kitchener, the founder and owner of Unlimited Residential Living, a property management firm based out of Hamilton, sees unlimited potential along an often neglected Hamilton arterial road.
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“A lot of change is happening along our strip,” Kitchener told IntheHammer recently.
Unlimited is the current property manager at 220 Cannon St., a high-end100-unit residential building with commercial space on the ground floor.
The owner of the building is currently looking to fill that retail space.
“We thought this might be a good opportunity to bring in something that’s a little more ‘Hamilton’ than some of those big chains,” Kitchener said.
Kitchener says that they are hoping to bring in local entrepreneurs or artists to fill the four fronts that are currently sitting vacant.
While 220 Cannon is a luxury residential building, Kitchener says the retail space is an opportunity for a local small business, gallery or artist to get in on the ground floor at an affordable retail location.
“This is a great alternative option for some of those businesses who might find the rents on streets like James or even Barton a little too steep,” Kitchener said.
Kitchener, a longtime Hamilton resident, emphasized that they’d love to see “something really, truly Hamilton,” take up residence.
“We have a lot of international student residents who could get a fresh slice of what Hamilton has to offer,” he said.
There does seem to be a lot happening along Cannon Street these days.
In addition to the new rentals at 220 Cannon, Harry Stinson is building lofts nearby at the old Cannon Knitting Mill, the
Wellington Arms is in the midst of a transformation and the bike lanes along Cannon are also up and running.
“We’re starting to see all these changes,” Kitchener said. “It’s becoming more retail-friendly.”
So much so, that Kitchener envisions Cannon’s own version of Art Crawl.
“We’re seeing a little of the ‘James-Street effect,'” Kitchener quipped. “I say ‘bring art crawl to Cannon Street!”
Kitchener acknowledges that they’re a ways off from something like this, especially since there is currently no business association for their neighbourhood, but maybe it’s not too far into the future.
“We’re starting to see things livening up. It’s great to see.”
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