Media Watch – Hamilton’s Waterfront Pier
By Andrew Baulcomb, Reporter for the Hamilton Spectator
Published September 8, 2026
The city’s signature waterfront redevelopment, meant to add thousands of residents on Pier 8, has been delayed repeatedly over several years and is now on indefinite pause. Despite limited restaurant options on the bayfront, the city has also stopped trying to market its Pier 5–7 properties for commercial ventures.
Is there anything the mayor of Hamilton could or should do to help spur the construction of new homes, restaurants, attractions or other businesses at the waterfront?
Hamilton needs a clear, consistent and predictable approach to development across the entire city. The role of the Mayor and City Hall should be to establish good policy, make sure we have the infrastructure necessary to support growth, and create an approvals system that allows responsible development to move forward.
The recent commitment of up to $572 million in federal and provincial funding for housing-enabling infrastructure, alongside the elimination of residential development charges for three years, gives Hamilton a significant opportunity. We need to make sure we capitalize on it.
Reducing development charges addresses one barrier, but cost is only part of the equation. Time is also money. Every unnecessary delay in the development process adds to land-carrying, financing and construction costs. Those additional costs can make projects less viable and ultimately contribute to higher costs for new homes and commercial space.
As Mayor, one of my priorities will be transforming Hamilton’s planning and development processes so we become the best-performing municipality in Ontario. That requires more than changing processes – we need to change the culture at City Hall from a culture of hindrance to a culture of help. City staff should be empowered to solve problems, work collaboratively with applicants and find practical solutions while maintaining appropriate planning standards and protecting the public interest.
Projects that meet our planning requirements should have clear expectations, measurable service standards and decisions within weeks and months rather than years.
That approach should apply to the waterfront just as it should apply to development across Hamilton. Before committing taxpayers to additional projects or changing existing plans, we need to understand what is preventing approved developments from proceeding and determine whether there are municipal barriers that can reasonably be addressed.
The Mayor’s job isn’t to choose which restaurant, attraction or development should go on a particular property. It’s to create the conditions for responsible investment: sound planning policy, efficient approvals, appropriate infrastructure and a competitive environment in which businesses and builders want to invest.
Let’s demonstrate that Hamilton can get housing built and attract investment. I want City Hall focused on removing unnecessary barriers, reducing costly delays, building the infrastructure needed for growth and creating a culture of help that delivers measurable results for Hamiltonians.
