The Life-Sized City - Hamilton - S03 - Full Episode

In this episode of The Life-Sized City, renowned #urbanist Mikael Colville-Andersen takes us to #Hamilton, #Ontario—a city once known for its industrial might that is now undergoing an exciting transformation. From its emerging music scene to the #revitalization of its harborfront, this episode explores how Hamilton is reinventing itself and embracing its cultural and environmental potential.

Normally The Life-Sized City has covered larger cities but Mikael was eager to explore a mid-sized city and see what the similarities and differences might be.

The episode opens with a deep dive into Hamilton’s rich and diverse music scene, which has flourished alongside the city’s broader urban transformation. Mikael meets with local musicians, venue owners, and cultural advocates who explain how Hamilton’s gritty, working-class roots have shaped its vibrant and dynamic music culture. From indie bands to live performances, the music scene is not only giving Hamilton a new identity but also breathing new life into its downtown core, making it a magnet for young talent and creative energy.

One of the most significant urban projects in Hamilton’s renewal is the ambitious redevelopment of its harborfront. Mikael walks through the revitalized waterfront, which has been transformed from an industrial wasteland into a bustling, people-friendly space with parks, walking paths, and public art installations. Local urban planners and architects explain the vision behind this project—turning Hamilton’s waterfront into a thriving cultural and recreational hub for residents and visitors alike. This transformation is a critical part of Hamilton's push to reconnect the city with its natural assets and promote more sustainable, community-focused development.

As Mikael continues his exploration of the harborfront, he speaks with community leaders who are focused on ensuring that the development benefits all Hamiltonians, not just the affluent. They discuss the need for affordable housing and accessible public spaces in the city’s waterfront plan, ensuring that Hamilton's urban renewal remains inclusive.

Environmental sustainability plays a central role in this episode as well. Mikael explores how green infrastructure and public space improvements are transforming Hamilton's landscape. Community-driven projects, like turning vacant lots into green spaces and urban gardens, are helping the city move away from its industrial past toward a greener future.

Mikael also highlights the importance of creating better cycling infrastructure in Hamilton, with local cycling advocates pushing for expanded bike lanes in a city historically dominated by cars. He rides along the city’s growing cycling network, discussing how these developments are creating more sustainable, active transportation options for Hamilton’s residents.

This episode of The Life-Sized City paints a vivid picture of Hamilton as a city in transition—from steel town to cultural hotspot, from industrial harbor to vibrant waterfront. Through the lens of urbanism, Mikael Colville-Andersen uncovers how Hamilton is harnessing the power of its music scene and waterfront development to create a more livable, sustainable, and inclusive city.

#LifeSizedCity #HamiltonOntario #Urbanism #MusicScene #HarborfrontDevelopment #MikaelColvilleAndersen #PublicSpaces #CyclingInfrastructure #GreenSpaces #UrbanRevitalization #SustainableCities #urbansim #urbanplanning #cities #city #ville

0:00 Intro
1:35 Architecture and Urban Design
9:35 Cycling
15:38 Fireflies in the Forest
20:36 Hamilton Music Collective
23:17 McQuesten Urban Farm
30:06 Tiny Houses/Housing
37:20 Harbourfront Revitalization
43:23 Music as Identity
49:54 Outro

[Bricksallday]

This video is at least 4 years old. And that library if you walk to it. Be careful of the homeless shelter across the street. Bums in every corner . And nasty garbage everywhere. And most of the computers if you dare go, are just adult children escaping responsibilities by playing games on the computer. Most ppl are accessing the computers for junk. It’s a lost world in there. Literally the biggest part of zombieland in Hamilton is directly out front of that glass building. Day or night! Hamilton house pricing is no place to start a family anymore. Hamilton is complete trash. I’m trying to escape. But it’s much easier said then done. Ppl living in tents at an all time high. All across Hamilton. Place is a mess.
Gotta bring back small business. Looser controls. Cheaper permits to build stuff on your own property for Christ sakes. Tax reform. And government spending reform. And let ppl work again without both hands in the pocket and you’ll have a city again. But we have a corrupted government. So forget about it. Those are changes that cannot be made without what?!!! A much needed revolt!!! But that won’t happen either because they got us fighting eachother so divided. They have it all figured out. We are sheep. Turning into zombies. We better hurry before it’s too late!

[CedroCron]

Moved to the Hammer in 2006 for a job. That job didn't last long but I never left. Something about this city kept me here and this is where I call home now because I feel like it's where I belong.

[logunx]

I've lived in the Hammer for 60 years, it's always felt like my home, but right now and maybe for the last 4 or 5 years now it's feeling a little less like home. I don't know if I've outgrown Hamilton or if Hamilton has outgrown me, whatever the case may be one of us needs to make a change.

[mrdave]

Once or twice a week I have to drive into downtown Hamilton (James and Barton area)...and to be honest, it's scary! The druggies and homeless problem is out of control. Not a nice place to walk or shop in the 1 or 2 stores that are actually open and not boarded up.

[BunnyWatson-kw]

This may be a few years old. In 2024, there are a number of challenges faced by those living in Hamilton. One of the greatest is the cost of living. Housing is very expensive whether you want to rent of buy. Food is expensive as is gas for the car. Hamilton has become an expensive place to live partly due to commuter workers from out of town. They have driven up costs of living in the city. Trudeau's immigration policy also did not help. He opened the doors to people wanting a better life and who could fill job gaps in the economy. What he did not anticipate is the housing shortage in Hamilton. Hamilton has a much more visible homelessness problem than five years ago. There are tent cities in almost every city park. The mayor's solution is to give amnesty to those in tent cities, rather than deal with the real issues of dealing with the issues surrounding homelessness and a need for affordable housing.
As for work, art is not going to solve the city's issue with loss of a once thriving steel city. The majority of people commute to work, which poses challenges of it own. And the wages paid do not keep up with inflation. So many people in Hamilton who are employed find themselves broke and struggling to make ends meet. Many jobs are part-time, with substandard wages. For those with full-time jobs, many are low wages when compared with previous generations and adjusted for inflation.
As for the Farmer's Market and Central Library, many people no longer go there. COVID hours did not help. But since full reopening, many vendors at the market do not see the same of business they once had. The Central Library has had recent challenges in 2024 with the digital virus attack, closing many services. People were also scared away by the acts of violence from street people using the library.
Mark at Dr. Disc is correct on his assessment of the downtown core back in the early 1990s. It was a nasty place with boarded up storefronts and lots of crime. Much of the businesses your see in 2024 helped bring more people downtown, as did Supercrawl Festival in September each year. But much more is needed. The downtown core still has an image problem. The so-called "Ambitious City" needs so much more to turn itself around.

[leafster]

Things seem to have gone downhill quickly in the last 5 years since this came out.

[.ptix]

First thing that stood out was the guy saying the one way streets was a body blow. The body blow was converting them to 2 way streets to absolute gridlock. Anyone who knows Hamilton, knows the one way system was PERFECT for the city. Cannon street and Wilson street both went opposite ways. Then king street and main street went opposite ways. Facilitating traffic perfectly. If you needed to get across the city quicker, there is Burlington street and the LINC. Trying to say turning it to 2way would help for business is false. People go to shop if they want to, it doesn’t make people driving in gridlock say “hey I feel like shopping now”. Also another lie is the woman who represents the biking around Hamilton saying people downtown want it, is a lie, many people do not care for biking and it only is good for the smaller demographic of bikers in the city. The accidents are not due to the one way streets either. It’s the ignorant pedestrian who just hop out in the street to cross. Obviously there is many driver error accidents but let’s put blame on the people as well. And let’s not ignore the problem and the BIGGEST reason people don’t like going downtown and that is the drug addicts and homeless people who create a dangerous atmosphere for the citizens. But the city won’t do anything about that. I’m quite surprised how these “professionals “ who design the city are so ignorant to what makes the city work and facilitate properly.

[christinacrayford]

I’ve lived here for 64 years, and not once thought of leaving. I know every part of this once beautiful, family friendly city and love it all! We’re struggling like most urban and rural communities, but we will continue to work hard to make our city proud again! Loved the video, the cinematography was great!

[OCEAN]

Am still here but want to move back to Montreal where I grew up

[exploren]

wow! nice to see this being covered. Hamilton has great potential be to a great culity and bring it's glory back. in the right hands of people who have love and dedication for the city. best of luck!

[GoWestYoungMan]

Wow, so pleased you thought to cover this city. I'm a Torontonian but been pulling for Hamilton for a very long time. It's got so many things going for it and confident it will prosper again. Like many Canadian cities, one of the biggest obstacles to Hamilton blossoming is that it's a city built for cars instead of people. Maybe the central city needs to separate from the city; or de-amalgamate so suburbanites stop blocking every attempt to un-do all the damage done to the city by the car.

[rolanddube]

The Santa Clause Parade has been moved from its route downtown to the mountain. This should be an obvious indication of how bad it is in the core. The new route seems like a bad location Stonechurch and Upper Sherman to Limeridge mall?

[leblancti]

Really great piece on The Hammer. I've always found it such an interesting city, arguing many times against the biases and misconceptions of fellow Torontonians' (when I lived there) or other residents of the greater Golden Horseshoe agglomeration. You did such a good job covering the material and capturing that flare that paints Hamilton its own special colour.

[nataliemccrory]

My great city born and raised ❤️Hamilton ❤️

[marshallsokoloff]

It's nice to see you pay attention to Hamilton, and also address generational poverty.... but you make it look like the solution will be community gardens and picnics. They'll help, but honestly, to any visitor here their first impression is the massive amount of homelessness, mental health issues and drug problems which seem to exceed every place I've been. Ignoring this is a disservice to the city.

[waltzie]

Hamilton's knee jerk reaction to put Main two ways is utter bullshit.

[jocelynerousseau]

Moved to Hamilton 2015, lived and raised un Brantford. But l always loved Hamilton once l step foot the 1st time so many many years ago.

[billsmith]

It was a little comical to watch this saccharine account of the tough old girl. Question; What purpose will downtown bikes and trains serve to the outer wards that were forced into amalgamation? City council loves our money but what do we get? Four years after this episode and it appears what we get is a sanctuary city you would not want to stop your car in.

[shadowbeastie]

Farmers market 4:00 the most important institution? You have got to be kidding What planet are these downtown core weirdos living on? Normal people dont have mid day strolls through the mall to buy overpriced cheese!

[richardrussell]

So nice to see Shawn Selway again. He was a strong advocate and organizer of tenants in the lower city in addition to the work on the Coach house.