A young Hamilton voice advocates loudly for better city planning
- Adrian Mekli
- 31 Oct 2019
Teenagers are becoming a force to be reckoned with. They champion some of the most important social issues of our time. Climate Change has the voice of Greta Thunberg, the Swedish student making noise at the UN Climate Summit. Gun control has David Hogg, a Parkland School shooting survivor, Women’s Rights has Malala and Hamilton has Lachlan Holmes; our own local teenage activist who is championing smart development in the city.
At only sixteen years of age, the Westdale School student is the founder of HamiltonForward, a smart-development advocacy group that is challenging the city’s planning decisions.
While technically born in Toronto, Lachlan and his mom moved into the Durand neighbourhood when he was just a one-year-old and has called the neighbourhood home ever since.
We sat down with Lachlan to learn more about this young Hamilton mover and shaker, in a Q&A style format.
What is Hamilton Forward?
A: Hamilton Forward is an organization that seeks to provide a unified voice in support of development. We fight for quality development, specifically in the downtown core. This does not simply mean support for density, taller building, and more units. We support good architectural quality, buildings, and plans that are pedestrian-focused, more mixed use in downtown, no surface parking, and a number of other items we define as quality development.
Why did you start the group?
A: Growing interest in how the city was developing. There was no voice in the community being a proponent of more density. However, there are numerous voices against density.
How many members are in HamiltonForward?
A: We currently have 30 members with a board of directors of 6 people. Our members range greatly in age and profession from high school students, to reputable architects, to young professionals. What we all have in common is the shared goal of a smart urban development for this city.
Does HamiltonForward support the Downtown Secondary Plan?
A: Yes. We are mostly in support of the plan except for some density, massing, and shadow issues.
How can someone support the group?
A: You are able to make a donation to the group via our website. But simply joining the email list is a great first step. Once you join the mailing list, you will receive a monthly update regarding developments in Hamilton, upcoming planning meetings and our group’s stance on development projects and issues.
What are some current development projects the group is focused on?
A: While we are interested in all of the city’s projects, we are following two closely. The first is 1190 Main St W which is a McMaster student residence building. The University is proposing towers between 10 to 15 stories which will hopefully return a lot of the older homes in the neighbourhood back to single family.
The second project we are watching closely is 468 James St North. Here JvN Developments proposed 8 stories and a unique purchase set-up where there are no preset unit layouts. The set-up was covered thoroughly in a Hamilton Spectator article earlier this year.
How do you measure the group’s success?
A: The most immediate measure is when the Ontario Municipal Board decides the height limits on Brad Lamb’s Television City project. As a private citizen I provided a participant statement in support of the project – it was a 4 page, 20 minute statement. I was one of only two parties who showed up and supported the project publicly while there were numerous ones against.
What initiatives do you have in the pipeline?
A: We have a letter to the city to change the information signs you see on potential development sites throughout the city. They are currently the large white signs filled with small text that you need to walk right outside of in order to read them. Our proposal is to make them clearer and more readable with some graphics. We also want to make information regarding developments more accessible and available to the public. Currently, we physically have to go to City Hall to receive the information when we would like to receive the information online.
What other issues do you support?
A: The list is endless. But in short we support LRT and are excited about BLAST, the Waterfront to airport transit system is vital to our city’s growth. We also support cycle lanes, wider sidewalks, and two-way conversions of one-way streets.
Who can join?
A: Anyone. We welcome everyone and it’s completely free to join.
How do they join?
A: We have a sign-up sheet on our website which can be found at hamiltonforward.ca
Be sure to follow HamiltonForward on Twitter, Facebook, and online at hamiltonforward.ca for the latest city planning developments!
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