Mitchell said the Longwood-Aberdeen location could have huge traffic problems. Still, it’s good the city and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats have now re-started talks.
“We should look at other sites,” he said.
In a recent email sent to city officials, Bratina suggested other sites for a stadium that should be considered include Confederation Park, the Lafarge slag property near the Queen Elizabeth Way and the Red Hill Valley Parkway, and the former Studebaker property.
“I am open-minded,” said Mitchell.
Bratina has lamented that politicians, including Ward 5 Councillor Chad Collins, removed Confederation Park from the stadium location list over a year ago. City staff eventually settled on the West Harbour and the airport employment lands. Bratina has called the process predetermined towards the West Harbour.
City staff has until Sept. 15 to determine an alternative stadium location.
Currently, council’s preferred location for the stadium is the West Harbour. But as the city’s own business case states, it is unsustainable without the Hamilton Tiger-Cats involved.
Andrea Farquhar, McMaster University director of public and government relations, said having a stadium at the Innovation Park is a “significant change” in land use for the area.
She pointed out the university has already announced a number of investments for the parks, and there are up to 400 people employed in what the university describes as high-value jobs.
City officials and McMaster University representatives held a first meeting last week, and another one was scheduled for this week.
Create good jobs
“One of the issues is the land uses,” she said. “That is the best way to use the land. It was created (in 2005) to create good jobs for the Hamilton community.”
As to whether an agreement will be established
Councillors have pointed out that the city did provide about $5 million to McMaster to kick-start the development of the McMaster Innovation Park concept, and assisted in attracting CANMET to the area.
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