New vision underway for Coppley complex

Hamilton heritage developer Core Urban Inc. is about to begin redevelopment of historic buildings into a boutique hotel, residential rentals, offices, and hospitality spaces.

Hamilton heritage developer Core Urban Inc. has been eyeing the historic Coppley Building on York Boulevard for more than a decade but the timing wasn’t right until now.  

The developer will close on the property at the end of May and plans to begin construction in June to transform a pre-Confederation stone building into a boutique hotel and a red-brick building next door into residential rentals as well as office space. 

The deal has been about a year and a half in the making and Core Urban is now working on heritage and planning approvals and building permits from the City, says the company’s co-owner Steve Kulakowsky.  

Hamilton is in need of a memorable boutique hotel downtown, he says.

The property, with a total of 100,000 square feet is right across from the library and farmers’ market and a half-block from the Hamilton Arena, now undergoing a $290-million redevelopment.

“We need people. We need reasons for people to come downtown. So having that arena there will be a fantastic anchor. We would never be doing the project without the work that's being done on the arena. It's a catalyst for us.”

Kulakowsky thinks of the two buildings as siblings living in the same house. They have different personalities but will be part of the same family. 

“They'll function separately, but also kind of depend on each other, if that makes sense.” 

The brick building, completed in 1911, will have commercial tenants on the ground floor level. The offices of the Hamilton Community Foundation will occupy the main floor and the second, third and fourth floors will become 36-rental units, with a mix of market and below-market rents.

The cut-stone structure, which dates to 1856 and was home to suit maker Coppley Apparel for more than a century, is unique and full of character. It’s the largest surviving example of pre-Confederation architecture in the city.

Kulakowsky says Core Urban wants to ensure public access to the building. The upper floors will be transformed into 60 hotel suites, while the 14,000-square-foot main floor will feature a restaurant, event space and a cafe. 

“We want people to be able to come inside and be proud of it and look at it as an asset for downtown,” he says. “Getting people to use the building is the right thing for the building, and I think the right thing for the area.”

A courtyard at the centre of the building will feature an arched glass atrium and act as a hub and entry to the hotel. A walkway that connects the two buildings will be restored and clad in a glass wall and will function as a contemporary lobby for the building. A landscaped courtyard behind will be amenity space for the residents. 

The plans include a new slate roof, heritage-style windows, repointed brickwork and copper flashing. 

The vision is that both buildings will open in mid-2026. Since Coppley Apparel completed a new production facility a few blocks north, the buildings have sat empty. 

That stretch of York Boulevard, while facing challenges now, including the stalled development of the former City Centre property, will become a vibrant destination with more residential development and a reimagined arena, says Kulakowsky.

Core Urban bought the building from a group led by the TAS group in Toronto, which joined forces with the Hamilton Community Foundation in 2021 on a vision to convert the once-bustling garment factory into a community hub for charities, non-profits and private-sector partners, alongside retail and event space. 

Kulakowsky says TAS was committed to the project and “wanted to make a difference in Hamilton and do something here, but Hamilton is a tough market. And not knowing Hamilton, I think they have to take care of their priorities in the city that they're from.”

Managing a project of this size and complexity takes experience, says Kulakowksy, who has led a range of adaptive reuse of heritage buildings, such as Templar Flats, Witton Lofts, and The Empire Times.

“Because we're from Hamilton, I think we want to see the project get done. And I think we're, we're the right people. It takes a certain pain tolerance to work with old buildings. They're just constantly surprising you and fighting a little bit. So we're excited about it and I think we're well equipped to deal with the challenges of the project.”

Core Urban is also constructing a 12-storey residential building at Barton and James streets and leasing a series of new builds throughout the central city.