Abandoned 1970s Townhouse Complex

This city housing/low income townhouse complex known as Jamesville, was built during the 1970s in the north end of Hamilton Ont. and while occupied gained a reputation for crime and drugs. A decade ago, an old friend of mine moved in to one of the townhouses and within his first week there was a shooting only feet away from his front door.

The city decided to demolish the complex that has 91 units and build taller buildings that would have over 300 units. They moved everyone out in 2019 and began demolition, gutting all interiors and removing all doors and windows. Then out of no where, CN rail (who owns train tracks nearby) filed a petition with the provincial government to halt the project. Citing that it was too close to the tracks. Which is outright silly, because as you can see in the drone shots, the property is no closer to the tracks than many houses and buildings (some houses are even closer). But this process held the project up nearly 5 years and the tribunal just ruled in favor of the city. So the plan will finally be moving forward once again.

When I took those drone shots, I noticed something. There was no security vehicles or guards on the property. There always has been for the last few years. So I went back at night and there still wasn't, giving me the chance to wander around in the complex.

The interiors didn't have much to see, but some shots through windows and the apocalyptic feel of all of it was very cool!