The Ontario government is moving forward with plans to enable up to 642 new homes near Hamilton’s West Harbour GO Station, using a Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO) to accelerate redevelopment of the long-vacant Jamesville site at 405 James Street North.

The site, which has remained unused since 2019, is slated for a mix of apartment buildings and townhouses, including up to 210 affordable housing units. The project is being advanced in partnership with the City of Hamilton, CityHousing Hamilton, Indwell, and the Jamesville Redevelopment Limited Partnership, with the goal of increasing housing density near transit while addressing affordability pressures.

Ontario’s decision follows a formal request from the City of Hamilton earlier this year, citing years of stalled progress and the need to move urgently on housing supply as population growth continues across the region.