Melville Street Heritage Conservation District Plan

Update

Following the Engage Hamilton survey, open houses (May 2023, April 2025, November 2025), and owner feedback provided via email, staff and the consultant team worked to incorporate suggested changes and feedback into the proposed HCD Plan. After the completion of the consultation phase, staff provided property owners within the proposed Heritage Conservation District boundary with the Notice of Public Meeting to Adopt the Melville-Park West HCD Plan in Dundas, which was held on May 5, 2026.Council passed the Designation By-law (By-law 26-090) on May 13, 2026. The Notice of Passing was published in the Hamilton Spectator and mailed to property owners on May 27, 2026. As no appeals were received within 30 days following the Notice of Passing, the by-law came into effect on June 27, 2026.

The City of Hamilton is undertaking a Heritage Conservation District (HCD) Study of a portion of Melville Street, from Sydenham Street to Wellington Street North, in the community of Dundas. An HCD Study Area By-law No. 22-258, was passed by Hamilton City Council on September 28, 2022, limiting change in the study area for a period of one year while the study is conducted.

The consultant team conducting the Heritage Conservation District Study have expanded their review and will be surveying and assessing the historic residential area surrounding Melville Street. This expanded review will help them to identify an appropriate boundary for a potential heritage district.

This project is a heritage conservation district study, legislated under the Ontario Heritage Act. It looks at a residential area in the community of Dundas. The study phase of the heritage conservation district process involves reviewing the study area to determine if it has sufficient heritage value to warrant district designation. It involves engaging with the community on the draft findings of the study before reporting to our Heritage Committee and Council for direction on whether a district Plan should be prepared and if the area should be designated as a district under the Act.

Background

The community of Dundas, formerly the Town of Dundas and now part of the amalgamated City of Hamilton, is an historic settlement area comprised of a significant concentration of pre-1950 buildings of heritage value or interest, historic streetscapes and natural heritage features.

In the spring of 2022, the City initiated an updated heritage survey of Downtown Dundas as part of its Built Heritage Inventory Strategy. Research and engagement on the Downtown Dundas BHI has begun, including the preparation of a preliminary Historic Context Statement and the calling of a Downtown Dundas Heritage Focus Group. Inventory work is pending, including updated field surveys and photography.