City plans to charge developer rebuilding at former Bonaventure explosion site: Hamilton

The City of Hamilton says its building division is planning to proceed with charges against a man developing a mountain home on a lot where a house exploded in 2021.

Bob Nuttall, a building inspector with the city, says there are plans to charge the the man after he failed to acquire the necessary building permits and then proceeded to breach a stop-work order that was issued in December.

“The City Building Division is proceeding with charges under the Ontario Building Code Act, for construction without the requisite building permits, and failure to comply with issued orders,” he said in a statement to CHCH News.

READ MORE: Concerns on construction work at Hamilton Mountain explosion site

The property has proven to be a contentious issue and was brought up during Monday’s Committee of Adjustment meeting.

During the meeting, the city heard from neighbours who raised concerns over what they called an out-of-place, three-storey, single-family home.

“I am curious to know how this monstrosity can even be built. This is not a residence any more. It is a small apartment building,” Ted Brearley, a nearby resident, wrote in.

“I live around the corner and have put up with construction and blocked roads for years while there have been several construction projects at this address that do not meet zoning and or Building Code rules.”

Another delegate wrote in taking aim at its aesthetic, calling it something “NASA is ready to ship off to space.”

Several of the delegates claim that despite a ‘stop-work’ order that was issued in December, work continued.

CHCH News did not find anyone at the site when reporters were sent to it earlier this month.

The owner of 279 Bonaventure Drive is scheduled to appear in a provincial offences court on March 20.