DURAND

DURAND LIES EAST OF QUEEN STREET AND WEST OF JAMES STREET SOUTH, BORDERED ON THE SOUTH BY THE NIAGARA ESCARPMENT AND MAIN STREET WEST ON THE NORTH.

DURAND IS HOME TO THE MOST BEAUTIFUL , AND IMPRESSIVE HOMES IN HAMILTON PROPER. THE SCOTTS CAME AND BUILT VERY LARGE HOMES(CASTLES TO SOME) IN THE 1800’S. THE HOMES STEP DOWN IN SIZE AND GRANDEUR AS ONE HEADS NORTH TO MAIN STREET WEST… BUT THERE ARE STILL MANY INCREDIBLY LOVELY HOMES, AND EVEN SOME “WORKER’S COTTAGES” THAT ARE STUNNING AND HIGHLY COVETED.

VERY UNFORTUNATE ZONING BYLAWS DURING THE 50S THROUGH TO THE 70’S HAS LEAD TO SOME “STUNNINGLY” POOR DECISIONS TO BUILD APARTMENTS (AND LATER CONDO BUILDINGS) ON LAND WHERE BEAUTIFUL HOMES HAD ONCE STOOD. THIS HAS LEAD TO A MUCH MORE VARIED SOCIOECONOMIC MIX IN THE AREA NOT TO MENTION SOME REALLY NONATTRACTIVE APARTMENT BUILDINGS.

DURAND IS HIGHLY WALKABLE, AND ITS’ MAIN PARK HAS JUST BEEN COMPLETELY RE-DONE COURTESY OF PARKS AND REC. AS FOR “TRUE” SHOPPING… USUALLY LOCALS ARE INTO THEIR CARS TO PARK UNDERGROUND AT THE NEW AND VERY WELL RECEIVED NATIONS GROCERY STORE AT JACKSON SQUARE, OR THEY TURN WEST AND GET OVER TO FORTINOS IN THE KIRKENDALL AREA. NOT MUCH PERISHABLE SHOPPING LOCALLY.

DURAND IS BORDERED ON THE WEST BY JAMES STREET SOUTH AND CORKTOWN OWNS THE OTHERSIDE. THERE ARE MANY EXCELLENT RESTAURANTS AND BARS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE FROM DURAND. ONE CAN EVEN WALK TO A MOVIE AT JACKSON SQUARE, THE MUSEUM ETC.

DURAND IS IN THE SHADOW OF ST. JOE’S HOSPITAL AND VERY CLOSE TO THREE “MOUNTAIN ACCESS ROUTES”. IF YOU’RE NOT FROM HAMILTON PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE TWO LEVELS TO THE CITY AND ONE CAN’T GET UP TO “THE MOUNTAIN” WITHOUT GAINING ACCESS THROUGH ONE OF THE “MOUNTAIN ACCESS” ROUTES… (HAMILTON ALSO HAS STAIRWAYS FOR THE PEDESTRIAN/CYCLIST)