Homestead acquired 145 Queen S. in the late 90s. Within a year or two, the building got a nickname around Hamilton's inner city; "The Ice Palace."
Temperatures WELL BELOW the legal minimum of 20 Celsius were part of daily life in the winter, in every apartment, in the last decade. The temp was not in the 18-19 range, but more like 15-16 Celsius. On one occasion, a high-calibre thermometer recorded a temp of 14.5 Celsius, in my unit, in the sunlit DAYTIME of a winter day. It was when repeated complaints to the CITY proved no more effective than discussions with on site/local Homestead staff that I chose to move away from not just 145 Queen, but the entire city.
The failure of city employees to rectify an easy-to-spot problem like the illegally low temperatures at the Ice Palace is a clear indication that dismissals and criminal investigations of those "public servants" is necessary. Homestead and prospective tenants, however, can concern themselves only with on site/local management teams.
The gent who was Property Manager at 145 Queen S. during the plethora of problems in the last decade had a business go insolvent a few years ago in the Dominican Republic. He temporarily "disappeared" in what was purported to be a kidnapping, but is now believed to have staged his disappearance, possibly to collect his own ransom. He's been unable to hold a job for more than a few months since returning to Canada, but he was Homestead's main man, in the early 2000s, at 145 Queen S.
Pest problems included units being overrun by pigeons and their excrement for YEARS in the last decade. Recent issues with bed bugs and cockroaches that one can research online arose only after I moved away. Other issues such as neighbourhood dogs barking all day AND all night, break-ins/vandalism of tenant vehicles in the underground parking were ignored by local/on site staff.
Some Homestead buildings have decent reviews, so are Hamilton staff solely to blame for this dump? Buyer beware!
No, I would NOT recommend this business to a friend