Downtown Hamilton Entertainment Precinct Project

Hamilton Urban Precinct Entertainment Group

October 6^th 2021

Bio of Presenter

Jasper Kujavsky

Jasper was born and raised in Montreal and has lived in Hamilton since moving here in 1989.

He is a lawyer and development consultant who served in the 1990’s on the former HECFI Board that ran Hamilton’s entertainment venues.

He is now a managing partner and arena renovation director of Hamilton Urban Precinct Entertainment Group (HUPEG) the private-sector group that has won the city contract to renovate, manage and operate The FirstOntario Center, The FirstOntario Concert Hall and the Hamilton Convention Centre

Jasper is also one of the vice-chairs of Hamilton’s Commonwealth Games bid, is a professional boxing judge, and most importantly proud dad to the now grown 28 year-old Alex!

More importantly he is the spokesman for the Downtown Entertainment Precinct Project.

Jasper will report to us on the progress of the Downtown Entertainment Precinct Project.

Important information on the Downtown Entertainment Precinct Project

In June 2021 the City of Hamilton approved a 49 year agreement with the Hamilton Urban Precinct Entertainment Group (HUPEG) to be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the FirstOntario Centre, the FirstOntario Concert Hall and the Hamilton Convention Cntre with no monetary contribution by the City, saving taxpayers an estimated $155 million

HUPEG is a regional consortium led by Carmen's Group and the Mercanti Family and Associates, working in collaboration with venue operators, industry consultants and development partners, including LiUNA, Meridian Credit Union and Paletta Group.

HUPEG plans to invest a minimum of $50 million in renovations to the FirstOntario Centre, $12.5 million in upgrades to the Convention Centre as well as a one time $2 million contribution to the Art Gallery of Hamilton

Also, HUPEG intends to invest $500 million in auxiliary mixed-use commercial and residential development downtown including 5% affordable housing.

The approval of this agreement will begin the revitalization plan for a world-class entertainment precinct as well as stimulate downtown redevelopment. This project will be transformational for the core of the City of Hamilton