HOPA Ports, Max Aicher North America sign lease agreement for Hamilton waterfront lands
The Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA Ports) and Max Aicher North America (MANA) have reached a head lease agreement that will see HOPA move forward with extensive property development plans at Hamilton Harbour.
The arrangement pertains to a 60-acre parcel at Pier 18 on Hamilton Harbour. The site is located in the northeast corner of pier 18, within Hamilton’s Bayfront industrial area, and is served by marine, rail and road transportation. The property includes open space for outdoor storage, and more than eight acres of warehouse buildings.
HOPA and MANA have been working together since 2020 to agree on future industrial uses for the land.
HOPA has been deploying the space for a range of industrial projects, including commodity storage and logistics, as well as the assembly and staging of the Enwave deep-water cooling pipe.
Under the new agreement, MANA continues to retain ownership of the property, while HOPA’s new head lease will enable the Port Authority, via its subsidiary, to expand the necessary long-term investments to attract more industrial activity.
“Modern industrial users are looking for space with access to multiple modes of transportation, within the Greater Toronto-Hamilton market,” said Ian Hamilton, President & CEO of HOPA Ports. “It’s a magic combination that is extremely rare in southern Ontario, and we’re lucky to have it here in Hamilton, ready to go.”
Over the past decade, HOPA Ports has attracted more than $350 million in investment in the ports of Hamilton and Oshawa.
Potential uses for the site include flexible storage of steel and manufacturing components, warehousing and rail transloading of materials for the construction and manufacturing sectors, value-add processing, and other logistics uses.
“Further investment in this site can help provide the space that is needed to support modern manufacturing in Ontario,” said MANA CEO, Walter Sommerer. “Through our partnership with HOPA, MANA is reinforcing its commitment to Hamilton and the local economy.”
The alliance between MANA and HOPA complements MANA’s existing Hamilton operations, where the company produces specialized, high-strength reinforcement steel used in high-rise, commercial and industrial projects across North America.
Among the company’s high-profile projects is the new Gordie Howe bridge linking Windsor and Detroit.