Google Streetview of 652 King Street East, Hamilton. Credit: Google StreetView

UPDATE: The Committee of Adjustment approved the application during their March 24, 2016 meeting
King Street between Victoria and Wentworth is expected to become a stronger commercial district in the coming years as residential intensification takes hold along the LRT corridor.
However, in the meanwhile, there is a challenge wi
th storefront vacancies.
The owner is 652 King Street East, on the south side just west of Wentworth, is asking for a minor variance to convert the existing storefront restaurant into two storefront apartments with the bedrooms and bathrooms in the basement, and kitchen/living room on the main level.
The hearing will be held Thursday (March 24, 2016) at 2:10 p.m. (Page 69 of 132 in agenda)
On Barton Street, one of the challenges facing commercial revival is the lack of available storefronts due to conversions to residential storefront apartments.
During the previous term (2010-2014) of the Committee of Adjustment, the CoA denied numerous storefront conversions. It will be interesting to see how they handle this application because it is the first storefront conversion application of this term and it is located on King Street.
For a more detailed discussion of some of the factors CoA must weight in commercial to residential conversions, read Owner of Building at Burris and Main (646 Main Street East) Looks for Variance from Minimum Apartment Size