Plans have been submitted for a six-storey apartment block to provide affordable housing in the City of Hamilton.

The development, at the corner of Court and Elliott streets, aims to "protect and enhance the City's distinctive character" and will feature a ground floor café with alfresco dining.

If approved by Planning, a building at 28 Elliott Street will be demolished to make way for the condominiums, which will consist of six studios, five one-bedroom apartments plus a top-storey penthouse.

In a letter to the Department, agents Terceira Quarterly note the location is within the North East Hamilton Economic Empowerment Zone.

"Our client would like to improve this neighbourhood by making a substantial investment to provide additional affordable housing in this particular location," say T.C. Ltd.

"We believe that this application supports the goal of 'a well-designed city', as it aims to protect and enhance the City's distinctive character and strives to achieve a high standard of design, while staying within the bounds of the current City of Hamilton Plan.

"The ground floor has also been designed as retail/commercial to keep the life on the street and interaction with the pedestrians."

Developer Eugene Blakeney Jr, son of trade unionist Eugene Blakeney, said last night: "We're trying to get the Economic Empowerment Zone underway to breathe life into the area.

"There is most definitely a need for affordable housing in the city."

Among the other applications submitted this week, Opus café bar is looking to expand into an adjacent unit in the Vallis Building at 8 Bermudiana Road.

If approved, the café bar will double in size — from 773 sq ft to 1,553 sq ft.

The development will include a covered outdoor seating area, adding to the existing tables and chairs off the sidewalk.