Hamilton's grand old lady, the Royal Connaught Hotel, is a vulnerable mess.

It didn't take Matt Jelly and his posse of Hamilton downtown property protectors too long to come to that conclusion.

Jelly, a Hamilton artist and community activist, brought 75 citizens together Saturday for the city's first Bylaw Crawl.

The event was arranged so Hamilton heritage protectors could search out and report on city core properties in violation of the City of Hamilton's property standards bylaw.

Jelly's group hopes by making complaints to the city it can stop other buildings from falling into the kind of decay that forced the tearing down of the 97-year-old Century Theatre just last month.

Jelly's first stop was the vacant Royal Connaught on King Street East.

"One of our team members found the door with no lock. No impediment to trespassers. It was wide open and anyone can walk in there," he said of the east side door to the former crown jewel of the core.

"I can't imagine owning a building like that and not being excited about, not caring about it. Not wanting to protect it at all costs. It is crazy.

"The point of the bylaw crawl was illustrated right away," he added.

Jelly said the vulnerability of the Connaught reveals the building is at risk of suffering the same plight as the Century.

He said taking a peek inside reveals extensive water damage.

"The outside of the building looks great. People really love the building.

"If they were to see the water damage happening inside ... I think that is the shocking thing. It's such a great old building."

Hamilton Councillor Bob Bratina, who represents downtown, said he has been working with city staff to try and protect the Connaught from further decay.

"The true fact is the Connaught is not in good shape," said Bratina.

"It has not been well-kept and I'm not sure it has a future unless there is drastic renovation done. There are holes in the floor.

"I have been told by people who have been in the building that it is a dangerous building to go into."

Bratina said he has pushed to have signs on vacant buildings with the name and phone number of the responsible party.

Jelly is hoping to organize a March 6 bylaw crawl along with a cleanup event for the core.

kpeters@thespec.com

905-526-3388