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General Urban Kitchener Updates and Rumours - Printable Version

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RE: General Urban Kitchener Updates and Rumours - goggolor - 06-08-2015

When I was a student many years ago Terry Good was the infamous slum lord of Waterloo - I didn't realize he was still active in the area, but thankfully my renting days are over. When TG was shot, no one was surprised that someone tried to kill him, they were just shocked that shooter wasn't an ex-tenant. I found this article from *1984* about Good going to court over shoddy buildings and excessive rent: http://scholars.wlu.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1655&context=thecord (second article on the front page).

Apparently you can just get away with this sort of thing for over 30 years with absolutely no consequences.


RE: General Urban Kitchener Updates and Rumours - DHLawrence - 06-08-2015

Which other buildings does he own? Just in case I have the opportunity to live downtown.


RE: General Urban Kitchener Updates and Rumours - tomh009 - 06-08-2015

(06-08-2015, 01:30 PM)goggolor Wrote: When I was a student many years ago Terry Good was the infamous slum lord of Waterloo - I didn't realize he was still active in the area, but thankfully my renting days are over. When TG was shot, no one was surprised that someone tried to kill him, they were just shocked that shooter wasn't an ex-tenant. I found this article from *1984* about Good going to court over shoddy buildings and excessive rent: http://scholars.wlu.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1655&context=thecord (second article on the front page).

Oh yes, I remember him from the 80s.  He was the landlord not to have -- and this is back when there were a lot of bad landlords, and a lot of crappy student housing.


RE: General Urban Kitchener Updates and Rumours - BuildingScout - 06-08-2015

(06-08-2015, 09:03 PM)tomh009 Wrote: Oh yes, I remember him from the 80s.  He was the landlord not to have -- and this is back when there were a lot of bad landlords, and a lot of crappy student housing.

Of course, because proper student housing would create a student ghetto, whereas dingy basements and crappy student houses were so much preferable. City planners eventually got it, but boy, did it ever take time for them to clue in (in fact, I bet they never did: the old guard retired and the newer ones were more enlightened).


RE: General Urban Kitchener Updates and Rumours - tomh009 - 06-08-2015

(06-08-2015, 09:09 PM)BuildingScout Wrote:
(06-08-2015, 09:03 PM)tomh009 Wrote: Oh yes, I remember him from the 80s.  He was the landlord not to have -- and this is back when there were a lot of bad landlords, and a lot of crappy student housing.

Of course, because proper student housing would create a student ghetto, whereas dingy basements and crappy student houses were so much preferable. City planners eventually got it, but boy, did it ever take time for them to clue in (in fact, I bet they never did: the old guard retired and the newer ones were more enlightened).

I recall that the bylaw to require fire exits from the basement apartments did get put into place in the late 80s.  But, yes, proper zoning took far longer.


RE: General Urban Kitchener Updates and Rumours - rangersfan - 06-08-2015

A 4 unit residential building is currently under construction at 348 Weber St, near Guleph St.


RE: General Urban Kitchener Updates and Rumours - MidTowner - 06-09-2015

I'm really curious what happens along this stretch. Now that it has been widened, and will be taking over for King as a primary vehicle route between Kitchener and Waterloo, those single family homes there are going to be worth more as building lots than single family homes. There are a lot of spots suitable for redevelopment. Obviously it will take a much different form than along the King corridor, but it would be nice to see some multi-family development, even if relatively low-density. And especially some retail. I wonder how long that will take.


RE: General Urban Kitchener Updates and Rumours - tomh009 - 06-09-2015

Charles street LRT construction last week ...

[Image: ft5j3Vo.jpg]


RE: General Urban Kitchener Updates and Rumours - KWchick - 06-09-2015

(06-08-2015, 01:18 PM)zanate Wrote: I think I once met Terry Good and looked at one of his apartments. I remember going to a home on Mount Hope St. and the landlord sending us off with a young guy to go check out an apartment over near Erb and Weber. This would have been around 1999. We took a pass on the place, and the whole interaction felt a little skeezy.

Yep. I just linked him to 154 Erb E, which I think is the apartment in question.

Ah, the things you learn...

yep.
exactly what happened to me way back... i didnt like it either but i was not as wise as you unfortunately.

i did live there for the year.. tried to get out of the lease but couldnt. even called lawyers..

one of them said something like 'do you have any idea who he is?'

he was notorious even amongst the lawyers it seems.

terrible landlord indeed.
there was hardly any heat.. the rads were tepid at best in winter.. same as the water temperature.
i told him so and he called me a 'liar'. lol.

and yeah.. he sent us with the young guy too.
very strange set up and i should have known better.

i read the article recently in the record.. where the tenant says she is finding needles 'all the time'..

i cannot see how the city doesnt just declare it a safety hazard and shut it down.

it is a nightmare living there.


RE: General Urban Kitchener Updates and Rumours - panamaniac - 06-09-2015

It hasn't had much comment recently, but I noticed today that the landscaping has been done at the former Waterloo County Courthouse so it would seem that the project is getting close to completion. The art installation at Weber and Queen Sts is supposed to happen sometime this month, iirc. I think the exterior looks great - a terrific restoration. I hope that the new Regional Archives will host an open house when it opens, as I'd be very interested to see the work that has been done to repurpose the building.


RE: Mayfair Hotel - Markster - 06-09-2015

Downtown's not dead.
Just different:
http://communityedition.ca/blog/2015/06/07/side-street-scenes/


RE: Mayfair Hotel - KWchick - 06-09-2015

(06-09-2015, 03:36 PM)Markster Wrote: Downtown's not dead.
Just different:
http://communityedition.ca/blog/2015/06/07/side-street-scenes/

in that article they mention the 'candy candy candy' place.. which i believe is now closed as well..


RE: Mayfair Hotel - panamaniac - 06-09-2015

(06-09-2015, 03:43 PM)KWchick Wrote:
(06-09-2015, 03:36 PM)Markster Wrote: Downtown's not dead.
Just different:
http://communityedition.ca/blog/2015/06/07/side-street-scenes/

in that article they mention the 'candy candy candy' place..  which i believe is now closed as well..

It recently moved over to Ontario St, which has been doing well lately.


RE: Mayfair Hotel - KWchick - 06-09-2015

(06-09-2015, 03:51 PM)panamaniac Wrote:
(06-09-2015, 03:43 PM)KWchick Wrote: in that article they mention the 'candy candy candy' place..  which i believe is now closed as well..

It recently moved over to Ontario St, which has been doing well lately.

oh i see.


RE: Mayfair Hotel - tomh009 - 06-09-2015

(06-09-2015, 03:51 PM)panamaniac Wrote: It recently moved over to Ontario St, which has been doing well lately.

Which was really the point of the article.  Both Ontario Street and the Duke Food Block seem to have reached a critical mass of customers, enough to keep the businesses healthy (and open).