General Urban Kitchener Updates and Rumours

[JJTL]

Checking out the old Schlichters property.  The render in the signs is basically just cladding, and presumably only on the Queen St side -- Ontario St might remain as is, given that it already has tenants?

The current state of the building.  Cleaned up, but neither beautiful nor heritage.


The render.  Very different.  Still it will look a bit odd downtown, with a large parking lot in front of the building.  


Interior shot 1: the interior columns actually look quite good, and after the clean-up it looks decent and bright enough, with the large windows on the N side.


Interior shot 2: further away from those side windows, it's much less bright, but the skylights for help somewhat

Finally, some external work being completed on the 132 Queen St S building (previously Schlichters). Thought I read somewhere this work was expected to be completed last fall? Anyways, they have crews out this morning removing the old exterior cladding (in the none brick areas), and they have had crews this week hooking up the new roof AC units.

[DHLawrence]

After years of contemplating redevelopment Trinity United Church has hired a real estate professional.


http://m.therecord.com/news-story/707570...find-buyer

It's a shame to see the old church go, but it's good to see they plan to keep a presence there.

[Viewfromthe42]

http://www.therecord.com/news-story/7085...-activist/

"Next month, the region is considering proposals for 100 one-bedroom units. The subsidized housing could be built by spring of 2018."

Now, will people get behind this, or will we see a massive NIMBY outpouring?

Relating to the SIXO thread on affordable housing, there are a few kinds. One, which I think and hope the above statement refers to, is heavily subsidized, very basic features. Would hopefully be the kind available as transitional housing, the lowest end of affordability, but close enough to the cores to fit with renters likely being non-car users, needing short trips to social assistance sites and transit nodes.

There's also the affordable housing that's decidedly between a place like 1Vic and these 100 beds. Years ago, I rented in the short red brick buildings at Laurel and Bridgeport, and for a 2 bed 1 bath ground floor unit it was only $800/month, far more reasonable than most options out there for couples, small families, and many others who can't make $1600+/month work in short or long term.

[tomh009]

There's also the affordable housing that's decidedly between a place like 1Vic and these 100 beds. Years ago, I rented in the short red brick buildings at Laurel and Bridgeport, and for a 2 bed 1 bath ground floor unit it was only $800/month, far more reasonable than most options out there for couples, small families, and many others who can't make $1600+/month work in short or long term.

Recent UK terminology: JAM (Just About Managing), describing families struggling to make ends meet but not destitute.

[Rainrider22]

http://www.therecord.com/news-story/7085...-activist/

"Next month, the region is considering proposals for 100 one-bedroom units. The subsidized housing could be built by spring of 2018."

Now, will people get behind this, or will we see a massive NIMBY outpouring?

Relating to the SIXO thread on affordable housing, there are a few kinds. One, which I think and hope the above statement refers to, is heavily subsidized, very basic features. Would hopefully be the kind available as transitional housing, the lowest end of affordability, but close enough to the cores to fit with renters likely being non-car users, needing short trips to social assistance sites and transit nodes.

There's also the affordable housing that's decidedly between a place like 1Vic and these 100 beds. Years ago, I rented in the short red brick buildings at Laurel and Bridgeport, and for a 2 bed 1 bath ground floor unit it was only $800/month, far more reasonable than most options out there for couples, small families, and many others who can't make $1600+/month work in short or long term.

The only Nimby you will see is if it is proposed in Waterloo.....  Kitchener will once again take on it's more than fair share of social responsibility while the people in Waterloo continue to advocate social conscience as long as it is not in their city....

[Viewfromthe42]

Oh there are Nimbys in Kitchener. a third of the Downtown is heritage, the six stories of Google's adaptive Breithaupt Block reuse has been brought up as being too intense for the neighbours (direct ones being a parking lot, a now closed McDonald's a strip mall turning into SIXO, and a rail corridor abutted by the future transit terminal). The Market area, i.e. the most affordable place to buy food, is also one of the places most impossible to try and put actual people (especially affordable-food-needing people) nearby.

[Rainrider22]

Oh there are Nimbys in Kitchener. a third of the Downtown is heritage, the six stories of Google's adaptive Breithaupt Block reuse has been brought up as being too intense for the neighbours (direct ones being a parking lot, a now closed McDonald's a strip mall turning into SIXO, and a rail corridor abutted by the future transit terminal). The Market area, i.e. the most affordable place to buy food, is also one of the places most impossible to try and put actual people (especially affordable-food-needing people) nearby.

Nimbys because they don't want height are a bit different than saying, hey, we don't want social housing !!!  Many backwards thinking people in Kitchener....My Point is that people in Waterloo routinely speak of higher social justice however, how many social services or housing do they actually take on....

[Spokes]

http://www.therecord.com/news-story/7085...-activist/

"Next month, the region is considering proposals for 100 one-bedroom units. The subsidized housing could be built by spring of 2018."

Now, will people get behind this, or will we see a massive NIMBY outpouring?

Relating to the SIXO thread on affordable housing, there are a few kinds. One, which I think and hope the above statement refers to, is heavily subsidized, very basic features. Would hopefully be the kind available as transitional housing, the lowest end of affordability, but close enough to the cores to fit with renters likely being non-car users, needing short trips to social assistance sites and transit nodes.

There's also the affordable housing that's decidedly between a place like 1Vic and these 100 beds. Years ago, I rented in the short red brick buildings at Laurel and Bridgeport, and for a 2 bed 1 bath ground floor unit it was only $800/month, far more reasonable than most options out there for couples, small families, and many others who can't make $1600+/month work in short or long term.

Guaranteed.

[jgsz]

I wonder what all this means.

Blockbuster! Toronto firm buys much of downtown Kitchener. Now what?

[rangersfan]

This quote in the article above adds intrigue:

""We are attracted to the city because it has great potential with a vibrant, entrepreneurial population base and healthy market fundamentals. We are in talks with local partners and are open to proposals for joint projects or development.""

[KevinL]

Strong possibility for Market Square to be redeveloped. The other properties are pretty standard office blocks as those go, but maybe some new ideas there too?

[Canard]

That's... that's unreal. That's basically every single major office building in Kitchener!!

[tomh009]

This closed at the end of December.  DREAM has been divesting of most (or all?) of their properties in smaller cities.
http://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/s...8&page=110

We didn't know until now whether EuroPro had purchased the full Kitchener office space portfolio, though.  And we still need to wait to see what plans EuroPro has for some of these properties -- and especially Market Square:

• Market Square
  
• 101 Frederick St.
  
• 50 Queen St. N.
  
• 55 King St. W.
  
• 235 King St. E.
  
• 22 Frederick St.
  
• 70 King St. E.
  

[Spokes]

Market Square is the big one. The one we all have dreams of.

But I think all of the other ones will be interesting as well. I think this could be a 305 King West situation where these buildings get totally renovated and modernized to fetch top notch tenants.

[tomh009]

A number of the other ones (50 Queen N, 235 King E and 55 King W, for example) are in good shape and most have high occupancy rates (DREAM did improve this situation significantly, which surely helped them get a better price for the properties). Apart from Market Square, which needs a complete re-think, I think Galleria (101 Frederick) is most in need of a facelift.