Waterloo Region Connected

(03-01-2022, 10:04 AM)danbrotherston Wrote: [ -> ]I think it's better than an outright rejection.

But I'm so tired of this "fake compromise" that politicians do.  Nobody who opposes this will be satisfied with 10 stories, but there'll be a dozen or more families or individuals who won't be able to find housing in the neighbourhood.

Zehr Group did make the floor plate larger during the first cut from 13 to 11, and I think made the top level utility re-arranged, so one would have to look at the revised proposal to know how many units were lost overall.

That said, I also agree that the substantiation of the changes there to height as much less consequential that so much other time that could have been spent reviewing and delegating about what else to do about making Belmont better and more accessible to new residents than this.

I appreciated the delegate last night at least calling out that the "its our only Village" statement really myth making. The other arguing the by-law language noted the "wide road" in a positive light, as if that was reason to keep the low height and space inefficient "village feel". Flattening it all for new condos is not the answer, but the opponents really need a reality check on how much about their quaint and 'walkable' village could be miles better with good street engaging refreshes like 660 and eliminating more of the car/road area.

(03-01-2022, 10:49 AM)Rainrider22 Wrote: [ -> ]Dan,  I couldn't agree with you more !  One story will not make any difference on the impact of the neighborhood.  It is so typical of our local politicians.  Penny wise and pound foolish.

It's because none of them have any guts to make a strong decision and have some long term vision.

Ironically they think they'll be keeping a particular voter base happy, but all they're doing is looking worse in all side's eyes.

It irks me that people are so protective over Belmont "village" as if it's something truly unique and special. It's not and it's not a village. It doesn't feel like one. What the hell do they believe makes this so special and unique? It's two blocks of run down old strip malls and stores with a really ugly wide road running through the centre of it. There's nothing there but a couple restaurants (which is the main attraction) as well as stuff like beauty salons and health care businesses. They act like this is something similar to Kensington Market or The Junction in Toronto which has a distinct identity, with music, art and counterculture establishments. It isn't.

I'll agree with them that perhaps we don't need 13 floor high-rises directly on Belmont itself, but I wish they'd stop acting like this is something special that cannot be changed whatsoever. Building some new projects will only do good for this area by bringing more people in, which in turn can grow and evolve everything else. IMO it'd be a great area to turn into something like a Kensington Market sort of place. That is, have even more cool restaurants, bars, comedy venues, music venues, art galleries, unique local businesses, perhaps a little market. But it is not like that yet and deluding oneself into believing it is, is just silly. Nor will it ever be if their attitude is going to be one of conservatism.

Really Belmont village is just an example of a 1950's community shopping core. Between the era of the successful downtown core but before suburbanization pushed all shopping to into strip malls and plazas. I believe its the only non-downtown 'main street' lite core we have in the region of this vintage. Its unique for its era in the region but its not that special other than its a great place to eat/drink.

(03-01-2022, 05:26 PM)neonjoe Wrote: [ -> ]Really Belmont village is just an example of a 1950's community shopping core. Between the era of the successful downtown core but before suburbanization pushed all shopping to into strip malls and plazas. I believe its the only non-downtown 'main street' lite core we have in the region of this vintage. Its unique for its era in the region but its not that special other than its a great place to eat/drink.

Community shopping cores underpin the whole 15-minute-city thing that we'd like to have more of, though. So, no, it's not supposed to be anything special---we should have a lot more of them!

That’s actually what I miss most about my old neighbourhood of Williamsburg. For being suburban, it was surprisingly convenient (I could walk to the Towne Centre and Sunrise)

(03-01-2022, 06:01 PM)plam Wrote: [ -> ]

(03-01-2022, 05:26 PM)neonjoe Wrote: [ -> ]Really Belmont village is just an example of a 1950's community shopping core. Between the era of the successful downtown core but before suburbanization pushed all shopping to into strip malls and plazas. I believe its the only non-downtown 'main street' lite core we have in the region of this vintage. Its unique for its era in the region but its not that special other than its a great place to eat/drink.

Community shopping cores underpin the whole 15-minute-city thing that we'd like to have more of, though. So, no, it's not supposed to be anything special---we should have a lot more of them!

Kind of like Williamsburg. And right, should be more of it.

Belmont is nothing special, but I guess those living there find it very special. But I am still at a loss why the fuss over a very small condo, even if it had kept its original 13 floors. There are a lot of taller buildings within a few hundred meters.

None of those taller buildings are part of the Village strip, however. What the proposal does is something new in the strip.

(03-01-2022, 10:06 PM)panamaniac Wrote: [ -> ]None of those taller buildings are part of the Village strip, however.  What the proposal does is something new in the strip.

While technically true, this is a contrived difference...there are tall buildings immediately behind and to the south of the "strip"...

This kind of definition plays into the "things must remain static and never change" beliefs of NIMBYs.  The "strip" will grow and change just like everything else.

More residents in the immediate area will make the strip even more vibrant. This building is replacing an old tire shop, people in Williamsburg complain about the tire shop noise and traffic.

(03-01-2022, 10:06 PM)panamaniac Wrote: [ -> ]None of those taller buildings are part of the Village strip, however.  What the proposal does is something new in the strip.

New height, while expecting to add 3 new shops, 100s of new local shoppers, a new IHT access point mid-block, and activation of the laneway for events.

Honestly, this is a way better development for the space than it could be while still meeting by-law. The whole street is technically able to be bought, flattened, and turned into zero-street activation 8 story condo blocks. If anything, residents should be doing backflips about turning a dead tire garage into new street front shops that further the village at the low cost of now 2 extra stories of height. The lack of perspective is astounding.

(03-02-2022, 10:26 AM)cherrypark Wrote: [ -> ]

(03-01-2022, 10:06 PM)panamaniac Wrote: [ -> ]None of those taller buildings are part of the Village strip, however.  What the proposal does is something new in the strip.

New height, while expecting to add 3 new shops, 100s of new local shoppers, a new IHT access point mid-block, and activation of the laneway for events.

Honestly, this is a way better development for the space than it could be while still meeting by-law. The whole street is technically able to be bought, flattened, and turned into zero-street activation 8 story condo blocks. If anything, residents should be doing backflips about turning a dead tire garage into new street front shops that further the village at the low cost of now 2 extra stories of height. The lack of perspective is astounding.

Welcome to NIMBYism.

They aren't interested in what it COULD be, if it is different from what it is, they oppose it.

Here's what it's going to look like:

It looks great, except the setbacks on the MU zoning drive me nuts. Why isn't it just continuing the street wall that the rest of the village has? What is with Kitchener planning's obsession with setbacks in MU zones.

Worse here too because Belmont is approximately a mile wide with the side lanes and street parking.