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+-- Forum: Land Development and Real Estate (https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=4)
+--- Forum: Urban Areas (https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=5)
+--- Thread: General Urban Kitchener Updates and Rumours (/showthread.php?tid=8)
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RE: General Urban Kitchener Updates and Rumours - CP42 - 12-06-2021
(12-06-2021, 01:39 AM)Acitta Wrote:Ahh, my apologies! I haven’t frequented many areas outside of the land development section!(12-05-2021, 11:14 PM)CP42 Wrote: Stumbled across this drone footage of DTK today:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlCSax_vTfE&t=2s
I previously posted it in " Post your pictures of Waterloo Region!".
RE: General Urban Kitchener Updates and Rumours - Acitta - 12-06-2021
(12-06-2021, 02:30 AM)CP42 Wrote:(12-06-2021, 01:39 AM)Acitta Wrote: I previously posted it in " Post your pictures of Waterloo Region!".Ahh, my apologies! I haven’t frequented many areas outside of the land development section!
I always use the "What's New" link, so I follow every thread.
RE: General Urban Kitchener Updates and Rumours - ac3r - 12-12-2021
I was told 18 Pine Street has been purchased by Grand River Hospital for offices or something like that.
RE: General Urban Kitchener Updates and Rumours - dtkmelissa - 12-14-2021
Not sure if there's a better thread for this or not, but Kitchener considers a vacancy tax. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/kitchener-city-council-vacant-tax-credit-1.6284174
RE: General Urban Kitchener Updates and Rumours - tomh009 - 12-15-2021
(12-14-2021, 08:09 PM)dtkmelissa Wrote: Not sure if there's a better thread for this or not, but Kitchener considers a vacancy tax. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/kitchener-city-council-vacant-tax-credit-1.6284174
That's excellent news! They should additionally get rid of the discounted property tax rate on vacant land, as that rewards landowners for not developing it.
RE: General Urban Kitchener Updates and Rumours - Belmonster - 12-18-2021
(12-15-2021, 10:29 AM)tomh009 Wrote:(12-14-2021, 08:09 PM)dtkmelissa Wrote: Not sure if there's a better thread for this or not, but Kitchener considers a vacancy tax. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/kitchener-city-council-vacant-tax-credit-1.6284174
That's excellent news! They should additionally get rid of the discounted property tax rate on vacant land, as that rewards landowners for not developing it.
I'd like to see them consider a vacancy tax for commercial property as well. Maybe there's some reason it's not feasible... But naively, it seems like persistently vacant storefronts impose negative externalities on their neighbors and should be taxed accordingly.
RE: General Urban Kitchener Updates and Rumours - ijmorlan - 12-18-2021
(12-18-2021, 11:17 AM)Belmonster Wrote: I'd like to see them consider a vacancy tax for commercial property as well. Maybe there's some reason it's not feasible... But naively, it seems like persistently vacant storefronts impose negative externalities on their neighbors and should be taxed accordingly.
It’s very hard to write a definition of vacancy which works. Somebody who wants to leave a store vacant will likely be able to have a facade of a store which isn’t really different from an empty store. On the other hand, they presumably would at least have to make it look active even if it’s not; but that’s an improvement on an obviously-vacant storefront.
RE: General Urban Kitchener Updates and Rumours - tomh009 - 12-18-2021
(12-18-2021, 11:30 AM)ijmorlan Wrote:(12-18-2021, 11:17 AM)Belmonster Wrote: I'd like to see them consider a vacancy tax for commercial property as well. Maybe there's some reason it's not feasible... But naively, it seems like persistently vacant storefronts impose negative externalities on their neighbors and should be taxed accordingly.
It’s very hard to write a definition of vacancy which works. Somebody who wants to leave a store vacant will likely be able to have a facade of a store which isn’t really different from an empty store. On the other hand, they presumably would at least have to make it look active even if it’s not; but that’s an improvement on an obviously-vacant storefront.
Checking whether a store is actually open is prett easy. Identifying condos that are empty is much more difficult, though.
RE: General Urban Kitchener Updates and Rumours - ijmorlan - 12-18-2021
(12-18-2021, 03:17 PM)tomh009 Wrote: Checking whether a store is actually open is prett easy. Identifying condos that are empty is much more difficult, though.
How many hours a week does it need to be open? What if it’s being renovated? Etc.
Not saying it’s impossible, just saying it’s easier said than done.
Also, we need to ask why basic economic incentives aren’t enough. How can it make sense to leave something of high value like a storefront vacant?
RE: General Urban Kitchener Updates and Rumours - danbrotherston - 12-18-2021
(12-18-2021, 05:39 PM)ijmorlan Wrote:(12-18-2021, 03:17 PM)tomh009 Wrote: Checking whether a store is actually open is prett easy. Identifying condos that are empty is much more difficult, though.
How many hours a week does it need to be open? What if it’s being renovated? Etc.
Not saying it’s impossible, just saying it’s easier said than done.
Also, we need to ask why basic economic incentives aren’t enough. How can it make sense to leave something of high value like a storefront vacant?
Yeah, I mean, I don't think it's necessarily harder to tell than with housing, but certainly it isn't trivial.
As for why high value storefronts are being left vacant, or worse, turned into parking lots...well...you have to look at the perverse incentives our society has...
RE: General Urban Kitchener Updates and Rumours - Acitta - 12-23-2021
Neighbourhoods need more than just single family houses and towers
Building more housing alone will not solve the supply problem nor make housing more affordable, says UW planning professor.
RE: General Urban Kitchener Updates and Rumours - YKF - 12-26-2021
I'm not sure whether this has been mentioned before on this site, but there's a 34 unit stacked townhouse listed on realtor.ca at 624 King Street West.
Link: https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/23862364/624-king-street-w-street-w-unit-b15-kitchener
This is very different than the midrise that was floated a few years ago. Very unfortunate if this site gets redeveloped with 34 stacked townhouse units, IMO, rather than something much denser and appropriate for this location.
RE: General Urban Kitchener Updates and Rumours - CP42 - 12-26-2021
(12-26-2021, 12:02 PM)YKF Wrote: I'm not sure whether this has been mentioned before on this site, but there's a 34 unit stacked townhouse listed on realtor.ca at 624 King Street West.I’ve seen this somewhere on here - perhaps the Station Park thread.
Link: https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/23862364/624-king-street-w-street-w-unit-b15-kitchener
This is very different than the midrise that was floated a few years ago. Very unfortunate if this site gets redeveloped with 34 stacked townhouse units, IMO, rather than something much denser and appropriate for this location.
It is a shame that there will potentially be such a light use of land right next to one of the densest developments in the area.
RE: General Urban Kitchener Updates and Rumours - tomh009 - 12-26-2021
Stacked townhouses aren't really dramatically lower density than a midrise -- three floors instead of four or five, maybe?
RE: General Urban Kitchener Updates and Rumours - LesPio - 12-26-2021
(12-26-2021, 12:02 PM)YKF Wrote: I'm not sure whether this has been mentioned before on this site, but there's a 34 unit stacked townhouse listed on realtor.ca at 624 King Street West.
Link: https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/23862364/624-king-street-w-street-w-unit-b15-kitchener
This is very different than the midrise that was floated a few years ago. Very unfortunate if this site gets redeveloped with 34 stacked townhouse units, IMO, rather than something much denser and appropriate for this location.
This site has been in transition over the past few years. I am questioning the legitimacy of putting this on Realtor. In my opinion, I would think that the sale of the entire site to a developer with deeper pockets at a higher price like the Benton/Charles empty lot sale would make sense to me. ie. sell this property for $10 million or more.