236 Victoria St N | 40 & 35 fl | Proposed

[CP42]

Staff are recommending approval at Monday's Planning and Strategic Initiatives meeting.

Concerns from the public were generally about height/density, shadows, and then the GRR situation.

For the GRR situation this is what staff has to say: 

"the existing land use designation and zoning permits a fitness centre and the proposed land use designation and zoning will continue to permit a fitness centre. Staff understand that Grand River Rocks has recently relocated from 50 Borden Avenue South (which is also subject to a development application) and understand the concern of the business operator and members. The owner of the subject lands has not disclosed a timeline for reconstruction and staff understand that they have communicated to the current tenants that they do not plan on ending the current 5 year lease early, regardless of the outcome of any decision on these applications. Staff understand that Grand River Rocks has a five year lease for the former LA Fitness building. No new commercial tenants or leases have been identified at this time for the mixed used development. The Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment applications propose new residential permissions. All matters regarding the current commercial lease are between the Owner and Grand River Rocks. Lease arrangements are outside of the jurisdiction of the City of Kitchener. The proposed land use designation and zoning would continue to permit a fitness centre as a permitted use and would not impact current operations or lease arrangements."

For height/density:

"The City of Kitchener’s Urban Growth Centre and PMTSA’s consists of numerous high-rises that are built or approved to be built ranging from 10 storeys to 50 storeys. Comparable high-rise buildings in height that are built, under construction or proposed include the following developments: 
DTK (60 Frederick St) - 39 Storeys (built) 
Charlie West (60 Charles St W) - 31 Storeys (built) 
20 Queen Street - 34 Storeys (planned) 
Station Park (607 King St W), 18 (built), 28 (built), 36 (under construction), 40 and 50 storeys (planned) 
417 King Street West – 55 Storeys (planned, construction starting in 2024) 
10 Duke Street – 45 Storeys (final site plan approval issued, construction starting in 2024) 
30 Francis Street – 45 Storeys (under construction) 
88 Queen Street – 45 Storeys (planned) 50 Borden – 51 and 57 Storeys (under review)"

I will be pleasantly surprised if both 10 Duke and 417 King start construction this year. Those 2 towers are going to look really good compared to DTK. The kitchener skyline is going to look drastically different in 5 years. I wish we could attract "AAA" office in the downtown, but the City of Waterloo has done their best to make sure that only suburban office parks are built in the Region.

I’m surprised they mentioned 10 Duke and 417 King starting construction in 2024 given they haven’t started sales nor even hinted at anything yet.

Also curious how a developer markets these projects along with Station Park at once given they are in relatively close proximity.