Lower Kitchener (534 Charles St E) | 32, 27, 15 fl | Proposed

[panamaniac]

“This corner is the gateway,” said Litt, looking at King Street East and Ottawa. “Coming into the downtown this way, it is not very inviting right now.”

This is so true. I can't think of any worse way to approach downtown Kitchener than to go from this end of the city. Both Ottawa and King are arterial roads that feed people in from South Kitchener and Cambridge as well as the highways. I can see this project getting approval with few problems. It's similar to what the area getting developed around Victoria and King is like: old industry, parking that rarely gets used, grass lots, disused buildings. This proposal, combined with the Schneiders project, could really start to transform this area. There is so much land between Mill Station and Borden Station that would be great for developing over the years. With the golf course, Rockway Gardens, Kaufman Park and Iron Horse Trail bordering it all, it could be completely transformed.

Does the proposal preserve the heritage elements of the Onward Mfg building?

Seriously? It is an ugly old building. What heritage value does it have? Why do people want to keep ugly old buildings and call it "heritage"? I was dismayed by the commotion that occurred over the old shirt factory in the centre block. Does anybody miss it now? The Mayfair had heritage value, but what has replaced it is much better and I certainly don't miss it. Anyhow, the article clearly states that the developer wants to demolish the building.

Seriously? It is an ugly old building. What heritage value does it have? Why do people want to keep ugly old buildings and call it "heritage"? I was dismayed by the commotion that occurred over the old shirt factory in the centre block. Does anybody miss it now? The Mayfair had heritage value, but what has replaced it is much better and I certainly don't miss it. Anyhow, the article clearly states that the developer wants to demolish the building.

It IS a non-designated heritage property which (from the city's website) means:


Once a property is on the register, local planning decisions can be affected in a couple of ways:

• The municipality would have more time to process demolition applications made under the Ontario Building Code. Typically, a demolition application must be processed within 10 business days; in the case of a non-designated property, the municipality would have 60 business days - a sufficient amount of time to determine if the property should be protected under the Ontario Heritage Act. If protection is deemed to be warranted, a separate formal legal process would be required.
  

• Planning Act applications, such as site plans and plans of subdivision, may need to be accompanied by a heritage impact assessment and/or conservation plan.
  

So, yea, you're right that they intend to demolish it but how much trouble they run into doing that remains to be seen.

How did you conclude that they intend to demolish it?  The material posted only indicates that they COULD, potentially, demolish it.  In any event, Kitchener's track record gives a pretty clear indication of the likely outcome.