81-85 Bridgeport Road East | 16-27 fl | Proposed

[ac3r]

A developer (currently listed as "8185 Bridgeport Inc") is proposing a new development for 81-85 Bridgeport Road East in Waterloo. The architectural design is by ABA Architects.

The project is proposed to consist of 3 towers built in multiple phases. Phase 1 consists of Tower C, a 16 floor tower. Phase 2 consists of Tower A and B at 22 and 19 floors respectively, all sitting upon a 7 floor podium (tower heights include the podium height). There are 494 residential units proposed, comprised of one, two and three bedroom units (the majority being one and two bedroom) for a total of 692 bedrooms. 600m2 of commercial space is also proposed, fronting Bridgeport Street East. A total of 508 vehicle parking spaces are proposed in addition to 306 bicycle parking spaces, all contained within the podium. The podium is proposed to contain a variety of amenity areas for residents.

The application documents can be found here: https://www.waterloo.ca/en/government/zo...ort_81to85

[ac3r]

The first formal public meeting is scheduled for May 9th, 2022.

[mastermind]

Nothing too extravagant but it seems like a good location for a project like this.

[ac3r]

Quite the drastic differences in parking between this and the recently revealed 130-142 Victoria South project downtown Kitchener. This one has 494 units yet 508 parking spaces. The Victoria Street project - while indeed smaller - has 249 units and yet only 51 parking spaces. The Victoria project is closer to the LRT, but both still have decent transit access.

The only real difference is developer ideals - the latter reducing parking spaces to openly encourage transit use, with this one obviously not caring one bit about that. Also, just different attitudes towards using public transit that differ between residents in Waterloo and those in Kitchener. Kitchener favours density and both residents, the city and even certain developers actively encourage rapid transit or bus usage compared to the rest of the region which is much more conservative in mindset.

[ijmorlan]

I hope they design the driveway entrance/exit to avoid cars treating them like freeway ramps. As to motorized traffic, they effectively are like that: one for exiting Bridgeport Road into the building, the other for coming back out onto Bridgeport. But both cross the sidewalk. At the same time, it has to be possible for trucks (garbage, moving, fire) to get in and out.

[plam]

Quite the drastic differences in parking between this and the recently revealed 130-142 Victoria South project downtown Kitchener. This one has 494 units yet 508 parking spaces. The Victoria Street project - while indeed smaller - has 249 units and yet only 51 parking spaces. The Victoria project is closer to the LRT, but both still have decent transit access.

The only real difference is developer ideals - the latter reducing parking spaces to openly encourage transit use, with this one obviously not caring one bit about that. Also, just different attitudes towards using public transit that differ between residents in Waterloo and those in Kitchener. Kitchener favours density and both residents, the city and even certain developers actively encourage rapid transit or bus usage compared to the rest of the region which is much more conservative in mindset.

It's still 1 parking spot per unit at Bridgeport, which is kind of justified for the location, I think. It's basically in my back yard, and I don't consider it to be particularly close to the LRT (1.1km and not a great walk). It's close to the 8 on Weber, but that doesn't run that frequently. On a bike you can access Spur Line and Laurel Trail but it'll feel out of the way. It really is not particularly urban to be at a 15 minute walk's distance, through car sewers. Though groceries are easy.

130 Victoria is half as far to the LRT (550m) and it's not one of the weird split stations, so it's substantially better. Walking on Victoria still sucks though. But I think that location is much closer to more urban stuff.

[Spokes]

Not too bad. Has potential based on finishing materials

[Zoo]

FWIW, this is supposedly tied to Schembri Property Managers.

https://www.schembripm.com/

https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/...1+columbia

[nms]

Are there many developments in the Region where there are fewer parking spots than units, and there is either a surplus of parking and "just the right amount"? Anecdotally, I understand that the parking situation in the Trio buildings on Belmont is almost impossible for visitors as the long-term residents use the visitor parking either for paid staff who are staying for an extended period of time (eg PSWs) or for themselves as an extra spot. I can see as this building has easier access to the Expressway and wider roads (eg Weber) than elsewhere, more building users could end up preferring theirs cars as opposed to transit or walking.

[tomh009]

Many new building projects in DTK have significantly less than one parking space per unit.

Visitor parking abuse can be managed. Our condo building allows seven nights/month/unit of visitor parking usage. And it's very rarely full.

[myfaceisonfire]

FWIW, this is supposedly tied to Schembri Property Managers.

https://www.schembripm.com/

https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/...1+columbia

Waterloo....moving closer and closer to 3rd world status one Schembri property at a time.

[CP42]

WHAT’S GOING ON HERE?: 3 towers, 494 units, 692 bedrooms proposed for Bridgeport Rd. E. in Waterloo

https://www.therecord.com/local-waterloo...erloo.html

https://archive.ph/a3MSg

[ac3r]

That's a weird headline...or is that some sort of running theme for development news by The Record? WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? sounds really NIMBY when you read it.

[CP42]

That's a weird headline...or is that some sort of running theme for development news by The Record? WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? sounds really NIMBY when you read it.

Haha to be fair, I think it was originally posted by The Chronicle. But yea, quite odd.

[Acitta]

WHAT’S GOING ON HERE?: 3 towers, 494 units, 692 bedrooms proposed for Bridgeport Rd. E. in Waterloo

https://www.therecord.com/local-waterloo...erloo.html

https://archive.ph/a3MSg

Oh, no! Another "historic" car dealership being demolished!