General Suburban Updates and Rumours

[Acitta]

Despite environmental concerns, road extension through Kitchener wetland approved by committee
The project would see Biehn Drive extended, along with water and sewer infrastructure.

[ac3r]

For all we can do as humans - divert entire rivers for power, go to other planets, dig deep into the earth for minerals, control weather - it's funny how NIMBYs still think we can't extend a small residential road without catastrophic environmental disaster.

Build it.

[bravado]

I look forward to them building the road and then discovering that traffic and infrastructure debt just gets worse than it was before 🥰

But now you've got a shiny new road!

[CP42]

Not sure if it’s been posted anywhere, but the plaza at the north east corner of Northfield and Wissler in Waterloo has been demolished and there are now Vanmar Constructors shipping containers on site.

[ZEBuilder]

Not sure if it’s been posted anywhere, but the plaza at the north east corner of Northfield and Wissler in Waterloo has been demolished and there are now Vanmar Constructors shipping containers on site.

It's going to be a new apartment building being developed by Killam. They're the same company that's behind Civic 66, The Carrick (First building in the Erb/Westmount redevelopment).

As of November they were targeting 128 units over 6 floors.

Here's the render:
   

[westwardloo]

Not sure if it’s been posted anywhere, but the plaza at the north east corner of Northfield and Wissler in Waterloo has been demolished and there are now Vanmar Constructors shipping containers on site.

It's going to be a new apartment building being developed by Killam. They're the same company that's behind Civic 66, The Carrick (First building in the Erb/Westmount redevelopment).

As of November they were targeting 128 units over 6 floors.

Here's the render:

Nice infill project. It's too bad that it is replacing 5 retail units with zero retail. Doesn't help the walkability of that neighbourhood.  But I would take this type of mid-rise development over what has been built on Strasburg. Killam is turning into one of the better developers in our Region.

[ZEBuilder]

Activa's development on Erinbrook opposite Rittenhouse is now named (very originally) 'Erin Brook', and described as '2-over-2 stacked condo towns'.

They've now made some pretty decent progress on this. In the summer they completed all the site grading/structural fill and all the site servicing that was required. The first building (Building C) topped out in late December/early January and they are currently installing windows and starting work for exterior finishing. They have permits for the remaining two buildings as well which were only issued in the last few weeks. The next building (Building B) should be starting soon as new stakes for excavation have appeared throughout the site.

Here's a picture of the first building walking up Westmount:
   

[ac3r]

There's a proposed townhouse project at 1070-1140 Main Street in Cambridge. They're aiming for 1000 units, a public park and a small natural area of open space. It is located at the current edge of the southeast so it isn't a particularly walkable are although Main Street feeds into both Franklin and Dundas so it's a quick trip into the city.

Here's the urban design brief and there are more documents available on the City of Cambridge's website for Current Design Applications page.

https://www.cambridge.ca/en/build-invest...-Brief.pdf

[bravado]

There's a proposed townhouse project at 1070-1140 Main Street in Cambridge. They're aiming for 1000 units, a public park and a small natural area of open space. It is located at the current edge of the southeast so it isn't a particularly walkable are although Main Street feeds into both Franklin and Dundas so it's a quick trip into the city.

Here's the urban design brief and there are more documents available on the City of Cambridge's website for Current Design Applications page.

https://www.cambridge.ca/en/build-invest...-Brief.pdf

A few other projects nearby, none have broken ground...

https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/...p?tid=1874 
https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/...p?tid=1725
https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/...p?tid=1745
https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/...p?tid=1668

[bravado]

https://www.cambridgetoday.ca/local-news...al-8433724

I am pleased to announce that another frivolous NIMBY appeal against the truly awful and evil organization known as “Habitat for Humanity” has failed at the OLT.

I really hope that the current losing streak means that any Cambridge project that gets to the OLT is immediately approved and allowed to build. It’s been a long losing streak for the council and angry neighbour demographic lately.

A year later, they finally have the permits. What the fuck takes so long in this process? It's eternally shameful that 24 units needs to wait for half a decade for no reason. 

https://www.cambridgetoday.ca/local-news...s-10429780

[Acitta]

Waterloo promotes ‘housing that folks can actually afford’ in taxpayer-funded project

Waterloo City Hall is behind in its housing goals but declared progress Thursday around a taxpayer-funded plan to put more than 1,000 homes beside the RIM Park recreation complex.

Construction is scheduled to start next year at 2025 University Ave. E., in the city’s northeast corner.

Habitat for Humanity plans to build affordable and attainable units, rented and owned, on a vacant municipal site that city hall has transferred to the housing charity and its partners.

The federal government provided a housing grant of up to $22 million to cover city costs.

[creative]

Has anyone heard of a proposed redevelopment for the Krug St. Plaza with 3 towers and retail on the main floor? Someone on the Stanley Park Facebook group indicated that they have a friend with a store in the plaza and they have been told of this future redevelopment.

[Acitta]

Has anyone heard of a proposed redevelopment for the Krug St. Plaza with 3 towers and retail on the main floor? Someone on the Stanley Park Facebook group indicated that they have a friend with a store in the plaza and they have been told of this future redevelopment.

I am sure that the owners of the Korean store will not be happy with that. They moved there from the plaza that was demolished for Station Park.

[ZEBuilder]

Has anyone heard of a proposed redevelopment for the Krug St. Plaza with 3 towers and retail on the main floor? Someone on the Stanley Park Facebook group indicated that they have a friend with a store in the plaza and they have been told of this future redevelopment.

The site is large enough that 3 towers would fit easily even with small point towers, however it's not somewhere that you're likely to see movement on that soon. Any redevelopment would have to go through the OPA/ZBA process ontop of the SPA and permitting process. The property is currently zoned Mix-1 which only allows for a max height of 14m or 4 stories.

If Kitchener 2051 passes the property would be given the commercial first designation which would allow for up to 12 floors (implementation bylaws will likely lower this in some places) even still the primary intention for the site must still be commercial.

So while it's certainly possible its not imminent (no SPA application) and someone just signed a lease for a new retail unit which just got a permit last week.