01-07-2022, 07:31 PM
Where are the dreamers on this forum? Does everyone just want DT to be residential buildings? maybe I am too much of a dreamer, but personally I would love for a new arena to be built in the downtown. The current AUD is at the end of its shelf life and does not meet the need of this region anymore. A new arena would definitely attract some bigger names in terms of musical acts to consider KW instead of London or Hamilton. We could attract larger scale events, World Juniors, Memorial cup, probably could have made a bid to land "The Rock" (NLL) if we had a new arena ready, unfortunately Hamilton beat us to it. I can definitely see it being a positive for the downtown restaurant scene as well. Downtown has plenty of parking garages to accommodate the people who decide to drive to attend a concert or game. I am sure there will be endless public consultations and studies to be done before any decision is made. In terms of a aboriginal cultural centre, personally I believe the existing police headquarters in the civic district is a great place for that. "The Record" just had an article about UW architecture students doing a project on what could be done with that building. It featured a very promising vision that I think could include a large space dedicated to aboriginal centre. The redevelopment of the AUD land would have to have land kept by the city to build a park and a community centre with a minimum 2 rinks though.
I also am not against just developing a masterplan for the AUD land to include a new arena, a community centre, and a mixed use entertainment district with high density towers. Selling off subdivided sections (Do not sell it all to one developer) which with development charges I can see paying for most of the cost of a new arena and community centre. The true dreamer in me would love for an extremely wealthy resident to step up and build us 20-24k soccer/ football stadium. So we could land a CFL and CPL team and host world stage sporting events. I am just glad someone is starting the conversation about the waste of space the AUD lands are currently. It is currently a sea of parking. I do expect what ever happens to the AUD lands for there to be extreme community push back.
I also believe the city will sell the Rockway golf course eventually. My only hope it that they do a masterplan, requiring a large park at minimum the size of Victoria park. We will never have the opportunity for another large park DT Kitchener. I would also love for them to build a small 9 hole pitch-n-put. The city of Vancouver has several of those in their large parks and I always enjoyed playing a cheep stress free round of golf.
I also am not against just developing a masterplan for the AUD land to include a new arena, a community centre, and a mixed use entertainment district with high density towers. Selling off subdivided sections (Do not sell it all to one developer) which with development charges I can see paying for most of the cost of a new arena and community centre. The true dreamer in me would love for an extremely wealthy resident to step up and build us 20-24k soccer/ football stadium. So we could land a CFL and CPL team and host world stage sporting events. I am just glad someone is starting the conversation about the waste of space the AUD lands are currently. It is currently a sea of parking. I do expect what ever happens to the AUD lands for there to be extreme community push back.
I also believe the city will sell the Rockway golf course eventually. My only hope it that they do a masterplan, requiring a large park at minimum the size of Victoria park. We will never have the opportunity for another large park DT Kitchener. I would also love for them to build a small 9 hole pitch-n-put. The city of Vancouver has several of those in their large parks and I always enjoyed playing a cheep stress free round of golf.