Columbia Corporate Centre (La-Z-Boy Redevelopment) | 12 m | 3 fl

[Duke-of-Waterloo]

Columbia Corporate Centre (La-Z-Boy Redevelopment)
Address: 55 & 75 Columbia Street East, Waterloo (Columbia St & Weber St)
Developer: Activa Group (http://www.activagroup.ca/commercial/)
Approx 157,000 Sq ft

http://www.activagroup.ca/images/commercial/ccc-v2.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/ColumbiaCorporateCentre-55ColumbiaS.jpg

Waterloo Regional Police: Division 3 Station

http://media.greenradio.topscms.com/images/9f/1c/6a2d70304c369a8be510d6a80587.jpeg

[Duke-of-Waterloo]

Developer buys La-Z-Boy plant

After $5-million purchase, Waterloo company plans to turn property into office space

By Chuck Howitt | THE RECORD | Tuesday, April 28, 2009

WATERLOO

Activa Group, a Waterloo-based residential and commercial property developer, has acquired the former La-Z-Boy plant in Waterloo and plans to redevelop it into commercial office space.

Activa purchased the 4.4-hectare site from Fercan Developments of Toronto for $5 million in a deal that closed April 24.

"It's in our backyard. We're a Waterloo-based company," Tony Giovinazzo, vice-president of finance for the Activa Group, said yesterday. "The site had sat there for sometime. I think it's a great location." The site, which includes a 145,000-square-foot building, is at Weber and Columbia Streets.

Activa plans to renovate 84,000 square feet in the first phase, with occupancy set for the spring of 2010. Future phases may include a new three-storey building of about 45,000 square feet, but this is not definite, Giovinazzo said.

Activa has a couple of "fairly large tenants" who are eagerly looking at the building, he added.

Fercan bought the building in 2007 from La-Z-Boy. The furniture giant had closed its plant two years earlier.

Fercan planned to renovate the building and lease it to industrial tenants, but work never got off the ground.

Floor plans were drawn up, but Fercan had "a lot of balls in the air," and when the economy went south, the property became expendable, said Peter Hall, managing director of the regional office of CB Richard Ellis, a commercial real estate firm. Several tenants made commitments to lease space from Fercan but got tired of waiting and looked elsewhere, he said. "Some are still around. I think I can bring them to the table, now that Activa is in control."

Ellis was leasing the property for Fercan and has taken over those duties for Activa. Waterloo has an office vacancy rate of 1.9 per cent in the suburbs and 3.9 per cent in the core, Hall said. The region's office vacancy rate is 5.6 per cent.

"I'm very bullish," Hall said. "There are clients out there who are still looking, especially in Waterloo."

Over its 25 years, Activa has mostly developed residential land for the home-building industry. In recent years it has been trying to diversify its portfolio by building and leasing commercial and retail space.

Among recent projects are the 26,000-square-foot Corporate Centre at 725 Bridge St. in Waterloo and the 15,000-square-foot Baden Village Square retail complex.

"We're continuing to diversify our assets and expand our number of income-producing properties," Giovinazzo said.

http://news.therecord.com/Business/article/527850


Waterloo-Based Activa Group Announces Major Redevelopment Project

WATERLOO – Waterloo-based Activa Group – commercial, residential property developers – announced plans to transform the 11-acre, former LA-Z-BOY site at 55 Columbia Street in Waterloo into a modern commercial property. The site is slated for occupancy in spring 2010.

Located on the southeast corner of Weber Street and Columbia Street, the proposed site encompasses 145,000 square feet of ground level office space, with an additional proposed three-storey building adding 45,000 square feet of additional office space.

“As a local development company, Activa Group is constantly looking for projects that help transform the Kitchener-Waterloo corridor into Southwestern Ontario’s most thriving social and economical hub,” explained Tony Giovinazzo, Vice President, Finance, Activa Group. “This site is yet another opportunity to create a modern commercial property that will further satisfy demand for office space in the highly sought-after Waterloo area.”

Added Peter J. Hall, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, CB Richard Ellis, Waterloo Region: “CB Richard Ellis brokered the sale of this property and is pleased to now be engaged by Activa on the marketing and leasing program for this site. We look forward to the development of this – and future – commercial properties with partners such as Activa.”

Recent commercial development projects by Activa include a 26,000 square foot prestige office development at Bridge Street & Northfield Drive in Waterloo; and Baden Village a 15,000 square foot retail complex in Baden.

http://www.exchangemagazine.com/morn...day/042815.htm


Police station moving to Weber St.

THE RECORD | Thursday, June 25, 2009

WATERLOO - After two years of looking, Waterloo Regional Police has found a new site for its overcrowded station in Waterloo.

Last night, police board chair Tom Galloway told regional council a $2.75 million deal has been inked to buy part of the former La-Z-boy property, at Weber and Columbia streets.

The conditional agreement relates to a 0.8-acre (two-acre) piece of the 5.2 hectare (13-acre) industrial site. Galloway, who also sits on regional council, said the vacant factory will be partly demolished to make way for the new station.

Today, regional police have a station on Erb Street near King Street, across from Waterloo Town Square.

"It's just too small and there's no opportunity to expand," Galloway said.

The police force has $15 million in its budget to buy land and build a new Waterloo detachment. The old station will be sold. Galloway said there's no issue with moving out of downtown Waterloo.

"It's a very central location for us and a very visible location," he said of the new site. "We would have liked to have been in the downtown area, but there are too many floodplain issues."

Galloway expects the sale to close by fall, after an environmental review of the property is complete.

With a site picked, police will hire an architect to start work on the building. It will be the size of the Cambridge police station, built 30 years ago on Hespeler Road.

http://news.therecord.com/article/559239.


New site for Waterloo police station passes environmental testing

By Melinda Dalton | Waterloo Chronicle | Wednesday, September 2, 2009

The site slated for the Waterloo Regional Police’s new Waterloo division has cleared its environmental hurdle.

“We got good news that there is virtually no contamination on the site,” police services board chair Tom Galloway said. “There’s only one condition remaining and that’s the demolition permit. That should not be an issue.”

The region is buying up a chunk of land at the corner of Weber and Columbia streets to build a new police station to replace the aging Erb Street building.

Regional council approved the $2.75 million purchase of the site in June, with the condition that the site pass environmental testing. The police service has budgeted $15 million over three years to buy land and build the new Waterloo division. They’ve been looking for an appropriate site for three years.

Division 3 moved into its current Erb Street building, former home of the Waterloo Mutual Insurance Company, in 1991.

The police service is only taking two acres of the 13-acre former La-Z-Boy site on Columbia. Galloway said it wasn’t clear before the testing what state the land would be in given that it had been used as an industrial site.

He said he is confident the deal will go through now since the building isn’t a heritage property and there are no other foreseeable barriers.

They have until November to get a demolition permit, Galloway said, adding the sale is likely to close before that.

The new division will be solely an upgrade in facilities. Lock up will remain at the Kitchener division and no units other than the ones already operating out of Division 3 will be housed there.

The service is now readying to start the design process. That could take between six and 10 months. Galloway said he expects work could begin on the new building as early as next spring.

[RangersFan]

Pictures taken by me today Jan 24, 2010

http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac273/leaffan431/La-z-boy%20redevelopment/LZB12.jpg
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http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac273/leaffan431/La-z-boy%20redevelopment/LZB19.jpg

[UrbanWaterloo]

Columbia Corporate Centre
55 Columbia Street East
www.cbre.ca/55Columbia


53,000 SF

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/ColumbiaCorporateCentre-CBRE-MainPa.jpg

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http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/ColumbiaCorporateCentre-55ColumbiaS.jpg

[UrbanWaterloo]

Phase two needs to be redesigned: I know it's the suburbs but the amount of surface parking is atrocious. It makes Phase 1, which itself isn't great, look like a godsend in comparison. Why have that 'feature corner' face the parking lot instead of the Columbia/Marsland intersection? :eek:

[Spokes]

Phase two needs to be redesigned: I know it's the suburbs but the amount of surface parking is atrocious. It makes Phase 1, which itself isn't great, look like a godsend in comparison. Why have that 'feature corner' face the parking lot instead of the Columbia/Marsland intersection? :eek:

Exactly! That's a boat load of parking! I'd much rather see some kind of parking structure if they need that many spots. OR push the buildings up to the street and have all the parking pushed to the back. Still not ideal, but better.

What happened to this one being 3 floors? Looks like 2 to me. For the west development at least.

[RangersFan]

I really hope the city starts to push developers to make these developments more public transit friendly in the future. But it is nice to finally see whats is going up at this corner. Which section is supposed to be the Waterloo poilce station?

[Spokes]

I really hope the city starts to push developers to make these developments more public transit friendly in the future. But it is nice to finally see whats is going up at this corner. Which section is supposed to be the Waterloo poilce station?

The corner of Weber and Columbia will be for WRPS.

By more transit friendly do you mean having less parking? One of the shocking things for me was that at Columbia and Marsland they required 118 parking spots and put in 436. Wow!

[mpd618]

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/ColumbiaCorporateCentre-Phase1sitep.jpg
What a fucking suburban abomination.

[Spokes]

Was there ever any discussion about this at council?

[diego]

What a fucking suburban abomination.

Well said. When will those "great" urban design guidelines they were talking about will come into place?

[mpd618]

Well said. When will those "great" urban design guidelines they were talking about will come into place?

When off-street parking requirements are removed. If the city enforces the guidelines and forces developments to provide a large amount of parking, mid-size developments that don't warrant underground garages will simply not get built.

[Spokes]

I'm not arguing the fact that the parking requirements are a problem, but when will the city put in a maximum as well. I mean the city requires 118 spots and they put in over 400. Whats that about?

The building its self doesn't look bad, its the size of it, and the way it's situated on the property that's a joke.

[mpd618]

I'm not arguing the fact that the parking requirements are a problem, but when will the city put in a maximum as well. I mean the city requires 118 spots and they put in over 400. Whats that about?

Citation please for 400 vs. 118? I'd like to see parking caps, but first I'd like to see parking minimums removed so that there can be some positive examples for developers. Carrot and then stick.

[Spokes]

The site plan: http://www.cbre.ca/EN/Our+Offices/Ontario/Waterloo+Region/Property+Profile/55Columbia/Site+Plan.htm:


No. of parking spaces:
Required: 118
Provided: 436

[UrbanWaterloo]

EOI-2010-02 WRPS DIVISION 3 CONSULTANT SELECTION
REGION OF WATERLOO FINANCE DEPARTMENT: Procurement & Supply Services Division
TO: Regional Chair Ken Seiling and Members of Regional Council
DATE: April 14, 2010
Report: F-10-030 (http://www.region.waterloo.on.ca/web/region.nsf/8ef02c0fded0c82a85256e590071a3ce/DAC976351C9929E8852577000056F78F/$file/F-10-030.pdf?openelement)

RECOMMENDATION:
THAT the Regional Municipality of Waterloo approve entering into an Agreement with Rebanks Pepper Littlewood Architects Inc. to provide standard architectural and engineering services for the design and construction administration of the WRPS Division 3 Consultant Selection as per the terms of the Expression of Interest document EOI -2010-02, for a lump sum fee of $720,000 plus applicable taxes.

REPORT:
An Expression of Interest (EOI) for consulting services for the WRPS Division 3 Facility was advertised in the Kitchener-Waterloo Record and on the Region of Waterloo website. Eleven bids were received from interested consulting firms. The submissions were reviewed by staff from Facilities Management, J. Leeson and C. Allen and WRPS. Based on predetermined quality criteria, including company experience, support staff and sub-consultants, experience with Divisional Police Facilities and LEED projects, understanding and approach to project, cost control and schedule , the following four firms were short-listed, interviewed and fee proposals opened:

The following Expressions of Interest were received:

Rebanks Pepper Littlewood Architects Inc. Toronto, ON $ 720,000.00
The Walterfedy Partnership Kitchener, ON $ 763,220.00
IBI Group Architects Toronto, ON $ 986,255.00
CS&P Architects Inc. Toronto, ON $1,028,000.00

The bid received from Rebanks Pepper Littlewood Architects Inc., received the highest overall score, and was also the lowest price.

In December 2008, the Waterloo Regional Police Services Board (WRPSB) authorized the construction of a new facility to replace the existing Division 3 (Police Board Report 2008-120). The current Division 3 located at 14 Erb Street West in Waterloo, does not allow for any flexibility or expansion to meet the current and future needs of staff and is therefore in urgent need of replacement.

There are several core challenges associated with the existing facility. Some of these are:

Public and staff accessibility requirements are not being met, which requires an immediate solution.
Cruisers and unmarked vehicles are not all able to park within the main parking lot or adjacent street parking, creating security issues as well as potential delays in emergency response time.
Due to the lack of a sally-port (secure transfer area) and the overall flow of the building, security while managing detained persons, is compromised.

Over the past several years, Regional Police and Facilities Management have worked to develop a Functional Program for the new WRPS Division 3 Facility. Through several tours and employee interviews, the first draft was developed December 2007 and has gone through a number of updates over the subsequent two years. The Functional Program outlines the needs and desires of Police for the next 25 years, which includes key assumptions, access & flow requirements, grounds & parking information and a list of the different rooms/areas within the building. A summary of each room/area provides general functions, potential features, approximate sizes and the general location within the building. In total, the new Division 3 Facility is anticipated to have approximately 45,000 square feet of occupied space.

In 2009, the Region of Waterloo purchased a two acre plot of land, located at 55 Columbia Street East in Waterloo. The existing building on site (constructed in 1987) has been partially demolished, with approximately 30,000 square feet remaining over the ground and basement levels. During design, the consultant will explore and confirm if the option to incorporate this portion of the building into the new design of Division 3 is feasible and to what extent. A conceptual design for the new facility was completed by Somfay Masri Architects in August 2009 to confirm that the requirements of 45,000 square feet of occupied space and WRPS parking needs would be met within the 2 acre plot of land.

Subject to Council’s approval of this assignment, it is anticipated that the detailed design of the WRPS Division 3 Facility will commence immediately and it is anticipated to be tendered February 2011. Construction and process commissioning is scheduled to be completed the summer of 2012.

CORPORATE STRATEGIC PLAN:
The construction of the WRPS Division 3 Facility will support Focus Area 5 of the Corporate Strategic Plan - Infrastructure: Provide high quality infrastructure and asset management to meet current needs and future growth.
The project also supports Focus Area 1- Environmental Sustainability: Protect and Enhance the Environment, as the facility will be designed and constructed to meet the LEED® Canada Silver standard for environmental conservation and energy efficiency per Regional Council Policy.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
EOI-2010-02 $720,000.00
The approved WRPS Capital Program includes a total of $15,597,000 (from 2009 to 2012) to complete the construction of the new WRPS Division 3 Facility, to be funded from debentures and Regional Development Charges. Of this amount, $3,446,420 was spent in 2009, leaving the balance of $12,150,580 for this project. An amount of $800,000 of the total project budget has been allocated for consulting work.

[Duke-of-Waterloo]

There has been a lot of action on the middle portion of the site lately. Construction is definitely starting.

[WatDot]

Looks like they are putting in new sewers/drainage systems... probably for their massive parking lots.
Pretty pissed about this pathetic development being it's my neighbourhood. Columbia street is a joke in the morning with Manulife and their parking lot. Accidents there at least once a week during the morning rush. Surely traffic will be backed up to Davenport when heading west on Lexington/Columbia once this development is done and occupied. This area could use better transit servicing and less emphasis on car travel. It can't handle the number of cars as it is during rush hours.

[Duke-of-Waterloo]

Looks like they are putting in new sewers/drainage systems... probably for their massive parking lots.
Pretty pissed about this pathetic development being it's my neighbourhood. Columbia street is a joke in the morning with Manulife and their parking lot. Accidents there at least once a week during the morning rush. Surely traffic will be backed up to Davenport when heading west on Lexington/Columbia once this development is done and occupied. This area could use better transit servicing and less emphasis on car travel. It can't handle the number of cars as it is during rush hours.

If Lexington/Columbia had an interchange with Highway 85, the traffic would only be worse...

Think on the bright side though! The cops will soon be just right across the street to deal with the accidents.

[WatDot]

haha that is true.

I think someone mentioned traffic studies being done in respect to Davenport/Lexington and Dearborn/Lexington. I saw them at Marsland/Lexington yesterday. It was stated that the City is considering a round-about at Davenport/Lexington. That would help traffic flow, however there's more people walking/biking in the area these days too. Roud-abouts are NOT pedestrian friendly. I also don't know how they could possibly make it big enough for buses and firetrucks to get through easily.

A left turning lane on Lexington westbound to Marsland Drive and a left turning lane on Lexington eastbound to Dearborn Blvd would help greatly with traffic flow. Leave the lights and it's still 'somewhat' safe for pedestrians. I think these must be incorporated before the Columbia Corporate Centre is completed. They could have access for half of the complex from Marsland Drive reducing rush hour congestion on Columbia.

Hopefully they make proper / sheltered bus stops in the immediate area of the Columbia Corp Centre and Manulife. In the winter that stretch is harsh (wind).

[IEFBR14]

They could also do a lot to improve pedestrian/cyclist access to the Forwell/Hillside trail system where it crosses Lexington along Laurel Creek. If they did that, as well as make similar improvements at the University Ave and Bridgeport Rd crossings, that would go a long way towards making a non-motorized commute to Uptown as well as CCC, Manulife et al a lot more safe and enjoyable. It would also address the pedestrian/cyclist crossing hazard at Marsland and Lexington, improve access to the shopping at Lexington, etc.

If only the various levels of government mandated that 10% of all road construction/maintenance funds must be spent on pedestrian/cyclist infrastructure...

If only...

[mpd618]

If only the various levels of government mandated that 10% of all road construction/maintenance funds must be spent on pedestrian/cyclist infrastructure...

If only...

I believe the Regional Transportation Master Plan may be recommending that the proportion of transportation funds going to pedestrian/cycling infrastructure be increased to match a 12% mode share target.

[IEFBR14]

increased to match a 12% mode share target.
What is the percentage now?

[mpd618]

What is the percentage now?

Apparently 8%.

[IEFBR14]

That's incredible when one reads things like this: Sidewalks are not a frill (http://news.therecord.com/article/655806)
Astonishingly, there are some 133 kilometres of roads in Waterloo Region where enough pedestrians regularly use the road to warrant a sidewalk but where they are forced to walk on the roadside. These are not stretches of road in windswept rural byways, but regional — that is, major — thoroughfares in the built-up areas of the region’s towns and cities, streets lined with businesses, stores, factories and homes where people need to go every day.

In a recent report, regional engineers recommended a program to put sidewalks on those roads over the next 10 years, at a cost of $1.5 million a year. Building the sidewalks in conjunction with other scheduled roadwork would reduce the cost even further, to about $500,000 a year. Council opted a year ago not to proceed.
Surely with 8% of transportation funds that ought to be doable. And doable now, not in 10 years time.

[UrbanWaterloo]

ARTWORK FOR WRPS DIVISION BUILDING
REGION OF WATERLOO CORPORATE RESOURCES: Facilities Management and Fleet Services
TO: Chair Ken Seiling and Members of Regional Council
DATE: May 5, 2010
Report: CR-FM-10-008 (http://www.region.waterloo.on.ca/web/region.nsf/8ef02c0fded0c82a85256e590071a3ce/14F39BB2B1E6708985257715005365D5/$file/CR-FM-10-008.pdf?openelement)

RECOMMENDATION: THAT the Regional Municipality of Waterloo approve the expenditure of up to $109,000 to be funded from the Public Art Reserve Fund for an artwork project for the new Waterloo Regional Police Division building; AND THAT the Regional Municipality of Waterloo approve the artwork selection process as outlined in report CR-FM-10-008, dated May 5, 2010.

REPORT:
In keeping with Public Art Policy, an artwork will be created for the new Waterloo Regional Police Services (WRPS) Division #3 building to be constructed at 55 Columbia Street, Waterloo. The new WRPS Division #3 building will be situated on a height of land at a unique and prominent location at the corner of Weber and Columbia Street in Waterloo. Either outside the building or in the internal public space will be an excellent location for displaying public art. The building design is about to commence with the recent selection of the architectural team. The opportunity exists to select an artist to work with the architect to create an integrated artwork that is planned as the building undergoes the design process.
This integrated process for artwork creation is somewhat new for the Region of Waterloo and has been successfully implemented in other communities. Recently, it was also used for a Regional Children’s Centre project with great results. By seizing the opportunity of having the artist and architect work together from the early stages of building design, an artwork which is more integral to the building fabric can be created. The building design can influence the artwork and vice versa, creating a seamless integration of art into architecture.
Because of the necessary collaboration of the artist and the architect it requires more time from each to evaluate places where art could occur, collaborate on concepts and coordinate details into design. For this reason, a budget of $109,000 is recommended. This budget is in keeping with other Regional public art projects and recognizes compensation for the artist’s time spent with the architect. In addition, the architectural contract specifically identifies that they would be required to work with an artist.
It is recommended that the process to choose the artist and the artwork proceed as follows;
1. A proposal call to artists be circulated asking for those who wish to be considered submit a resume including photos of completed artworks. The project architect for Division #3 would also be asked to submit an artist name for consideration;
2. A jury with representatives from Police Services Board, the Division #3 project, art professionals and the project architect’s team would select the artist;
3. The artist and project architect would develop concepts for review and approval by the jury and WRPS senior leadership with the final recommendation approved by WRPS Board and Regional Council.
With this process and the early selection of an artist to work with the project architect, a fully integrated artwork will be one of the defining features of the WRPS Division #3 building. The WRPS Board reviewed and approved this artwork selection plan at their meeting on March 10, 2010.

CORPORATE STRATEGIC PLAN: Inclusion of public artwork into the WRPS Division #3 project supports Focus Area 2 and the strategic objective “promote and enhance arts, culture and heritage”.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: The public artwork for Division #3 costing up to $109,000 will be funded from the Public Art Reserve Fund. An amount of $30,000 has already been transferred from the WRPS Division #3 capital project budget to the Public Art Reserve Fund. The current balance in the Reserve Fund, after allowing for commitments, is $517,820.13 which is sufficient to cover this expenditure.

[panamaniac]

Maybe something symbolic, like a sculpture representing an enormous doughnut?

[UrbanWaterloo]

But we aren't building a monorail that could use a donut anchor to stop. :p

http://simpsonitos.files.wordpress.com/2007/07/71-4-12-9f10-marge-vs-the-monorail5.jpg
http://www.taringa.net/posts/info/2414579/Simpsons---%C2%BFQu%C3%A9-Dec%C3%ADan-En-Realidad.html

[UrbanWaterloo]

May 28, 2010

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[urbandreamer]

12 June 2010: You dumb fools, what a waste of prime land! Should be mixed use with retail, residential, office uses, perhaps 6s or so all around.

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/8999/dsc09259.jpg

Literally 5 minutes' walk to a major transit route--not good.

[Duke-of-Waterloo]

Does anyone know if the City/Region plans on widening Columbia Street along the portion fronting the Columbia Corporate Centre? The hydro utility poles were just replaced for that entire stretch in front of La-Z-Boy and moved to the far side of the sidewalk.

[Urbanomicon]

Does anyone know if the City/Region plans on widening Columbia Street along the portion fronting the Columbia Corporate Centre? The hydro utility poles were just replaced for that entire stretch in front of La-Z-Boy and moved to the far side of the sidewalk.

This is what I currently have for 2010 operations on Columbia Street:

· Columbia Street West between Erbsville Road and Fischer Hallman Road North - Traffic Flow Improvements
· Columbia Street West between Westmount Road North and the Canadian National Railways tracks - Unspecified
· Columbia Street West Extension to The Wilmot Line

[Duke-of-Waterloo]

Thanks for that Urbanomicon. Doesn't look like it. I can see them adding a left turning lane in the middle for Columbia Corporate Centre, the new police station and Manulife across the street. It gets pretty clogged there during the rush hours, especially in the morning with lots of people turning left with no dedicated left turning lane into Manulife. I can't see the City/hydro utility dishing out money for no reason to rebuild and relocate a power line that doesn't really need it.

[Spokes]

Does anyone know if the City/Region plans on widening Columbia Street along the portion fronting the Columbia Corporate Centre? The hydro utility poles were just replaced for that entire stretch in front of La-Z-Boy and moved to the far side of the sidewalk.

Columbia certainly wouldn't need more lanes, but bike lanes would be nice, and given how much they moved the posts bike lanes would work, but I have a feeling nothing will happen here, but maybe that left hand turning lane.

[UrbanWaterloo]

August 11, 2010

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[WatDot]

Look of new Waterloo police station (http://www.570news.com/news/local/article/130583--look-of-new-waterloo-police-station)

http://media.greenradio.topscms.com/images/7f/5a/a76dd1a44a30af59073bb574f179.jpeg

http://media.greenradio.topscms.com/images/9f/1c/6a2d70304c369a8be510d6a80587.jpeg

Regional engineers have unveiled the design of Waterloo's new police station. The Division 3 building will go up at the corner of Weber and Columbia and will replace the old facility on Erb Street. It will be double the size of the old building and will be energy efficient, meeting minimum LEED silver standards, with solar panels on the roof.

The facility will be about 50,000 square feet, to accommodate the current and future growth of the Waterloo Regional Police Service. The region budgeted just over $15 million for the project. Right now, it is about $400,000 over budget, but the engineers say they are trying to cut costs where they can.

About $800,000 has already been saved by keeping part of the old La-Z-Boy building that was on the site in tact and building around it. The facility will also feature white panels and blue glazing, which the service hopes to become the standard for future police stations so that they are recognizable to residents.

[Spokes]

I like the look of it, nice and modern. I dont know if it was ever expected that it'd have any height to it, so its no real issue that it's not tall

[BuildingScout]

I like the look of it, nice and modern. I dont know if it was ever expected that it'd have any height to it, so its no real issue that it's not tall

I disagree. Given the dearth of space near the university, the government could have built a five story facility and pay for the first two with the rental income for the other three. Hopefully the low lying manulife "mall" across the street will eventually become an office high rise.

[Spokes]

I disagree. Given the dearth of space near the university, the government could have built a five story facility and pay for the first two with the rental income for the other three. Hopefully the low lying manulife "mall" across the street will eventually become an office high rise.

Youre right, they absolutely could have, but they have never done anything to show they would do that. This whole project, from the begining, has been a one storey, car orriented, poor use of land. This fits in perfectly.

[IEFBR14]

Given the dearth of space near the universityWhich university is near Columbia and Weber? (Conestoga College's Waterloo campus at University and Weber maybe.)


the government could have built a five story facility and pay for the first two with the rental income for the other threeWho would want their offices above a "cop shop"? Then again, maybe that would be attractive to ambulance chasers, ticket fixers and the like ;)

And of course, Timmies could open a franchise just inside the main entrance (as they have already at Grand River and St Mary's hospitals.) :slomo:

[BuildingScout]

Which university is near Columbia and Weber? (Conestoga College's Waterloo campus at University and Weber maybe.)


RIM has so eaten up so much of the space truly adjacent to the university that nowadays startups consider anything west of Weber, north of Erb and east of Fischer-Hallman to be "close to the university".

[KevinL]

RIM has so eaten up so much of the space truly adjacent to the university that nowadays startups consider anything west of Weber, north of Erb and east of Fischer-Hallman to be "close to the university".

This site is east of Weber. /pedantic

[BuildingScout]

This site is east of Weber. /pedantic

This site is on Weber :RpS_tongue:

[TripleQ]

Article from a week ago... how do they go from the tiny lot on Erb St. to a 160 spot two level parking deck!?

http://www.waterloochronicle.ca/news/article/224702



Design unveiled for new cop shop


CHARLOTTE PRONG PARKHILL, Chronicle Staff
Published on Nov 23, 2010
The new Waterloo police station is one step closer to reality.

Staff unveiled design drawings for the new home of Division 3 at a police board meeting last week.

A more detailed design is expected to be finished in early 2011, with construction starting in the spring. Police are expected to move from their current station on Erb Street in uptown to the new location in fall, 2012.

“We’re still on schedule,” said project engineer Joanne Leeson.

“I think this is a beautiful building. It’s not your standard box. It’s a very welcoming building.”

The cost for the entire project including design, construction, furniture and equipment is estimated at $15.3 million.

Keeping the existing building on the two-acre site, a former La-Z-Boy factory, and incorporating it into the new design saved about $800,000.

The building have several environment friendly features, to earn at least a LEED Silver designation.

It also includes a $1.5 million two-level parking deck, which would bring the total number of parking spaces on site to 160.

Without the upper deck, there would be about 110 spaces available for cruisers and the personal vehicles of officers, staff and visitors.

Police services board chair Tom Galloway questioned whether that much parking was needed, and how much money could be saved if they scrapped the upper level.

“I just naturally have an aversion to paying a lot of money for parking,” he said in an interview.

“I’m thinking if we can forestall the parking deck for a year or two because we don’t need it, other opportunities may present themselves.”

He asked staff to research whether parking spots, as needed, could be leased from nearby businesses.

Galloway also pointed out that the region recently agreed to pay the costs of the taxable benefit for regional staff who park their cars for free.

“In the event that we transition to a paid-parking regime for regional staff, and if — and that’s a big if — it was to apply to police as well, you’ll need fewer spaces,” he said.

“I just think it should be questioned, and we should look at alternatives or build it in phases.

“It could be added at a later point, and maybe we wouldn’t even need it at that time.”

[panamaniac]

I wonder how much employees will have to pay for parking?

[IEFBR14]

Also, who will write the tickets for those who don't pay or who overstay ;)

[KevinL]

I'm with Galloway on questioning the parking. Is there currently some space uptown where the station employees are parking their personal cars? How many spaces are they using?

[panamaniac]

Actually, my question wasn't tongue in cheek. Are there still municipal or Regional employees who receive free parking? There should not be (I'm assuming all federal and provincial employees are already paying to park). I'd go further and say the private sector should also be thinking of charging for employeee parking, if they don't already. It might be a bit soon in some cases, but once transit improvements are in place ......

Now, if we could just figure out some way to make people pay to park at shopping malls and big box blights, we'd really see some changes in the urban landscape! ;)

[IEFBR14]

Actually, my question wasn't tongue in cheek. Are there still municipal or Regional employees who receive free parking?
It's no laughing matter, especially if you're a taxpayer who has to foot the bill.

The issue came up recently in the region when CRA began to assess municipal and regional employees who get free parking with income tax on the imputed income. (Generally, if you receive a free benefit from your employer you have to include its fair market value as employment income and pay income tax on it.) The issue hit the media when the affected municipalities/region decided to pay that back income tax and penalties on behalf of their employees. At the time the employers argued that they had to do this because they'd included free parking in their remuneration packages. IMO that argument is bogus because it's the recipient of the benefit who's liable for the tax. Consider that if those employers had handed out $100 bills to their staff every month and CRA found out, it would be the employees, not the employers, who'd be on the hook for back taxes and penalties. (Actually the employers would also be on the hook for not withholding tax on those $100 bills and remitting it to Ottawa, but that's a separate issue.) The employers claimed the practice has since ended, except in the case of union contracts where they'll negotiate to end free parking when the contracts expire.

Cynics will note that no union has ever given up anything of value without receiving something else of equal or greater value in return, so we taxpayers will continue to pay for "free parking" no matter how any new contract verbiage reads.

[KevinL]

I'd go further and say the private sector should also be thinking of charging for employeee parking, if they don't already. It might be a bit soon in some cases, but once transit improvements are in place ......

A (very green-conscious) prospective employer I was looking into had a pay bonus of several hundred dollars annually if you don't need a parking space. They even had a sliding scale, if you do want to use the car part time.

[metropolis]

I'm with Galloway on questioning the parking. Is there currently some space uptown where the station employees are parking their personal cars? How many spaces are they using?

Nighttime/evening shifts park their cars at the Marsland parking deck across the street as many spots are reserved only during business hours. Much to the chagrin of business that do have 24hr spots the officers often fail to “notice” the fine print on the signs.

It is an ongoing issue for some at my firm whose parking spaces are regularly occupied by officer’s cars when they show up for work as our spot signs clearly state 24hrs.

I know of at least once that they called the tow truck with the cop trying to wave the guy off saying his shift ran long as his car was getting hoisted. Those co-workers I promise you can’t wait for the cop shop to move.

What the daytime shifters do I am not sure.

[UrbanWaterloo]

December 25, 2010

http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Waterloo/Columbia%20Corporate%20Centre/Columbia%20Corporate%20Centre%20-%20December%2025,%202010%20-%202%20Resized.jpg

http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Waterloo/Columbia%20Corporate%20Centre/Columbia%20Corporate%20Centre%20-%20December%2025,%202010%20-%203b%20Resized.jpg

[RangersFan]

Great to see even more parking will be added to this project...

Parking deck sought at new police building
Feburary 11, 2011 | Melinda Dalton | The Record | LINK (http://www.therecord.com/news/local/article/484390--parking-deck-sought-at-new-police-building)


WATERLOO — Construction hasn’t started yet, but Waterloo Regional Police could be short 65 parking spaces when the new north division building opens in 2012 if the cost for an additional parking deck isn’t approved.

The project team is asking the police services board to consider including the deck in the design of the new structure as it’s being built. The added parking, which will be used for staff vehicles, would cost around $654,000.

The deck was not included in the project’s original $18-million budget. It would bring the number of parking spots for staff, service vehicles and visitors at the new building, to be located at the corner of Weber and Columbia streets, to 165. The 50,000-square-foot building will be double the size of the current one of Erb Street.

Joanne Leeson, project engineer with the region, said they knew the need for those 65 spaces existed when they started the conceptual design, but the logistics hadn’t been fully fleshed out when the original budget was approved. The actual building size was probably smaller in the conceptual plan so we thought we had a little bit more room for the parking, but we actually had less room,” she said.


Is this the kind of guessing that normally goes into planning a government building?

[benjaminbach]

Is this the kind of guessing that normally goes into planning a government building?

It's amazing what you can overlook when you're spending someone else's $$ . . .

[RangersFan]

It's amazing what you can overlook when you're spending someone else's $$ . . .

Hahah I totally agree

[Pheidippides]

A bit off topic, but what is to happen to the current Erb St station once WRPS moves to the Weber/Columbia location? The Erb location would make a good base to a mixed-use develop on the soon to be vacant rear parking lot.

[Spokes]

A bit off topic, but what is to happen to the current Erb St station once WRPS moves to the Weber/Columbia location? The Erb location would make a good base to a mixed-use develop on the soon to be vacant rear parking lot.

That's a really good idea, mixed use facing dupont, that flowed into the old station would be awesome!

Maybe with a residential entrance on Albert?

EDIT: Looking at the map, there are a number of properties I'd like to see developed in along Dorset

[UrbanWaterloo]

New Regional Police detachment to begin construction in Waterloo
July 7, 2011 | Region of Waterloo | Link (http://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/newslist/index.aspx?corpId=58cynQlfgqiAYQyTLmpurQeQuAleQuAl&newsId=zjaAuD5xeu5lA5H3LE23phFfoQeQuAleQuAl)

464
Dignitaries breaking ground

Regional Chair Ken Seiling, together with Police Service Chair, Tom Galloway, Police Chief Matt Torigian and other community representatives officially broke ground today to mark the beginning of construction on the new Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) North Division detachment.

WRPS has outgrown the century old building on Erb Street West which has housed North Division since 1991. To meet the expanding needs, the Region of Waterloo purchased a site, located at 45 Columbia Street East in Waterloo for the future North Division Facility. With construction beginning today, the building is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2012.

The building will be built to meet the LEED® Canada Silver level of certification. One special feature of the building is the inclusion of a 30kW Solar Photovoltaic (PV) system which will take up most of the new building’s 10,000 square foot roof area. The electricity produced by the PV system is estimated to be 45,000kWh per year; or enough green electricity to reduce eight tonnes of green house gas emissions annually. The PV panels will not be visible from street level and will not detract from the overall design and appearance of the building.

“The Region has always ensured that our Police Services have good facilities to back up the services they provide to the community,” said Ken Seiling, Regional Chair. “Meeting LEED® Canada Silver level certification also shows our commitment to good environmental practices and energy efficiency.”

“We knew that North Division had outgrown its facility on Erb Street for quite some time, said Police Service Chair Tom Galloway. “We were so pleased that after a three year search, we had the opportunity to purchase this particular location as it will continue to serve the needs of the north end of the Region well.”

“This new facility represents a significant step forward and supports our organizational vision of providing world class policing services to the residents of Waterloo Region,” said Chief Matt Torigian. “By increasing operational effectiveness and efficiency while also improving accessibility to the public, we are better positioned to strengthen our community partnerships and serve the future needs of a growing community.”

[bzmwillemsen]

Anyone know what they're doing here now?
I heard that they just demolished the new building on the South East corner of Weber/Columbia.
Can anyone confirm with pictures?

Also to clear up some confusion I have. Will the new police station be on the South East corner of Weber/Columbia, or will it be in the second lot east of weber?

[WatDot]

Anyone know what they're doing here now?
I heard that they just demolished the new building on the South East corner of Weber/Columbia.
Can anyone confirm with pictures?

Also to clear up some confusion I have. Will the new police station be on the South East corner of Weber/Columbia, or will it be in the second lot east of weber?

New building? What they recently demo'd/removed was what was left of the old Lazy-Boy factory. They were preserving the basement and now that they are starting on the new Police Station right there (facing Weber St.), they needed to remove the what was on top of the basement.

[UrbanWaterloo]

August 29, 2011

http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Waterloo/Columbia%20Corporate%20Centre/Waterloo%20Police%20Station%20-%20August%2029,%202011%20-%201a%20Resized.jpg

http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Waterloo/Columbia%20Corporate%20Centre/Waterloo%20Police%20Station%20-%20August%2029,%202011%20-%202%20Resized.jpg

[UrbanWaterloo]

October 24, 2011

http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Waterloo/Columbia%20Corporate%20Centre/Waterloo%20Police%20Station%20-%20October%2024,%202011%20-%201%20R.jpg

http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Waterloo/Columbia%20Corporate%20Centre/Waterloo%20Police%20Station%20-%20October%2024,%202011%20-%203%20R.jpg

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http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Waterloo/Columbia%20Corporate%20Centre/Waterloo%20Police%20Station%20-%20October%2024,%202011%20-%205b%20R.jpg

http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Waterloo/Columbia%20Corporate%20Centre/Waterloo%20Police%20Station%20-%20October%2024,%202011%20-%206%20R.jpg

[UrbanWaterloo]

December 1, 2011

http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Waterloo/Columbia%20Corporate%20Centre/Waterloo%20Police%20Station%20-%20December%201,%202011%20-%203%20R.jpg

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[UrbanWaterloo]

Framing...

February 28, 2012

http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Waterloo/Columbia%20Corporate%20Centre/Waterloo%20Police%20Station%20-%20February%2028,%202012%20-%201a%20R.jpg

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[UrbanWaterloo]

April 25, 2012

Police Station
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Waterloo/Columbia%20Corporate%20Centre/Waterloo%20Police%20Station%20-%20April%2025,%202012%20-%201%20R.jpg

http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Waterloo/Columbia%20Corporate%20Centre/Waterloo%20Police%20Station%20-%20April%2025,%202012%20-%202b%20R.jpg

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http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Waterloo/Columbia%20Corporate%20Centre/Waterloo%20Police%20Station%20-%20April%2025,%202012%20-%204d%20R.jpg

East Development
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Waterloo/Columbia%20Corporate%20Centre/Columbia%20Corporate%20Centre%20-%20April%2025,%202012%20-%201a%20R.jpg