202-208 Lester Street Apartment | 36 m | 12 fl

[UrbanWaterloo]

202-208 Lester Street Apartment
202, 204, 206, & 208 Lester Street, Waterloo
Developer: Walnut Village
Council Document: PDF (http://www.waterloo.ca/Portals/57ad7180-c5e7-49f5-b282-c6475cdb7ee7/CS_CLERKS_Minutes_2009/20090323_Packet_Council_Meeting.pdf) (p.64)

http://www.kw4rent.com/i/202-lester-st-news.gif
http://www.kw4rent.com/index.html

[Spokes]

Photo by Leaffan - November 24, 2009

http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac273/leaffan431/lesterstnov243.jpg

[Spokes]

Taken by me yesterday:

http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af81/jcollins1311/Kitchener-Waterloo%20Shots/IM000068.jpg?t=1263225216

This picture makes it look far thinner than it actually is. If only huh.

[RangersFan]

Yeah its deffinetly to bad. The location and height are excellent, but the design is on the ugly side. I just think if the windows were made bigger, a nice dark red brick and maybe some grey brick on the corners would make this development more appeasing to the eyes. Hopefully the new design standards will prevent these sort of eye sores in the future.

[jay]

I agree even if it's just bigger windows it would look so much better

[Spokes]

I agree even if it's just bigger windows it would look so much better

Youre right, a lot better. Im just dreading the fact that I forsee this becoming the twin of the Schembri building on King. I hope I'm wrong.

leaffan, I share your sentiments though. Hopefully the design standards are the death of these. Some of them are ok, when they stick to one stucco colour, and then a lot of stone on the facade, but when there are 4+ stucco colours. Give me a break.

[RangersFan]

picture taken by me Jan 24, 2010

a view from University Plaza
http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac273/leaffan431/Student%20Housing/12storeyJan24.jpg

[UrbanWaterloo]

February 9, 2010

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-February92010-1.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-February92010-4.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-February92010-2.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-February92010-3.jpg

[WatDot]

GREAT shots from UW there UrbanWaterloo!! :cool:

[RangersFan]

Yes I agree, gives a nice view of the city from that vantage point.

[myfaceisonfire]

Was that picture taken through a window (DP)? It's tough to tell, UW must keep them very clean!

[UrbanWaterloo]

Yes, taken through a window on the 10th floor of Dana Porter. This sounds like a good "Battle of Waterloo" contest. UW vs WLU who keeps their library windows the cleanest? Guess I'll have to do a "Part 2: WLU" in the next couple of days. :p

[UrbanWaterloo]

By the time I got up to WLU the sun was at a terrible angle for photos looking west.

March 1, 2010

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-March12010-2.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-March12010-6.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-March12010-7b.jpg

[UrbanWaterloo]

Finally, here's the...

Uptown Angle - March 6, 2010

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/UptownWaterloo-March62010-1b.jpg

[UrbanWaterloo]

I'm pleasantly surprised at the amount of brick & stone being used so far.

March 29, 2010

East Side
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-March292010-1.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-March292010-2a.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-March292010-2c.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-March292010-3a.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-March292010-3b.jpg

South Side
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-March292010-4b.jpg

West Side
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-March292010-5.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-March292010-6.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-March292010-7.jpg

[Spokes]

Wow, quite surprised too. It'll be interesting to see how high they go with it.

At the end of the day it'll depend what colour stucco they use.

[UrbanWaterloo]

April 14, 2010

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-March12010-1c.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-March12010-2-1.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-March12010-3.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-March12010-4.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-March12010-5.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-March12010-6-1.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-March12010-7a.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-March12010-7-1.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-March12010-8b.jpg

[RangersFan]

Gtreat shots, It would be great to see the whole building covered with brick like that haha. Does anyone know if they plan to start the other 12-storey apartment on Lester St. this summer?

[Spokes]

Dear God, please let there be very few colours of stucco used. Thanks.

[UrbanWaterloo]

Stucco Time - April 28, 2010

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-April282010-6.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-April282010-3.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-April282010-2.jpg

[Spokes]

Grey and brown huh? Well certainly not the best colour combo, but at least there's not 8 shades of it.

[metropolis]

This thing makes me think of a Communist country blocks. I would know I grew up around them. Today most get painted very cheery colours cause it makes them look less ugly. Shame shame shame.

[myfaceisonfire]

Why oh why can't they paint these things with some sort of a design aesthetic in mind. Honestly, it may just be lipstick on a pig but its better than nothing at all.

[Spokes]

Why oh why can't they paint these things with some sort of a design aesthetic in mind. Honestly, it may just be lipstick on a pig but its better than nothing at all.

Did you have something specific in mind? Im not exactly sure what you mean.

[myfaceisonfire]

I think 325 Spruce street (http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/showthread.php/312-Student-Housing-Projects?p=2600#post2600)has a tolerable colour palette. It's also got slightly more interesting architecture, but I really like the dark gray colour. I'd much rather have that than another building like the one on King and its 30 shades of tan.

[Spokes]

I think 325 Spruce street (http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/showthread.php/312-Student-Housing-Projects?p=2600#post2600)has a tolerable colour palette. It's also got slightly more interesting architecture, but I really like the dark gray colour. I'd much rather have that than another building like the one on King and its 30 shades of tan.

Yup I agree. And it looks like 325 spruce uses a few different materials which actually looks good. I think theres a couple on lester that look alright too, so there has been some good use of stucco in student housing.

You hit the nail on the head, its the multiple shades of tan that look like garbage. I dont think this one looks great as is, but I'll reserve judgement until it's all done.

[UrbanWaterloo]

May 14, 2010

Front
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-May142010-1.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-May142010-2.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-May142010-3.jpg

South Side
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-May142010-4.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-May142010-5.jpg

Rear
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-May142010-6.jpg

Front
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-May142010-7.jpg

[Spokes]

There's so many colours :eek:

[Balaclava]

Wow! I can hardly believe what I am seeing. My parents purchased 208 Lester Street brand new around 1958 when I was one year old. We lived there until about 1971. It was a great family oriented community at the time. I have many good memories from then. When we left, the area was just starting to change with basement apartments and additions to accommodate students. For the last 20 years I have lived in Toronto and a weak ago we visited my Aunts that still live in Waterloo. My eight year old daughter asked if she could see the house that I grew up in when I was her age. When I took her there I was shocked to see the house gone and a 12 story apartment under construction. I guess they call this progress.

[UrbanWaterloo]

June 2, 2010

Front - North
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-June22010-1.jpg

Front - South
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-June22010-2.jpg

Parking
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-June22010-3.jpg

Rear
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-June22010-5.jpg

[Spokes]

Might be worse than the Schembri project on King st. The only thing that makes it not as bad is the location. This thing looks like they just closed their eyes and picked colours.

[UrbanWaterloo]

June 23, 2010

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-June232010-1a.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-June232010-1c.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-June232010-1d.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-June232010-1e.jpg

[van Hemessen]

There has been worse stucco. It's not disgusting but the first think I thought of was:

http://closetonefilms.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/cube.jpg

[UrbanWaterloo]

July 13, 2010

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-July132010-1.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-June232010-3.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Waterloo/202-208LesterStreet-June232010-4.jpg

[RangersFan]

I actually think this building looks better in person, not a masterpiece by any means. I originally thought it was going to be like the beast on King st but it has shaped up fairly well in my opinion, could have used bigger windows for sure though.

[Spokes]

I actually think this building looks better in person, not a masterpiece by any means. I original thought it was going to be like the beast on King st but it has shaped up fairly well in my opinion, could have used bigger windows for sure though.

Yup, you're right, its definitely better than it seemed before as it gets closer to completion. Definitely better than on King, by adding balconies it just gives the building itself a little bit extra. Then again, at the end of the day, its students only which sucks.

Looking back at some pictures though I am a bit fearful of the back of this building, it didn't look like the front. Or did it end up being the same?

[UrbanWaterloo]

September 17, 2010

http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Waterloo/202%20Lester%20Street/202%20Lester%20Street%20-%20September%2017%2C%202010%20-%201a%20Resized.JPG

http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Waterloo/202%20Lester%20Street/202%20Lester%20Street%20-%20September%2017%2C%202010%20-%201c%20Resized.JPG

http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Waterloo/202%20Lester%20Street/202%20Lester%20Street%20-%20September%2017%2C%202010%20-%202b%20Resized.JPG

[KevinL]

Rather nice entry- I like how the ramp is integrated - but otherwise unremarkable.

[van Hemessen]

I'm remarkably impressed with this building compared to what it could have been/what I expected.

[urbandreamer]

^Really? You must have very low expectations. I'm appalled by this pos.

[van Hemessen]

Edit.

Yes, I had very low expectations for this building. What's so terrible about that?

[Spokes]

I also did, not that this is good, but I expected it to be much worse.

urbandreamer, Im surprised not at your hate for this, but the combined hate for this and the semi-love for the student project on Erb that was just posted

[uwprof]

Google-image "Communist housing". How is this an improvement over old Soviet-style blocks of housing? Oh, right, it's NOT.

The apartment buildings going up are a depressing eyesore. You can't cover the lack of decent design with coloured paint and hope that bad design will go away.

:RpS_sad: