124-130 Columbia Street West | 22 m | 7 fl

[UrbanWaterloo]

124-130 Columbia Street West
City of Waterloo

<div style="width:500px; margin: 0 auto;"/>124 Columbia Street West | 7-storey | 87-units | 435-bedrooms
130 Columbia Street West | 7-storey | 48-units | 240-bedrooms
Combined | N/A | 135-units | 675-bedrooms</div>

Perspective Drawings 130 and 124 Columbia Street West
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Waterloo/University%20Zone/124-130%20Columbia%20Street%20West/124%20Columbia%20Street%20West%20-%20Perspective%20Drawing%20130%20and%20124%20Colum bia%20Street%20West.jpg


Perspective Drawings: 124 Columbia Street West
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Waterloo/University%20Zone/124-130%20Columbia%20Street%20West/124%20Columbia%20Street%20West%20-%20Perspective%20Drawing.jpg

Perspective Drawings: 130 Columbia Street West
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Waterloo/University%20Zone/124-130%20Columbia%20Street%20West/130%20Columbia%20Street%20West%20-%20Perspective%20Drawings%20-%201.jpg

Location Map: 124 Columbia Street West
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Waterloo/University%20Zone/124-130%20Columbia%20Street%20West/124%20Columbia%20Street%20West%20-%20Location%20Map.jpg

Location Map: 130 Columbia Street West
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Waterloo/University%20Zone/124-130%20Columbia%20Street%20West/130%20Columbia%20Street%20West%20-%20Location%20Map.jpg

Previous Conditions and Approved Severances
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Waterloo/University%20Zone/124-130%20Columbia%20Street%20West/130%20Columbia%20Street%20West%20-%20Previous%20Conditions%20and%20Approved%20Severa nces.jpg

Site Plan: 124 Columbia Street West
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Waterloo/University%20Zone/124-130%20Columbia%20Street%20West/124%20Columbia%20Street%20West%20-%20Site%20Plan.jpg

Site Plan: 130 Columbia Street West
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Waterloo/University%20Zone/124-130%20Columbia%20Street%20West/130%20Columbia%20Street%20West%20-%20Site%20Plan.jpg

[UrbanWaterloo]

Demolition Control Application: 130 Columbia Street West
DC2012-08 | Zelijko Prica | Council: May 28, 2012 | PDF (http://www.waterloo.ca/Portals/57ad7180-c5e7-49f5-b282-c6475cdb7ee7/CS_CLERKS_Minutes_2012/20120528_Packet_Council_Meeting.pdf)

Recommendation

That Waterloo City Council receive Development Services report DS2012-020 and approve Demolition Control Application DC2012-08, for the lands known municipally as 130 Columbia Street West in accordance with Section 8 of DS2012-020.

Executive Summary

Zeljko Prica has submitted an application to demolish the existing building on the property known municipally as 130 Columbia Street West (see Location Map). The subject land contains a single dwelling. The demolition has been requested to facilitate the redevelopment of the lands for the purpose of constructing a new 6-storey, 48-unit apartment building containing 240 bedrooms.

The subject property is located within the Area of Demolition Control as outlined in By-law No. 86-122 and therefore the dwellings may only be demolished with Council's approval.

Staff supports the issuance of a demolition permit based on the following:

the proposed redevelopment is in keeping with the Official Plan;
the proposed redevelopment is in keeping with the Demolition Control By-law 86-122;
the proposed redevelopment provides an intensification opportunity in an area planned for medium density redevelopment; and
the proposed building may provide an opportunity for affordable and/or rental housing in close proximity to existing transit services.


Location Map
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Waterloo/University%20Zone/124-130%20Columbia%20Street%20West/130%20Columbia%20Street%20West%20-%20Location%20Map.jpg

Exisiting Conditions (Previously 128 Columbia St W)
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Waterloo/University%20Zone/124-130%20Columbia%20Street%20West/130%20Columbia%20Street%20West%20-%20Exisiting%20Conditions%20(Previously%20128%20Co lumbia%20St%20W).jpg

Perspective Drawings
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Waterloo/University%20Zone/124-130%20Columbia%20Street%20West/130%20Columbia%20Street%20West%20-%20Perspective%20Drawings%20-%201.jpg

Perspective Drawings 130 and 124 Columbia Street West
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Waterloo/University%20Zone/124-130%20Columbia%20Street%20West/130%20Columbia%20Street%20West%20-%20Perspective%20Drawings%20-%202.jpg

Previous Conditions and Approved Severances
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Waterloo/University%20Zone/124-130%20Columbia%20Street%20West/130%20Columbia%20Street%20West%20-%20Previous%20Conditions%20and%20Approved%20Severa nces.jpg

Site Plan
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Waterloo/University%20Zone/124-130%20Columbia%20Street%20West/130%20Columbia%20Street%20West%20-%20Site%20Plan.jpg



Demolition Control Application: 124 Columbia Street West
DC2012-09 | Zeljko Prica | Council: May 28, 2012 | PDF (http://www.waterloo.ca/Portals/57ad7180-c5e7-49f5-b282-c6475cdb7ee7/CS_CLERKS_Minutes_2012/20120528_Packet_Council_Meeting.pdf)

Recommendation

That Waterloo City Council receive Development Services report DS2012-021 and approve Demolition Control Application DC2012-09, Zeljko Prica for the lands known municipally as 124 Columbia Street West, in accordance with Section 8 of DS2012-021.

Executive Summary

Zeljko Prica has submitted an application to demolish the existing building on the property known municipally as 124 Columbia Street West (see Location Map). The subject lands contain two (2) single detached dwellings and one (1) 3 storey apartment building. The demolition has been requested to facilitate the redevelopment of the lands for the purpose of constructing a new 6-storey, 87-unit apartment building containing 435 bedrooms.

The subject property is located within the Area of Demolition Control as outlined in By-law No. 860122 and therefore the dwellings may only be demolished with Council's approval.

Staff support the issuance of a demolition permit based on the following:

the proposed redevelopment is in keeping with the Official Plan;
the proposed redevelopment is in keeping with the Demolition Control By-law 86-122;
the proposed redevelopment provides an intensification opportunity in an area planned for medium density redevelopment; and
the proposed building may provide an opportunity for affordable and/or rental housing in close proximity to existing transit services.


Location Map
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Waterloo/University%20Zone/124-130%20Columbia%20Street%20West/124%20Columbia%20Street%20West%20-%20Location%20Map.jpg

Exisiting Conditions Single Detached House 2
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Waterloo/University%20Zone/124-130%20Columbia%20Street%20West/124%20Columbia%20Street%20West%20-%20Exisiting%20Conditions%20Single%20Detached%20Ho use%202.jpg

Exisiting Conditions Single Detached House 1 (Previously 126 Columbia St W)
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Waterloo/University%20Zone/124-130%20Columbia%20Street%20West/124%20Columbia%20Street%20West%20-%20Exisiting%20Conditions%20Single%20Detached%20Ho use%201%20(Previously%20126%20Columbia%20St%20W).j pg

Exisiting Conditions 3 Storey Apartment Building (Previously 130 Columbia St W)
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Waterloo/University%20Zone/124-130%20Columbia%20Street%20West/124%20Columbia%20Street%20West%20-%20Exisiting%20Conditions%203%20Storey%20Apartment %20Building%20(Previously%20130%20Columbia%20St%20 W).jpg

Perspective Drawings
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Waterloo/University%20Zone/124-130%20Columbia%20Street%20West/124%20Columbia%20Street%20West%20-%20Perspective%20Drawing.jpg

Perspective Drawings 130 and 124 Columbia Street West
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Waterloo/University%20Zone/124-130%20Columbia%20Street%20West/124%20Columbia%20Street%20West%20-%20Perspective%20Drawing%20130%20and%20124%20Colum bia%20Street%20West.jpg

Site Plan
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Waterloo/University%20Zone/124-130%20Columbia%20Street%20West/124%20Columbia%20Street%20West%20-%20Site%20Plan.jpg

[RangersFan]

With all of these student apartments being erected, begs the question of who is going to live in them. These 2 developments look quite large and could potentially hold a significant quantity of students.

[metropolis]

With all of these student apartments being erected, begs the question of who is going to live in them. These 2 developments look quite large and could potentially hold a significant quantity of students.

675 of them!

One side benefit of all these developments is that it is becoming increasingly difficult to make money renting a century home to students, traditionally further from school. Of late, an increasing number of such homes around Uptown are being gutted and turned from apartments to residences intended for owner occupation. This should improve the desirability of these character neigbourhoods and decrease the likelyhood of a home being condemned, torn down and turned into something less attractive.

[DHLawrence]

Looks a bit institutional, but compared to some on this site not bad.

[Wloon]

Who's the target market? Not the people they've illustrated, surely.

[Waterlooian4Life]

Has any one heard anything about this development? It has been a while?

[Memph]

675 of them!

One side benefit of all these developments is that it is becoming increasingly difficult to make money renting a century home to students, traditionally further from school. Of late, an increasing number of such homes around Uptown are being gutted and turned from apartments to residences intended for owner occupation. This should improve the desirability of these character neigbourhoods and decrease the likelyhood of a home being condemned, torn down and turned into something less attractive.
What parts of Uptown? I'm a student living on Erb West, and lived NE of Uptown before that and will be living on Albert next year (all century homes). Both in the NE of Uptown and on Erb W, I had/have quite a few neighbouring houses with students, although some were owner occupied too.

Honestly Erb W is not that nice, the traffic is pretty noisy and I think that will keep the value of the houses along it down. It's pretty conveniently located though, and my next place on Albert will be even better, it will be a bit closer to Valu-mart, my favourite restaurants and my bank, and a bit closer to UW and the walk/bike ride to UW will be more pleasant. Plus I'm pretty sure Albert will be more quiet even though it's still not a side street.

If I were to live at a place like this on Columbia, it would be a bit closer to UW, but the walk/bike ride wouldn't be as nice and I would be further from a grocery store and other things in Uptown. All in all, I think Uptown will still be desirable for students, at least the Northern and Western parts closer to the universities.

In what areas of Uptown were you seeing student houses being turned into owner occupied?

[metropolis]

What parts of Uptown? I'm a student living on Erb West, and lived NE of Uptown before that and will be living on Albert next year (all century homes). Both in the NE of Uptown and on Erb W, I had/have quite a few neighbouring houses with students, although some were owner occupied too.

Honestly Erb W is not that nice, the traffic is pretty noisy and I think that will keep the value of the houses along it down. It's pretty conveniently located though, and my next place on Albert will be even better, it will be a bit closer to Valu-mart, my favourite restaurants and my bank, and a bit closer to UW and the walk/bike ride to UW will be more pleasant. Plus I'm pretty sure Albert will be more quiet even though it's still not a side street.

If I were to live at a place like this on Columbia, it would be a bit closer to UW, but the walk/bike ride wouldn't be as nice and I would be further from a grocery store and other things in Uptown. All in all, I think Uptown will still be desirable for students, at least the Northern and Western parts closer to the universities.

In what areas of Uptown were you seeing student houses being turned into owner occupied?

I have lived in the area of Uptown bordered by Caroline, Union, Westmont and Erb and can say that I have seen quite a few student geared residentail homes become owner occupied in the last few years. At this time, there is a larger ratio of owner occupied homes here than at any time I have lived here.

By no means was I suggesting there would be no students Uptown (everyone should be able to choose how and where they live and those options should be open to them), only that the ratio had flipped to the neighbourhoods favour. My good freind who lives in the Mary-Allan area has noticed the same thing in that part of Uptown too.

Because of the proximity to WLU, Albert has been given over to students and surives in its current architectural guise only because the area is part of a specially protected historic district. Erb Street should be zoned 4-6 storey mixed use. These are not residential neighbourhood streets but high traffic thoroughfares and should be urbanized. (A debate for another time and place perhaps.)

Students are by rights living all over this city (I used to be in Laurelwood and had student neighbours there too). Where the ratio becomes skewed though (like Northfield) this turns into an issue (as has been documented elsewhere on this forum, in the media and the city council chambers).

This area of Uptown was on the cusp, IMO, only about a decade ago. No such worries exist among my neighbours today and many have voted with their wallets by reinvesting in their homes. This Spring already, I have spotted two student geared boarding houses getting the gut style reno.

[BuildingScout]

Same holds for Beechwood. It was slowly converting to student neighbourhood at a rate of two houses a year or so for the last 20 years. That all stopped about five years ago, when student housing was authorized for the first time since the units in Hazel Dr. were built thirty years ago.

Since then houses have slowly been returning to owner occupied, at about a rate of one a year.

[WaterlooNative]

I can't say for sure, but in my neighbourhood near the university I seem to be seeing former student houses reverting to owner-occupied (or not being rented at all, but sitting more or less vacant waiting for a new buyer) while some owner-occupied houses appear to be turning into student houses. It will be interesting to see if this becomes a regular cycle. For instance, do parents buy a house for their kids to live in, and then when the kids are done school and move out, the house goes back on the market, ready for a handy person/owner to spruce up and put back on the market?