336 Waterloo Street, New Hamburg (Former Foodland Store) - Any Ideas?

[Duke-of-Waterloo]

336 Waterloo Street, New Hamburg
Former Foodland Grocery Store

336 Waterloo Street, New Hamburg

[Duke-of-Waterloo]

Development of former Foodland considered
Owner proposes medical centre
March 24, 2010 | Doug Coxson | New Hamburg Independent | Link (http://www.newhamburgindependent.ca/news/article/205680)


New Hamburg - Toronto-based property developer Jeff Barbalat doesn’t want just any retail operation to take up residence in the former Foodland grocery store on Waterloo Street.

The property owner is eager to see the New Hamburg vacancy become a commercial-residential mixed-use development that incorporates community needs with the municipality’s desire to see intensified residential development in the township’s urban settlements.

Barbalat was in town earlier this month to speak with Mayor Wayne Roth and gather information from township staff. He says he envisions a five-storey condominium apartment complex over what he hopes could be a multi-unit medical centre and pharmacy.

“It could be a whole health complex that’s all encompassing, something that would keep people from having to drive to Kitchener,” he said.

The township is eager to see his concept succeed, he says.

Barbalat adds he’s excited about the property’s potential and is hoping to find partners and ideas from the local business community to see his vision through.

“I want to leave my own personal mark,” he says.

The empty grocery store offers 18,250-square-foot space and is connected to an additional 3,000 square feet occupied by Studio Belle and Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Barbalat recently decided not to renew the listing with a Kitchener commercial realtor after having second thoughts about selling the space and losing control of what goes in there.

He had hoped another grocery store, or small department store would fill the space and meet the needs of residents in the immediate neighbourhood. Now he doesn’t see demand for another grocery store.

Contacted just before Foodland closed last year, Barbalat said he was in no rush to sell the property since Sobeys Ontario’s lease didn’t expire until this year.

In the meantime, the property developer was contacting businesses like Shoppers Drug Mart to promote the site and gathering information from the township and the New Hamburg Board of Trade to determine the needs of the community and its potential for residential growth.

“Anything that goes up there is going to be Aclass, top of the line,” Barbalat says. “I want to increase the curb appeal of the entire community.”

Barbalat is interested in hearing any ideas for the property and can be reached by calling 905- 881-0994.

[jay]

Hmm I grew up by New Hamburg and used to go to that Foodland store. Beside the lot is the LCBO and across the street is a commercial plaza with a bank and New Orleans Pizza. The grocery store was nice in that part of town because the people in Baden could use it to, as it was on that side of New Hamburg. A seniors complex would work I suppose, and having the medical part also would get use due to the demographic in the area.

The No Frills they built by Expressway Ford is in a stupid spot. It's only accessible by car unless you live in Stone Ridge (or whatever that adult community is called), and Sobeys is in the downtown that isn't too far from the old Foodland store. So I doubt they need another Grocery store in that part of town even with the bad location of No Frills.

[Matt2727]

I saw in the New Hamburg Independent today that there is a plan to redevelop the entire plaza and add another building with a drive through. This does not include the condo development because they were not able to find a partner or somthing like that. The renders look pretty nice but I am not able to find the article online yet although it may turn up soon.
It would have been nice to see a 5 story condo there. I guess im just glad they are finally doing somthing with the plaza.

[UrbanWaterloo]

March 18, 2011

http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Townships/336%20Waterloo%20Street,%20New%20Hamburg%20-%20March%2018,%202011%20Resized.JPG

[Matt2727]

^^ When the hell did this start? shows you how much i go to up town new hamburg. lol