View Full Version : Sales Waterscape | 38 , 38 m | 12 , 12 fl | Tower 1 Complete
UrbanWaterloo
12-23-2009, 11:18 PM
Waterscape on the Grand River
170 Water Street North, Cambridge
Website: www.waterscape.ca
Developer: Haastown Group of Companies (www.haastown.com)
Architect: Arsenault Architect Inc. (http://aainc.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25&Itemid=33)
Two phase condominium development each with a 12-storey, 115 unit tower located beside the Grand River.
It is complete with 31 parking spaces on grade and 263 underground spaces.
Penthouse level amenity space includes a Fitness Centre, Lounge and an outdoor roof deck.
Phase 1
http://waterscape.ca/template/images/waterscape1.jpg http://waterscape.ca/template/images/waterscape2.jpg
UrbanWaterloo
12-23-2009, 11:21 PM
Articles:
Developer incentives go before councillors
October 29, 2007
KEVIN SWAYZE - RECORD STAFF - CAMBRIDGE
Cambridge and Waterloo Region taxpayers may have to pay almost $4.2 million to help a Richmond Hill developer build two, 12-storey luxury condominium towers on the contaminated site of a former factory.
Approval in principle of the first half of the Waterscape redevelopment on the Grand River will be in front of Cambridge council tonight.
Delegations are welcome at the meeting, which starts at 7 p.m. in the old city hall at 46 Dickson St.
Haastown Holdings already has approval to build its Waterscape condos at Water and Ainslie streets in Galt.
What's before Cambridge council tonight is the site plan, which lays out in detail exactly how the first phase of the $120-million project will unfold on the one-time Dobbie textile factory site, which has been a vacant for two decades.
Paul de Haas, the Haastown Holdings president, has said in the past that a $1.5-million cleanup is expected to remove 1,200 tonnes of soil laced with coal tar.
Units in the Waterscape project would sell for $125,000 to $400,000 in the first building.
A staff report to council recommends financial incentives and public costs to encourage the redevelopment to proceed and to generate long-term tax dollars.
The incentives break down this way:
$2.3 million: City and region development charges, which would be waived because the site is in a designated core urban area.
$345,000: A city grant based on $1,500 for each of the 230 apartments to help offset contamination cleanup costs.
$641,000: The total of city and region grants over the next decade to offset increased property taxes that the new buildings would create. This would help the developer cover upfront clean up costs.
$467,000: City's share of the $550,000 cost to move a trunk sanitary sewer off the private property and into the Water Street Road allowance.
$440,000: Unpaid property taxes on the property, accumulated by previous owners, would be waived.
City staff recommend council approve the site plan, on the condition the cleanup plan is approved by the Ontario Environment Ministry.
Regional road officials would need to approve the main entrance of the project at Water and Simcoe streets, and the Grand River Conservation Authority would have to approve work close to the flood berm along the western edge of the property.
City staff and the developer tweaked the tower locations to maintain public views of the river. The University of Waterloo architecture school helped with computer simulations to make the site changes.
Haastown is also talking with the city about building a retirement home and "assisted-living facility" on the southern half of the property.
This is not part of the recommendation before council tonight.
City and conservation authority staff say seniors homes are banned in flood plains such as the Water Street property because of problems evacuating residents and dangers to rescuers in a flood.
City staff say any such proposal must ensure "dry land emergency access is available."
Condo project wins city's help
October 30, 2007
KEVIN SWAYZE - RECORD STAFF - CAMBRIDGE
Giving $4.2 million in public money to help build luxury condominiums is hard for Jack Connell to swallow.
"Government has no place in such real estate development for private profit," he said last night as council considered plans for a $120-million Waterscape development by the Grand River at Water and Ainslie streets. "How many other developers will want the same considerations for their developments?"
Uwe Kretchman urged council to halve the public money allocated to help bring the project to reality. He called it "one heck of a sweet deal."
He suggested only the $2.3 million in development charges be waived, and said the city should negotiate harder to reduce what appears to be an $18,000 per unit subsidy for each of the 230 condominiums.
But council stood by its incentives, which encourage developers to foot most of the cost of cleaning up contaminated factory sites, like the former Dobbie textile mill, where 230 condominium units are proposed in two, 12-storey towers.
Coun. Gary Price said if developers don't do the cleanup, the city would have to.
"In the end that would cost us a lot more in tax dollars than what we are doing right here."
Waterscape developer Paul de Haas said the project would not proceed without the financial help from the city.
"This type of site is difficult to develop."
Coun. Pam Wolf didn't like all the public money going to help the project.
"This deal seems a bit one- sided.
Coun. Ben Tucci dismissed Wolf's concerns.
"At the end of the day, if this development falls through, you've got zero (tax) dollars collected on this property."
Smart deal, Cambridge
November 05, 2007
THE RECORD
Should a city hall give millions of public dollars to a developer so he can build luxury condominiums and bank the profits? The City of Cambridge has done just this, subsidizing private business person Paul de Haas to the tune of $4.2 million. And what's more, despite the criticism dumped on it, the city was absolutely right to do so.
For 30 years, a property contaminated with coal tar has stood as a vacant eyesore at the gateway to Galt, at Water and Ainslie streets. Plans to build on it collapsed in the mid-1980s because of the high cost of fixing the site's environmental problems. Meanwhile, $400,000 in back taxes owed to the city remain unpaid. Sticking with the status quo is a losing situation for everyone.
Mindful of this, city council rightly decided to step in and finally make things happen. It will waive the development charges that would normally be billed to the developer. Moreover, the city will give a hefty subsidy -- a citizens delegation put it at roughly $18,000 a unit -- to each of the 230 condominiums that will be built. The total cost to taxpayers is $4.2 million. And, yes, that looks steep.
But look at the returns on the city's investment: It will turn an abandoned industrial site into desirable residential property and help revitalize an urban core.
It will get an environmentally clean site because the developer will dig up and remove the coal tar that now contaminates the area. It will get a major project, because the developer will build two, 12-storey towers with 230 units worth $120 million.
From these condominiums, the city will get something it's not getting from the property today: tax revenue. And in time, those taxes should more than cover the city's payout to the developer. All this, by the way, satisfy the demands of a new provincial policy that calls for more intense growth in the downtowns of cities like Cambridge. And it's also worth noting that the city has not given this developer special treatment. It's simply acting according to city policies that would assist any developer in similar circumstances trying to reclaim old industrial land.
Yes, the city could have done nothing and let the site sit empty for another three decades. Yes, the city could have paid millions to clean up the site on its own and then sell it or use it as a park. But none of those alternatives beat what the city has done. This is one occasion where city council deserves cheers not jeers. It got this one right.
Cleanup rules threaten condos
Developer asks Cambridge for help getting riverside project going
December 10, 2007 - KEVIN SWAYZE, RECORD STAFF
CAMBRIDGE
A $120-million luxury condominium project is in "great jeopardy" unless city council waives its own rules and allows construction to start before a contaminated part of the downtown property is cleaned up.
Waterscape developer Paul de Haas is scheduled to appeal to council tonight for help getting the 230-home project back on track.
He wants to put a contaminated part of the property under separate legal ownership, which would allow him to go ahead with the condo project on the remaining land.
The city has said the land, a former factory site on Water Street at the north junction of Ainslie Street, must be cleaned up before it is severed.
The Environment Ministry is also looking at more stringent requirements for cleaning up buried coal tar to ensure it doesn't spread to the Grand River just metres away.
But in a letter to council, de Haas suggests the cleanup requirements are standing in the way of his 12-storey condo towers.
He says severing the contaminated part of the land would allow him to obtain loans to build the two towers on the north half, while delaying the need to clean up and build on the southern half.
The letter says a business partner planning to develop a retirement complex on the south half of the 1.4 hectare property has backed out. De Haas says he's confident a new partner will be found, but not in time to meet city requirements to get construction started quickly on the condo project on the north half of the site.
"The severance is vital to the financing and structuring of the Waterscape project," he says.
He offered the city a $50,000 letter of credit "as a gesture of a good faith guarantee that we will complete the remediation of the south land within 36 months" of receiving Environment Ministry approval of a cleanup plan.
That's expected shortly, he said.
"Although not conforming to the policy, we ask that council accept this as another signal of my company's undivided commitment to this project."
Already, de Haas said, his company has spent $400,000 on consulting fees and testing of the one-time home of the Galt Gas Works, which operated there from 1887 to 1911. Coal tar is a by-product of coal-gas production. It is considered a health risk and causes cancer
The gas plant was demolished in the 1920s to make way for a textile mill, which was demolished in the 1980s, in anticipation of a residential building project.
De Haas said the rejuvenation of the eyesore property is "logistically complex and saddled with numerous challenges -- many more than we ever anticipated."
Council considers the request from deHaas tonight in a meeting starting at 6 p.m. in historic city hall.
City staff recommend council reject the request to ignore city rules aimed at protecting taxpayers from getting stuck with expensive cleanups.
Council has already approved the Waterscape plan, which includes $4.2 million in public money to help clean up the site, deferral of property taxes and move a public sewer line from the middle of the property.
Most of the money comes from long-standing city programs to encourage developers to clean up old factory sites in the Galt, Preston and Hespeler cores.
Waterscape is also exempt from height limits imposed across the rest of old Galt because the project application was filed at city hall before the new rules were imposed in May.
Condos given break on cleanup
Developer gets go-ahead to build
December 12, 2007
KEVIN SWAYZE - RECORD STAFF - CAMBRIDGE
City council is giving more help to a developer planning 230 luxury condominiums on a contaminated property along the Grand River.
Waterscape on the Grand will be exempt from a city policy requiring the property be cleaned up before construction goes ahead, council decided this week.
Paul de Haas of Hasstown Holdings promised he would redevelop the whole property at Water Street North and Ainslie Street if allowed to put the heavily contaminated southern half under separate ownership.
De Haas said he needs time to allow financing to proceed on the $60-million condo towers on the north side of the property.
The south half, contaminated with coal tar, can be cleaned up and developed within three years, he said.
Councillors Pam Wolf and Rick Cowsill were uncomfortable giving any more breaks to the developer.
They wanted a guarantee that taxpayers won't be stuck cleaning up the site.
"It is the developer who should take this risk and take the profit," Wolf said.
The city usually demands that contamination be removed from a site before allowing part of it to be transferred to a new owner.
If not, the city asks for a letter of credit to cover the possible cleanup cost, should taxpayers ever be stuck with the bill.
De Haas said it would be "ludicrous" to think his company would walk away from such a prime a location.
He offered a $50,000 letter of credit, though the coal-tar cleanup is estimated to be at least $423,000.
Wolf argued against giving de Haas any more city help on top of tax breaks and more than $4 million in incentives.
De Haas said much of that money won't flow until the site is cleaned up, so he's motivated to follow through on his promises.
The city is also paying to move a public sewer line off the property.
The decision to exempt the developer from cleanup goes against a city staff recommendation.
Staff wanted financial security to at least match the cost of cleanup.
Council rejected that idea while approving the land severance.
Coun. Gary Price supported severance without the usual city environmental conditions.
"This is probably the closest we've come to getting the site clean in over 100 years," he said.
"As far as I'm concerned, we're not at risk for anything on the site. The property owners are."
The developer needs the approval of Ontario's Environment Ministry before starting any construction, Price said.
City council has already approved the site plan in principal, but it isn't complete, said planning commissioner Janet Babcock. The city is awaiting approvals from the Environment Ministry, along with Waterloo Region's approval of driveway entrances onto Water Street.
UrbanWaterloo
12-24-2009, 12:04 AM
A "skyline" is born:
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Cambridge/Waterscape/Waterscape-VantagePoint5-Existing.jpg
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Cambridge/Waterscape/Waterscape-VantagePoint5-Proposed.jpg
http://76.74.229.4/~knights/images/stories/aainc/projects/condos/aainc_waterscape.jpg
http://aainc.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25&Itemid=33
Logo:
http://www.haastown.com/images/waterLogo.jpg
http://www.haastown.com/current_listings.html
Model Suite Pictures: http://www.waterscape.ca/features.php
http://www.waterscape.ca/gallery/thumbnails/Waterscape%20016_448x297.jpg
http://www.waterscape.ca/gallery/thumbnails/Waterscape%20022_448x297.jpg
UrbanWaterloo
02-02-2010, 03:56 PM
February 2, 2010
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Cambridge/Waterscape/Waterscape-February22010-1.jpg
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Cambridge/Waterscape/Waterscape-February22010-2.jpg
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Cambridge/Waterscape/Waterscape-February22010-3.jpg
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Cambridge/Waterscape/Waterscape-February22010-4.jpg
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Cambridge/Waterscape/Waterscape-February22010-5.jpg
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Cambridge/Waterscape/Waterscape-February22010-6.jpg
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Cambridge/Waterscape/Waterscape-February22010-7.jpg
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Cambridge/Waterscape/Waterscape-February22010-8.jpg
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Cambridge/Waterscape/Waterscape-February22010-9.jpg
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Cambridge/Waterscape/Waterscape-February22010-10.jpg
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Cambridge/Waterscape/Waterscape-February22010-11.jpg
It looks like a student housing building right now with all those small windows.
Spokes
02-02-2010, 05:21 PM
They're bigger than the ones on the Lester St Apartment haha
UrbanWaterloo
02-12-2010, 12:34 PM
Environmental engineering
Prime site moves from contamination to condo in Cambridge, Ontario
PAT BRENNAN; correspondent - CAMBRIDGE, Ont.
February 8, 2010
http://www.dailycommercialnews.com/article/id37425
http://www.dailycommercialnews.com/images/archivesid/37425/130.jpg
A 12-storey condo project underway on the banks of the Grand River is one of the tallest buildings in Ontario so far to use insulating concrete form technology.
It’s one of the prettiest sites in Cambridge. The large, empty lot sits beside the Grand River where it tumbles over a waterfall just before flowing into downtown Galt.
Developers have fancied the property for years, but the suitors soon packed their bags and left town after learning about its heritage.
There’s a reason that riverside lot sat abandoned for half a century. It was the original home of Galt Gas Works, a smelter that extracted coal oil from coal and eventually left carcinogens and other toxins in the ground.
Cambridge mayor Doug Craig says the two-acre lot on the river is one of the most attractive sites in Cambridge, but also one of the most contaminated.
Developer Paul de Haas doesn’t fear brownfield sites. He has converted industrial brownfield sites in the city cores of Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph and Toronto into attractive residential projects. And he’s in the midst of doing just that to Cambridge’s Galt Gas Works site on the Grand.
A new provincial act has helped de Haas and other developers tackle such challenges. The TIF (tax increment financing) program allows municipalities to use tax dollars to encourage developers to rehabilitate contaminated sites in municipal core areas.
Future property tax revenue from a cleaned-up site rehabilitated for residential or commercial use goes to the developer for a specified period or amount to offset the additional costs of the clean up.
It took de Haas, president of Haastown Development Group, more than four years to get a building permit for his riverside project, but today the Waterscape condominium is rising on the site.
De Haas says he could never have considered building on the Grand’s east bank without the TIF program, but he adds “we really need a better attitude of co-operation between private business and the various levels of government if we are going to convert abandoned brownfields in the urban core to residential use,” said de Haas.
“There are some wonderful sites that can be put to good use in the cities, but it is much easier for a developer to put housing out on green agricultural lands than it is to clean up old industrial sites,” said de Haas.
He said municipal politicians usually understand the financial restrictions on resurrecting contaminated sites, but says too often bureaucratic red tape and officious bureaucrats hamper or thwart the wishes of the elected officials.
To get his Waterscape project underway in Cambridge de Haas gives credits Mayor Craig and Ben Tucci, the city councilor for that area.
“They were instrumental in getting the other major approval bodies in sync with one another — namely The Region of Waterloo, The Ministry of Environment, The Grand River Conservation Authority. Their efforts were extremely strong during the credit crisis in the fall of 2008 when the project financing was set to expire if all permits were not in place by Oct. 31.”
The 12-storey condominium will be one of the tallest buildings in the province built with insulating concrete forms (ICF). Extruded polystyrene blocks are snapped together like giant Lego blocks and concrete is poured into the form, along with reinforcing steel. The form stays on the finished wall, adding two to three inches of insulating foam on both sides.
The concrete floor panels are precast off site and lifted into place by a large mobile crane on the site, said Greg Pannia, general manager at Aurora’s Elite Building Group, which specializes in ICF construction.
Pannia said the ICF method significantly reduces construction debris at the site, cuts the need for disposable wood framing and reduces energy required for heating and cooling the structure.
Because of its location beside the Grand River de Haas hired EBS Engineering and Construction of Breslau, Ont. to drill 720 helical pilings 40 feet down to bedrock to stabilize the footings and foundation.
There will be 115 suites in the building with prices starting at $159,900 for a one bedroom residence with 528 sq. ft. and ranging up to 1,405 sq. ft. for $484,900.
Ciancone and de Haas plan to work together to clean up the contaminated south end of the Waterscape site. De Haas proposes a second phase of Waterscape on the south end of the property, adjacent to Ciancone’s restaurant.
Mayor Craig said the Waterscape project at the entrance to downtown Galt has triggered interest in rehabilitating other brownfield sites in the city core.
Drayton Theatres proposes to build a 600-seat live theatre a couple blocks south of Waterscape. The new centre will also serve as the corporate headquarters for the five other theatres Drayton operates in southwestern Ontario.
I used to live by this development and they are going have some major traffic problems with this. Unless they exit/enter further down the site. Only thing is that would suck for people heading towards GCI they would have to cut down the street where Shoppers is then turn left to head that way.
The surroundings of this area troubles me. The only plus for this project is the view/river. The area sucks bad. It's the ghetto actually. But setting that aside there is nothing around it, just a homeless shelter, a shoppers, and a student project. You can't walk to anything other the those places and a Food basics (which only proves my point of the area). Downtown is a hike from this and even if it wasn't there isn't anything down there anyways.
I'm not a huge cambridge fan but this is a step forward and might bring some more developments but I doubt it. Most people in cambridge don't like condos. The joke I often tell is "if it's not a Walmart it won't survive".. Sad thing is there is truth to that statement.
Urban_Enthusiast86
03-09-2010, 10:10 AM
March 6, 2010
8 floors
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb210/Cambridgite/Galt/Picture286.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb210/Cambridgite/Galt/Picture287.jpg
UrbanWaterloo
03-10-2010, 12:16 AM
March 6, 2009
Thanks for the year-old photos! The building seems to be shrinking overtime, perhaps this is the Curious Case of Waterscape (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Curious_Case_of_Benjamin_Button_(film))? :p
Urban_Enthusiast86
03-10-2010, 01:08 AM
Thanks for the year-old photos! The building seems to be shrinking overtime, perhaps this is the Curious Case of Waterscape (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Curious_Case_of_Benjamin_Button_(film))? :p
Corrected it.
UrbanWaterloo
03-11-2010, 12:05 AM
Cool, just joking btw. Nice to see it's going up fairly fast: 2 floors from early February to early March. :cool:
UrbanWaterloo
04-06-2010, 09:43 AM
Working on the 10th floor now.
April 6, 2010
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Cambridge/Waterscape/Waterscape-April62010-1.jpg
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Cambridge/Waterscape/Waterscape-April62010-2a.jpg
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Cambridge/Waterscape/Waterscape-April62010-2d.jpg
Urban_Enthusiast86
04-26-2010, 05:41 PM
April 26th, 2010
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb210/Cambridgite/Galt/Tritag042.jpg
Close up.
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb210/Cambridgite/Galt/Tritag043.jpg
Crane up south of the site (phase 2?)
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb210/Cambridgite/Galt/Tritag044.jpg
From Centennial Park
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb210/Cambridgite/Galt/Tritag038.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb210/Cambridgite/Galt/Tritag041.jpg
I love this view from Water street, right around GCI. It looks like you're driving right into a building...the same way it appears when driving towards Bauer Lofts from midtown.
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb210/Cambridgite/Galt/Tritag046.jpg
UrbanWaterloo
04-26-2010, 06:24 PM
Cool shots, just one more floor to go! Has anyone been on the western side of the river, to see how reality compares to the rendering of Vantage Point 5: Rowing Club (http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Cambridge/Waterscape/Waterscape-VantagePoint5-Proposed.jpg) (in post 1)?
Spokes
05-13-2010, 08:20 AM
Condo exterior in Cambridge to be downgraded
May 13, 2010
By Kevin Swayze, Record staff
http://media.therecord.topscms.com/images/a2/87/e7aed0004c4489fc1ba1a9d3ab01.jpeg
CAMBRIDGE — The $30 million Waterscape condominium tower won’t look quite as fancy as pictured in the original sales brochures.
Monday, city council agreed to let Haastown Holdings simplify exterior finishes about to be applied to the 12-storey, 115-unit building overlooking the Grand River at the north junction of Water and Ainslie streets.
Prospective purchasers of units in the building know about the changes and have no objections, said developer Paul de Haas.
Poor soil conditions forced changes in design as work proceeded, to reduce the weight of the building. A stucco finish instead of man-made stone is also an attempt to improve a busy exterior finish on the building, he said.
City staff don’t like simplifying the architectural details, nor does Pauline Todkill, a member of Heritage Cambridge.
“I don’t think these changes are insignificant,” Todkill said.
The building is promoted as a landmark along the Grand River that’s intended to blend in with the historic stone and brick architecture of the area, she said. Changes would also impact the proposed second twin condominium tower planned beside it.
“I shudder to think what the people from old Galt, known as the Granite City, would say to stucco,” Todkill said.
Six purchasers of Waterscape condominium units sent letters to council supporting the changes, urging the city to let Waterscape get on with finishing the project.
“I have sold my home and would really like to move into this Waterscape project and asking the city of Cambridge to get on with it so we can move in an enjoy our stay in Cambridge,” said Norman Hostler.
Greg McDonnell said he was “greatly disappointed with the seemingly arbitrary obstacles and delays the city has thrown in the path of . . . the Waterscape project over the past four years.”
In debate last week, Coun. Gary Price was worried residents of the new condominium units didn’t know about the changes.
He wasn’t swayed by what he heard Monday. He joined with Coun. Pam Wolf in voting against the changes. The rest of council endorsed the changes, so they can proceed.
There’s nothing wrong with a plainer exterior finish for the Waterscape tower, said Rick Haldenby, director of the University of Waterloo school of architecture.
Haldenby was part of a city-requested peer-review of the changes.
“In general I am pleased” with the revisions, he said in an email to the city.
He doesn’t fret over the loss of man-made stone covering the lower four-floors of the building exterior — and notes it has been unsuccessfully attempted recently on other buildings in the region.
kswayze@therecord.com
http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/711161
Spokes
05-13-2010, 08:21 AM
This is why we have this stucco shit everywhere in this region!! Our councillors thing its a viable alternative to good products like stone. Give me a break.
What a joke....I would back out of my unit if I bought one there. So now people paid 220-400k on a building that resembles student housing on a street with nothing on it but a shoppers and a homeless shelter..hmmm..
Plus I think they made the windows smaller then what was originally in the brochure.
WatDot
05-13-2010, 10:11 AM
Sketchy.
Spokes
05-13-2010, 10:36 AM
If I had bought there I'd be pissed. Then again I might be so fed up with the delays Id just say, just finish the damn thing. It's just a shame because this building could have been quite nice. The shell of it is nicely done I think, with windows a little bit bigger and good cladding, it'd be great.
Maybe this will be an example of stucco looking good. Not holding my breath though.
Further illustrates that there are very few great residential projects in Waterloo Region. Up next...Centre Block turns stucco!
Urbanomicon
05-13-2010, 12:23 PM
Our councillors thing its a viable alternative to good products like stone.
This is why we can't have nice things. :mad:
Duke-of-Waterloo
05-13-2010, 02:58 PM
The article seems full of bias and people being afraid or restricted from speaking out. People (i.e. architecture prof) seem afraid to speak their true opinions due to their relationship to the developer.
DHLawrence
05-13-2010, 05:56 PM
Whoever wrote the editorial wasn't afraid to speak out:
Waterscape: keep it grand (http://www.cambridgetimes.ca/opinion/editorial/article/816162--waterscape-keep-it-grand)
As developments go, Waterscape on the Grand River condominiums seems to have the ear of city council.
The riverfront condominium is a luxury building which seems to be attempting to “simplify” its design while construction is ongoing. Simplify is a kinder word than save money.
Not that saving money is against the law, it just seems that the project – supposedly the gateway to Galt – seems to be removing the welcome mat.
Its request to council includes changing the size of windows and railings. But the most questionable refinement is swapping the stone treatment on the first four floors for stucco and eliminating or scaling back some of the building’s finer exterior details.
Cambridge takes pride in its look. It fights for heritage sites and historic continuity. Changing the exterior from stone work to stucco will be an eyesore.
Understandably, building tenants just want to move in. Some have been waiting years for the luxury units to be ready. Another delay to sort out simplifications is the last thing they want.
Once completed, Waterscape will be a city landmark. Developers should be respectful of that role and not cheapen the view.
I knew the windows were made smaller. This is ridiculous, the builder is saving a ton of cash on this and everyone who bought a unit are paying the same amount. A amount that was determined with big windows and stone. The fact that the development has been delayed is no reason to let this slide. I waited 5 years to move into Bauer Lofts and I wouldn't have wanted to move in sooner, if say they decided to make it stucco or redesign it cheaper. If I was the owners of Waterscape I would demand money back or I would walk. Anyone who pays the same for their unit is a idiot. I would be consulting my lawyer ASAP.
Btw it's a insult to call this luxury now.. Maybe luxury in terms of Cambridge condo's go..and the University of Waterloo Architecture Prof should be embarrassed to say it's fine. He probably doesn't want to rock the boat on one of the few developments downtown Galt has going. I find it hard to believe he will use this building as a example of good architecture in a speech.
Kinda venting here mostly cause I had bigger hopes for this, as I used to live in the area.
RangersFan
05-13-2010, 06:42 PM
I share everyone else's opinion here, this is ridiculous. As well as Bauer123 had I purchased a unit would demand money back or walk away. Would making major changes to the building design void parts of the ownership contract? I really liked the original design of this project, but now it looks like it could turn into a Waterloo stucco student box (not as bad but still).
DHLawrence
05-13-2010, 09:15 PM
Maybe luxury in terms of Cambridge condo's go..
The only condos in Cambridge I'd give that honour are Black Forest and Kressview Springs. All others aspire to be condos. The only thing luxury about this is the riverfront view, and if the Grand ever overflows those levees, that's only a luxury if you don't have to leave until they recede.
I share everyone else's opinion here, this is ridiculous. As well as Bauer123 had I purchased a unit would demand money back or walk away. Would making major changes to the building design void parts of the ownership contract? I really liked the original design of this project, but now it looks like it could turn into a Waterloo stucco student box (not as bad but still).
They can only change something if they will replace it with equal value. I can't see how smaller windows and stucco vs stone equates to equal value.
Spokes
05-13-2010, 11:04 PM
I knew the windows were made smaller. This is ridiculous, the builder is saving a ton of cash on this and everyone who bought a unit are paying the same amount. A amount that was determined with big windows and stone. The fact that the development has been delayed is no reason to let this slide. I waited 5 years to move into Bauer Lofts and I wouldn't have wanted to move in sooner, if say they decided to make it stucco or redesign it cheaper. If I was the owners of Waterscape I would demand money back or I would walk. Anyone who pays the same for their unit is a idiot. I would be consulting my lawyer ASAP.
You and me both
Btw it's a insult to call this luxury now.. Maybe luxury in terms of Cambridge condo's go..and the University of Waterloo Architecture Prof should be embarrassed to say it's fine. He probably doesn't want to rock the boat on one of the few developments downtown Galt has going. I find it hard to believe he will use this building as a example of good architecture in a speech.
Kinda venting here mostly cause I had bigger hopes for this, as I used to live in the area.
I too was kind of surprised that the prof was so ok with it. You'd think someone in his position would be trying to push for better projects not worse.
Urbanomicon
05-13-2010, 11:08 PM
They can only change something if they will replace it with equal value. I can't see how smaller windows and stucco vs stone equates to equal value.
Maybe the tenants now get gold toilet seats. :(
RangersFan
05-14-2010, 05:58 AM
Maybe the tenants now get gold toilet seats. :(
But wouldn't that add more weight to the building? hahah
Urban_Enthusiast86
05-14-2010, 10:31 PM
You'd think, of all places, CAMBRIDGE would be concerned about new development being compatible with the downtown cores of this region. I don't mind the height, but the use of stucco is downright embarassing and it seems like a lot of buyers have been gravely misled. I smell a lawsuit...
Spokes
05-14-2010, 11:51 PM
You'd think, of all places, CAMBRIDGE would be concerned about new development being compatible with the downtown cores of this region. I don't mind the height, but the use of stucco is downright embarassing and it seems like a lot of buyers have been gravely misled. I smell a lawsuit...
Im not so sure. At least from the sounds of the article. It seems to imply that purchasers seem to be ok with it as long as it moves forward.
smably
05-17-2010, 09:54 AM
Im not so sure. At least from the sounds of the article. It seems to imply that purchasers seem to be ok with it as long as it moves forward.
On the other hand, I'm sure buyers want their units to be completed. Maybe buyers are keeping quiet about a lawsuit until after they get occupancy?
It might be a bad idea to file a lawsuit against the developer when your unit is still being constructed. As a buyer, you would have to weigh the cost of an ugly stucco building versus even more delays...
Spokes
05-17-2010, 09:56 AM
On the other hand, I'm sure buyers want their units to be completed. Maybe buyers are keeping quiet about a lawsuit until after they get occupancy?
It might be a bad idea to file a lawsuit against the developer when your unit is still being constructed. As a buyer, you would have to weigh the cost of an ugly stucco building versus even more delays...
Yup, that's a good point.
Regardless, it doesn't bode well for sales of phase 2.
UrbanWaterloo
06-05-2010, 12:20 AM
June 4, 2010
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Cambridge/Waterscape/Waterscape-June42010-1.jpg
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Cambridge/Waterscape/Waterscape-June42010-2.jpg
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Cambridge/Waterscape/Waterscape-June42010-3a.jpg
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Cambridge/Waterscape/Waterscape-June42010-4.jpg
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Cambridge/Waterscape/Waterscape-June42010-7.jpg
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Cambridge/Waterscape/Waterscape-June42010-8.jpg
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Cambridge/Waterscape/Waterscape-June42010-9.jpg
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Cambridge/Waterscape/Waterscape-June42010-10.jpg
UrbanWaterloo
07-17-2010, 02:25 PM
July 15, 2010
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Cambridge/Waterscape/Waterscape-July152010-1.jpg
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Cambridge/Waterscape/Waterscape-July152010-2.jpg
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Cambridge/Waterscape/Waterscape-July152010-3.jpg
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Cambridge/Waterscape/Waterscape-July152010-4.jpg
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Cambridge/Waterscape/Waterscape-July152010-5.jpg
Galt 'Skyline'
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Cambridge/Waterscape/Waterscape-July152010-6a.jpg
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Cambridge/Waterscape/Waterscape-July152010-7.jpg
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Cambridge/Waterscape/Waterscape-July152010-8.jpg
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Cambridge/Waterscape/Waterscape-July152010-9b.jpg
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Cambridge/Waterscape/Waterscape-July152010-10.jpg
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Cambridge/Waterscape/Waterscape-July152010-11.jpg
DHLawrence
10-09-2010, 05:39 PM
They have a lot more cladding on now; doesn't look totally hideous.
Galtonian
11-08-2010, 03:03 PM
Drove by the other day and it's starting to come together now. The stucco work isn't as bad as I thought it would be but I would prefer to see stone like many of the areas houses and buildings. Thank goodness it doesn't look like a cheap student building :-)
Drove by the other day and it's starting to come together now. The stucco work isn't as bad as I thought it would be but I would prefer to see stone like many of the areas houses and buildings. Thank goodness it doesn't look like a cheap student building :-)
I haven't seen this recently but for what people paid they are getting ripped off with no stone and all stucco. It's a shame the project came to this.
It might not be as bad as some of the student housing buildings but they shouldn't even be compared in the first place. The fact that they are makes this a fail.
UrbanWaterloo
11-09-2010, 01:45 PM
October 30, 2010
http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Waterscape%20-%20October%2030,%202010%20-%201b%20Resized.jpg
Phase 2
http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Waterscape%20-%20October%2030,%202010%20-%202%20Resized.jpg
Entrance
http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Waterscape%20-%20October%2030,%202010%20-%203a%20Resized.jpg
Model Suite #1
http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Waterscape%20-%20October%2030,%202010%20-%204a%20Resized.jpg http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Waterscape%20-%20October%2030,%202010%20-%204b%20Resized.jpg
http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Waterscape%20-%20October%2030,%202010%20-%204c%20Resized.jpg http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Waterscape%20-%20October%2030,%202010%20-%204d%20Resized.jpg
Model Suite #2
http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Waterscape%20-%20October%2030,%202010%20-%205b%20Resized.jpg http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Waterscape%20-%20October%2030,%202010%20-%205c%20Resized.jpg
Various
http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Waterscape%20-%20October%2030,%202010%20-%207%20Resized.jpg http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Waterscape%20-%20October%2030,%202010%20-%208%20Resized.jpg
http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Waterscape%20-%20October%2030,%202010%20-%209%20Resized.jpg http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Waterscape%20-%20October%2030,%202010%20-%2010%20Resized.jpg
http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Waterscape%20-%20October%2030,%202010%20-%2011a%20Resized.jpg
http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Waterscape%20-%20October%2030,%202010%20-%2011b%20Resized.jpg
Riverviews
http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Waterscape%20-%20October%2030,%202010%20-%2012a%20Resized.jpg
http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Waterscape%20-%20October%2030,%202010%20-%2012g%20Resized.jpg
http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Waterscape%20-%20October%2030,%202010%20-%2013%20Resized.jpg
Urban_Enthusiast86
11-09-2010, 06:17 PM
Given the stucco exterior, I think this building is actually turning out quite well.
Spokes
11-09-2010, 08:51 PM
Given the stucco exterior, I think this building is actually turning out quite well.
Yup, I agree. This could be the "good" example of stucco use we've been waiting for.
bcwessel
11-09-2010, 09:08 PM
Yup, I agree. This could be the "good" example of stucco use we've been waiting for.
There aren't nearly enough colours. Grey? Tasteful? Throw a couple dozen shades of orange-brown, and then we'll have something.
cht13er
11-19-2010, 06:05 PM
Took a few photos yesterday afternoon:
188189190191192193
It's pretty noticeable from the delta (8+24) as you're headed into downtown!
Spokes
11-20-2010, 02:14 PM
Great shots! Thanks!
RangersFan
11-20-2010, 03:31 PM
Does anyone know if they have started sales for phase 2? Has phase 1 sold out?
cht13er
11-20-2010, 03:43 PM
Their website says 80% sold .. not sure of how up-to-date it is though!
skyhook19
11-30-2010, 11:11 PM
Their website says 80% sold .. not sure of how up-to-date it is though!
Apparently they are no 85% sold: http://www.cambridgetimes.ca/news/local/article/908576--red-tape-headache-for-builder
Doesn't look like the second phase is starting any time soon according to this article.
cht13er
11-30-2010, 11:30 PM
Apparently they are no 85% sold: http://www.cambridgetimes.ca/news/local/article/908576--red-tape-headache-for-builder
Doesn't look like the second phase is starting any time soon according to this article.
I heard that they're preparing .. but am also pretty sure they're not shovel-ready yet.
UrbanWaterloo
02-23-2011, 12:22 PM
February 4, 2011
http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Waterscape%20-%20February%204,%202011%20-%202%20Resized.jpg
http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Waterscape%20-%20February%204,%202011%20-%201%20Resized.jpg
gomesjustin
02-23-2011, 01:44 PM
It is looking fantastic ! Pass it almost everyday. Cannot wait for Phase 2 to begin, if it ever does? Anybody see/hear anything about Phase 2 beginning yet?
Spokes
02-23-2011, 03:39 PM
Ya I drive past it quite a bit too. In real life it's surprisingly "beefy" at least it seems to be when driving south on Water as you cross under the train tracks.
Section ThirtyOne
02-23-2011, 03:51 PM
Colour me as impressed.
When it was first going up, I was worried that they were decontenting it and it was going to end up like every other "generi-building" around. I like the peaked roof and circular feature on top in particular.
DHLawrence
02-23-2011, 07:26 PM
I'm afraid the circular feature doesn't interest me that much. It looks out of place in my eye.
It isn't ideal, but as far as stucco goes it's quite good.
SP!RE
02-23-2011, 11:56 PM
I'm not going to give the people behind this project any credit for it. MUCH better architecture can be created at a MUCH lower cost.
metropolis
02-24-2011, 10:16 AM
February 4, 2011
http://www.wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Waterscape%20-%20February%204,%202011%20-%202%20Resized.jpg
Is it the way the pic is taken or is she leanin' to port cap'n?
Newgrad
02-24-2011, 11:21 AM
With the enormous shadow it generates, I feel bad for any lifelong residents in the homes to the east. HOpe they weren't planning on having a garden!
Oh, development, you can be such a mixed bag sometimes.
UrbanWaterloo
04-01-2011, 07:15 AM
March 29, 2011
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Waterscape%20-%20March%2029,%202011%20-%201b%20Resized.jpg
<img src="http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Waterscape%20-%20March%2029,%202011%20-%202b%20Resized.jpg" style="padding-right:10px;" width="390px"><img src="http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Waterscape%20-%20March%2029,%202011%20-%203b%20Resized.jpg" style="padding-left:10px;" width="390px">
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Waterscape%20-%20March%2029,%202011%20-%205b%20Resized.jpg
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Waterscape%20-%20March%2029,%202011%20-%206b%20Resized.jpg
UWaterloo
04-10-2011, 09:58 PM
Thanks for the updated photos. I like the development but it is pretty large in terms of scale. It certainly gives Galt more of a big city feel but I do have conflicting feelings about that. I'll wait until the project is fully completed b4 I make my mind up on this project.
UrbanWaterloo
07-20-2011, 07:16 AM
They recently had their grand opening celebration (http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.246986398648842.76916.121085024572314):
478
479
480
UrbanWaterloo
07-20-2011, 07:16 AM
Here's some photos I took around the site last week...
July 13, 2011
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Waterscape%20-%20July%2013,%202011%20-%201a%20Resized.jpg
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Waterscape%20-%20July%2013,%202011%20-%202a%20Resized.jpg
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Waterscape%20-%20July%2013,%202011%20-%204b%20Resized.jpg
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Waterscape%20-%20July%2013,%202011%20-%205a%20Resized.jpg
metropolis
09-13-2011, 11:12 PM
There is an article in the most recent issue of Grand Magazine showing one of the units here. Very nice with large windows both in the kitchen and bathroom, which is too rare in condos if you ask me.
BigCityBoy
09-14-2011, 02:51 AM
There is an article in the most recent issue of Grand Magazine showing one of the units here. Very nice with large windows both in the kitchen and bathroom, which is too rare in condos if you ask me.
One of the river-facing units and very nice - price $350k or thereabouts for 1100 sq.ft. with great river views.589
insider
11-08-2011, 09:50 AM
I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned this, but just in case... this won't be only a 2 phase project with residential buildings. The third phase will potentially include a hotel and convention center next to the Cambridge Mill.
UrbanWaterloo
03-23-2012, 09:17 PM
Phase 2 is up for council approval on Monday...
CITY OF CAMBRIDGE COUNCIL MEETING
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CAMBRIDGE CITY HALL
MONDAY, MARCH 26, 2012 7:00 P.M.
ITEMS DEALT WITH SEPARATELY
6. HAASTOWN HOLDINGS INC. “WATERSCAPE” – 130-170 WATER STREET NORTH, SITE PLAN FILE # SP60/06 – PROPOSED SITE PLAN AMENDMENT
THAT Council approve the conceptual site plan in principle and direct the Commissioner of Planning Services to issue final Site Plan Approval once all technical matters have been addressed.
HAASTOWN HOLDINGS INC. “WATERSCAPE” – 130-170 WATER STREET NORTH, SITE PLAN FILE # SP60/06 – PROPOSED SITE PLAN AMENDMENT
To: GENERAL COMMITTEE
Date of Meeting: March 19, 2012
Prepared By: James Horan, Planner,, Site Development/Zoning
Department: Planning Services
Date to Management Committee: March 7, 2012
Report No.: P/12-12
File No.: SP60/06
Recommendation:
THAT Council approve the conceptual site plan in principle and direct the Commissioner of Planning Services to issue final Site Plan Approval once all technical matters have been addressed.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this report is to advise General Committee of the proposed amendments to the Waterscape Phase 2 building with respect to the building form and elevations for the property municipally known as 170 Water Street North.
BACKGROUND
Council approved, in principle, a site plan application (City File # SP60/06) by Haastown Holdings Inc. on October 29, 2007. Formal Site Plan Approval was granted on June 19, 2009, following completion of conditions associated with the October 29, 2007 Council approval in principle.
With the completion of Waterscape Phase 1, the applicant is preparing to market the Phase 2 building. The applicant approached Planning Staff with a proposal for a design concept that differs from the Phase 1 Building previously approved by Council. The applicant’s architectural firm (Architecture Unfolded) a Toronto based firm has designed a building that incorporates improvements learned from the construction of Phase 1 and a building that better reflects current market trends.
PLANNING ANALYSIS
In support of the proposed modification to the Phase 2 building, the applicant has provided the following materials: a site plan showing the new building foot print in contrast to the previous approved building foot print represented by the dashed red line (please see site plan Appendix “A”), a street elevation plan showing the proposed and existing buildings (Appendix “B”) and photo renderings of the proposed building as it would look built adjacent to the existing Phase 1 building (Appendix “C” and Appendix “D”).
The site plan (Appendix “A”) delineates the outline of the new building in contrast to the previously approved building. The smaller floor plate size will reduce the overall bulk and massing of the building. This reduced massing will permit enhanced views through the site to the Grand River and beyond. Moreover, the building will reduce the massing and shadow impact on Water Street creating a more pleasant pedestrian experience. The Phase 2 building proposes a different building form, but incorporates attributes from the Phase 1 design (please refer to Appendix “B” and Appendix “C”). The proposed building incorporates the five (5) storey podium feature similar to the Phase 1 building. The building height, colours and materials will be complementary of Phase 1. Moreover, the dark bold features nicely accentuate the Phase 1 building cap.
The Phase 2 building also offers many additional benefits over the existing Phase 1 design. These items include, enhanced glazing which minimizes the amount of blank wall façades and provides extra light into the units, enhanced building articulation creating a more visually interesting building through terracing. Furthermore, the proposed building proposes to activate the ground floor space with glazing and an exercise room, whereas the existing building’s ground floor is limited to a blank stucco wall façade.
In conclusion, staff supports the proposed changes and will continue to work with the applicant to facilitate the required amendments to the site plan in order to permit the construction of Phase 2.
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Phase%202/Waterscape%20-%20Phase%202%20-%20CAM2012-03-19%20-%20Appendix%20A.jpg
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Phase%202/Waterscape%20-%20Phase%202%20-%20CAM2012-03-19%20-%20Appendix%20B.jpg
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Phase%202/Waterscape%20-%20Phase%202%20-%20CAM2012-03-19%20-%20Appendix%20C.jpg
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Phase%202/Waterscape%20-%20Phase%202%20-%20CAM2012-03-19%20-%20Appendix%20D.jpg
bcwessel
03-23-2012, 10:06 PM
I appreciate the fact that the developer recognizes the river as the site's greatest asset, but they could've made at least some sort of acknowledgement that in cities, streets are a pretty important asset for any site as well. Both phases of this development fall somewhere between lazy/unthinking and disrespectful in terms of site planning. Anything that doesn't actively attempt to stretch the elasticity that is walking distance to transit this close to not one but two major transit nodes isn't doing its job properly.
DHLawrence
03-24-2012, 12:09 AM
It's an improvement over contaminated brownfield. I wouldn't really want to walk along that stretch of Water Street anyway; the cars move way too fast along that incline.
Phase Two is a much nicer-looking building than Phase One. That frame around the third to fifth floors is a bit jarring, though. I don't know why architects insist on putting those "features" into everything they design.
SP!RE
03-26-2012, 10:59 AM
Wow... this new phase is a huge improvement. I like the black frame around the 3rd to 5th floors, and the darker vertical feature, the way the balconies are incorporated and the overall massing. It's much more contemporary and at least tries to have SOME semblance of architecture in it.
The ground level of this whole project, and the first tower, are abominations though. Yuck yuck yuck :(
Anderson3133
03-26-2012, 07:39 PM
I have to agree with SP!RE on this one. I love the large windows in the newly proposed development but I have no idea what they were thinking on the ground level.
BuildingScout
03-26-2012, 07:58 PM
I have to agree with SP!RE on this one. I love the large windows in the newly proposed development but I have no idea what they were thinking on the ground level.
They were aiming for the timeless "abandoned warehouse"-look.
Anderson3133
03-26-2012, 09:09 PM
They were aiming for the timeless "abandoned warehouse"-look.
:RpS_lol: Always a classic look.
UrbanWaterloo
11-19-2012, 06:46 PM
Phase 2 is currently 25% sold. The model unit is on the 8th floor of Phase 1 and is just to get a feel for potential finishes as it's floor plan doesn't exist in the 2nd phase. It has a great view looking down the river towards Galt City Centre.
November 18, 2012
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Phase%202/Waterscape%20-%20November%2018,%202012%20-%201%20R.jpg
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Phase%202/Waterscape%20-%20November%2018,%202012%20-%202%20R.jpg
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Phase%202/Waterscape%20-%20November%2018,%202012%20-%204%20R.jpg
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Phase%202/Waterscape%20-%20November%2018,%202012%20-%205%20R.jpg
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Phase%202/Waterscape%20-%20November%2018,%202012%20-%206%20R.jpg
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Phase%202/Waterscape%20-%20November%2018,%202012%20-%207%20R.jpg
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Phase%202/Waterscape%20-%20November%2018,%202012%20-%208%20R.jpg
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Phase%202/Waterscape%20-%20November%2018,%202012%20-%209%20R.jpg
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Phase%202/Waterscape%20-%20November%2018,%202012%20-%2010%20R.jpg
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Phase%202/Waterscape%20-%20November%2018,%202012%20-%2011%20R.jpg
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Phase%202/Waterscape%20-%20November%2018,%202012%20-%2012%20R.jpg
Price List
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Phase%202/Waterscape%20-%20November%2018,%202012%20-%20Price%20List.jpg
Bonus Offer
http://wonderfulwaterloo.com/wdrive/Developments/Cambridge/Downtown%20Galt/Waterscape/Phase%202/Waterscape%20-%20November%2018,%202012%20-%20Bonus%20Offer.jpg
The Comeback Kid
11-20-2012, 10:07 AM
It's funny to see how many condo projects in Galt are called 'The Grand'. I suppose it is a nice river...
DHLawrence
11-20-2012, 11:48 AM
And it's the only downtown in the entire region that actually faces onto the river. Everywhere else you have to go looking for it.
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