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01-08-2010, 09:22 AM

Reconstructing King Street
www.downtownkitchener.ca/news/kingstreet

http://www.downtownkitchener.ca/sites/cityofkitchener/images/kingstreet/reconstructingkingheader.jpg

View the final design drawings: (updated May 2009)

Francis-Water (http://www.downtownkitchener.ca/sites/cityofkitchener/files/2009-04-22_1_Francis-Water.pdf)
College-Young (http://www.downtownkitchener.ca/sites/cityofkitchener/files/2009-04-22_2_College-Young.pdf)
Young-Ontario (http://www.downtownkitchener.ca/sites/cityofkitchener/files/2009-04-22_3_Young-Ontario.pdf)
Ontario-Queen (http://www.downtownkitchener.ca/sites/cityofkitchener/files/2009-04-22_4_Ontario-Queen.pdf)
Queen-Frederick-Benton (http://www.downtownkitchener.ca/sites/cityofkitchener/files/2009-04-22_5_Queen-Frederick-Benton.pdf)
Speakers Corners (http://www.downtownkitchener.ca/sites/cityofkitchener/files/2009-04-22_6_Speakers-Corner.pdf)

Spokes

01-08-2010, 10:51 AM

Dynamic Downtown

The contemporary new King Street streetscape creates both a visual and physical link between millions of dollars worth of new private sector developments in the downtown including: Kaufman Lofts, Civic Centre, the Tannery District, University of Waterloo's downtown Health Sciences Campus, Wilfrid Laurier University's Faculty of Social Work, a new regional courthouse, a redeveloped Centre Block and a new digital media centre.

Designed to put pedestrians first, the new streetscape, along with these many exciting new downtown developments, is transforming King Street into a vibrant, urban, modern, environment full of creative energy—where the entrepreneurs, innovators and creators of tomorrow will live, work, learn and play.

Festival Street

Parades, festivals, ceremonies—when Kitchener celebrates, we celebrate on King—and now the community can celebrate in style. Curbs have been lowered, smaller event pads have been added, video projection has been installed high atop City Hall and in 2010, Civic Square will be expanded. Add these elements together and you've got a recipe for a premier community festival space.

http://www.downtownkitchener.ca/sites/cityofkitchener/images/2009-09kingst_festival.jpg

Green Street

Through public consultations, citizens were clear that it is important that King Street makes a statement about the community's concern for the environment.

King Street was recently designated as a "green street' by Tree Canada for its contribution to, and leadership in, creating an environmentally sustainable street design. A myriad of environmentally sustainable design features include: 120 new street trees; bike racks to encourage cycling; environmentally friendly planter beds that collect and filter storm water; use of recycled materials in the new roadway, recyclable benches and bollards; and improved waste management practices.

Wider Sidewalks

New, wider sidewalks and gently sloping, lowered curbs improve pedestrian accessibility while contributing to the new sleek and contemporary design. In the warmer months, restaurants, coffee shops and retailers will spill out onto the new sidewalks while events and summer festivals can now enjoy much more outdoor, interactive space. Collectively, these popular, trendy, urban features will make downtown a more enriching and diverse experience.

The new sidewalks add curb appeal for stores, restaurants and condo developments and are attractive to new developments looking to locate in the region.

http://www.downtownkitchener.ca/sites/cityofkitchener/images/2009-09kingst_sidewalks.jpg

Brighter Nights

New and contemporary street lighting, up-lighting in the street trees and other accent lighting now brightens up the street each evening. The new lighting—which offers two lights per pole—combined with brighter, more reflective sidewalks allows for higher and more even light levels at night, fewer and less pronounced shadows and reduced glare.

http://www.downtownkitchener.ca/sites/cityofkitchener/images/2009-09kingst_brightlights.jpg

More Street Trees and Planter Beds

Attractive, granite-clad planter beds spaced out throughout the three new blocks of King Street are multifunctional and serve as comfortable seating areas for pedestrians as well as helping to create a sustainable and green environment by collecting and filtering storm water before it enters the sewers.

The planter beds also act as an enhanced growing environment for 120 new street trees—80 more than the number of trees that were once planted in this portion of the downtown. The street trees—carefully selected, hardy varieties—now have proper soil quality, irrigation and drainage so that they can continue to generate shade and contribute to air quality and an appealing environment for downtown visitors to enjoy.

Bike Racks and Street Furniture

Cycling is a welcome alternative mode of transportation in the downtown. Everyone is welcome to use the additional bike racks that have been located throughout the three reconstructed blocks of King Street. If you're looking for a place to sit while you're out on a stroll on King or waiting to catch public transit, there will be additional benches and improved transit stops and shelters for your convenience.

http://www.downtownkitchener.ca/sites/cityofkitchener/images/2009-09kingst_bikes.jpg

Flexible Parking

The new streetscape design incorporates the use of custom European-style bollards which provide the downtown with much more flexibility to accommodate the more than 320,000 people who annually attend downtown events and festivals.

During the summer months when major events or street sales are occurring downtown, the bollards—freestanding, removable posts that delineate on-street parking spaces—can be used to close portions of the street to traffic or to convert on-street parking spaces into areas for outdoor cafes, patios and restaurant seating. During the winter months, the bollards can also be set to maintain on-street parking while still supporting a pedestrian-friendly environment.

http://www.downtownkitchener.ca/sites/cityofkitchener/images/2009-09kingst_parking.jpg

Speakers' Corners

The reconstruction of King Street will breathe new life into this traditional community gathering place at the corner of King and Benton Streets. The corner is being enhanced with a contemporary look, added seating for visitors, more of the same street trees that you see along King, increased street lighting, sustainable planters and increased space for outdoor events.

An intriguing and interactive public art installation—a tribute to anamorphic art which is based on photographs and is used to create visual illusions that entertain and delight viewers—will eventually complete the site.

http://www.downtownkitchener.ca/sites/cityofkitchener/images/2009-fall_speakerscorners.jpg

Contemporary Design

King Street will have some added colour and flair in the future, as new, modern light posts sport a wider variety of colorful banners advertising upcoming downtown events and festivals.

A $1.23 million injection into the project from the federal government's Community Adjustment Fund enabled the city to enhance the street further with additions including further improved night lighting, more street trees, more benches and bicycle racks, new winter decorations for the area and new contemporary furnishings for Civic Square in front of City Hall.

http://www.downtownkitchener.ca/sites/cityofkitchener/images/2009-09kingst_design.jpg

Clean, Inviting Style

Keeping the new street clean and free of garbage ensures that our downtown is a pedestrian friendly environment where residents, investors and shoppers will want to be. We will only be successful in keeping the street clean if we—the city, business owners and residents—work together.

A new environmentally-friendly, deep-well garbage disposal system, which reduces trash overflow and odour, has been incorporated right into the new street. The bins, for use by both pedestrians and those businesses without rear access to garbage disposal bins, have been placed in six strategic locations along the newly reconstructed streetscape.

http://www.downtownkitchener.ca/sites/cityofkitchener/images/2009-09kingstgarbage.jpg

Graffiti Resistant

Graffiti is a common sight in many downtowns and Kitchener is no exception. To ensure that the new streetscape can be maintained and cleaned more easily should graffiti occur, all of the new sidewalks, planter bed cladding, light posts and bollards will be specially-treated with a protective sealant.
http://www.downtownkitchener.ca/news/kingstreet/ (http://www.downtownkitchener.ca/news/kingstreet/)

Spokes

01-08-2010, 10:58 AM

Recapping
King Street to get makeover
Overhaul of Kitchener's downtown will widen sidewalks, add trees

December 12, 2007
LIZ MONTEIRO
RECORD STAFF

http://media.therecord.topscms.com/images/cf/0d/d323ff8441f6adb095e2fabdebaa.jpeg

KITCHENER - Kitchener will spend $5.68 million to inject more life into the downtown.

Sidewalks on King Street will be widened to make room for outdoor patios, under the plan approved by council this week.

More bike paths and more landscaping, including up to 100 new trees for the core, are also planned.

Work from College to Frederick streets will begin next spring.

Coun. Berry Vrbanovic said it's been 25 years since changes have been made to King Street.

"The downtown is the heart of the city,'' he said yesterday. "It's the first place visitors see. We want the downtown to be a place we can be proud of.''

Other structural changes include movable bollards -- metal posts that can be quickly inserted into receptacles in the road surface -- to allow part of the street to be closed for outdoor festivals.

Vrbanovic said revitalizing the downtown will attract more people to the already successful Kitchener Blues Festival and the K-W Multicultural Festival.

The redesign is part of a push by the city to create a more people-friendly environment downtown and a more vibrant landscape.

Last year, councillors were presented with four models. By spring, they'd chosen the "pedestrian-first" option.

In this option, the downtown core will have bike racks, improved street lighting, distinct transit stops and lower curbs to make it easier to turn the street into a festival environment.

Other features include solar-powered tree lights and stormwater planter beds, which absorb and filter rain water.

lmonteiro@therecord.com

http://news.therecord.com/article/281599 (http://news.therecord.com/article/281599)

City commits $8.8M to make core more pedestrian-friendly

June 19, 2008
Terry Pender
RECORD STAFF

KITCHENER - The makeover of the downtown stretch of King Street is back on after another $3 .2 million was added to the project's budget this week.

City councillors increased the budget to about $8.8 million, up from an earlier estimate of $5.7 million.

Tenders will be issued later this year for the work, which includes narrowing King Street, reducing the height of the curb, widening the sidewalks and adding more than 100 trees, decorative lamp posts and street furniture.

When the reconstruction came to city councillors for approval in April, they balked at the higher than expected costs. But a $3.2 million grant from Queen's Park has now been rolled into the budget.

The aim of the project is to transform King between Frederick and Francis into a pedestrian-oriented area that can easily be blocked off to cars for festivals. The estimated cost ranges from $9.7 million to $11.3 million.

Cory Bluhm, the city's urban investment adviser, said the tenders will be designed so that less expensive materials can be used to keep the costs within the maximum budget of $8.8 million.

"One of the items would be the amount of specialized surface treatments, like granite, reducing the amount we would require or looking at similar materials that may be a little more cost effective," Bluhm said.

New planters that allow rainwater to soak into the ground, new transit shelters and new bike racks will be installed. The area in front of City Hall will be better designed for major festivals, with accent lighting, caf?s, very low curbs and new trees.

The project is proceeding with few changes to the original plans, Bluhm said. "There are no major items we are removing, it's more scaling back in smaller detailed areas that would not impact the overall objective."

Construction schedules will not be set until the city consults with businesses along King Street. Whenever possible, the work will be done at times chosen by the business community so it won't suffer.

"We are going in with no pre-conceived notions as to when exactly we would start until we know from them what their desires are," Bluhm said.

"We suspect we would probably start at Speakers' Corner at Frederick Street and work toward City Hall, but until we get firm understanding from the business community we can't guarantee where we will start," Bluhm said.

If construction starts this fall it could be finished in the fall of 2010.

tpender@therecord.com

http://news.therecord.com/article/369989 (http://news.therecord.com/article/369989)

Steed and Evans wins contract for King Street makeover

December 17, 2008
RECORD STAFF

KITCHENER - Construction is now scheduled to begin in April on a $7.6 million makeover of King Street from Frederick to Francis.

Yesterday the city announced the successful bidder for the high-profile project is Steed and Evans Limited. During the next two years the sidewalks will be widened, the curbs lowered and the street narrowed. Under this pedestrian-first model the street can be easily blocked off for festivals.

More planters to hold shade trees and new light standards will be put in place.

The light standards will feature two 70-watt bulbs throwing lighting both on the sidewalk and the street.

"So we should get a nice, bright downtown," Mark Garner, the executive director of the Kitchener Downtown Business Association, said.

Garner was happy to hear a contractor was selected and the delayed project was scheduled to begin next spring. "It sounds great," he said.

The work will be done in three phases between 2009 and 2011 with most of it scheduled for 2009 and 2010.

http://news.therecord.com/article/459921 (http://news.therecord.com/article/459921)

King Street revamp coming

March 13, 2009
Terry Pender
RECORD STAFF

http://media.therecord.topscms.com/images/cc/7d/519615fd4a4c9ffe3aaa561a9311.jpeg

KITCHENER - Work begins next month on a three-block stretch of King Street that will turn the downtown core into a construction zone until the end of August.

The end result will be a pedestrian-oriented streetscape with wide sidewalks, a narrower roadway, cafés, benches, decorative lighting, tree planters and a city centre that can be easily blocked off to vehicles and turned over to people for events and festivals.

Construction will be staged in an effort to reduce the impact it will have on the businesses along that stretch of King Street, said Eric Saunderson, the project manager.

"We are continuing to work with the contractor to fine-tune and look at ways to accelerate and to get the work done as fast as reasonably possible," Saunderson said.

But Mark Pettigrew, owner of Casablanca Books at 146 King St. W., wishes the city would pause the construction work during the months of June, July and August.

"That's our high season," Pettigrew said. "This is going to affect our sales quite a bit."

Thousands of people attend the Kitchener Blues Festival in August and Pettigrew sells more books during the festival than at any other time of the year.

"We have stated our objections but it feels as though they are just not listening," Pettigrew said.

The city has scheduled the most disruptive work--the replacement of the roadway--for late August or early September.

It's another story, though, for the sidewalks. The spaces between the curbs and the building fronts -- sidewalks, planters, light standards -- will be done first on one side of the street and then the other. Then the street will be done.

"We keep the roadway in place as long as reasonably possible to keep the dust down," Saunderson said.

The project will cost $8.8 million, including a $3.2 million from the provincial government. "We are removing the curb so it will be a low-profile curb so it will appear to be one level surface for the most part," Saunderson said.

The redesign allows for flexible parking -- more spots in the winter, but fewer in the summer when the sidewalks have more people.

"It's an exciting design, to say the least, and it will be quite a noticeable change," Saunderson said. "It's long overdue."

A project open house is to be held at city hall on March 19, from 6 to 8 p.m.

tpender@therecord.com

King Street makeover will begin next month

March 20, 2009
RECORD STAFF

KITCHENER - Out with the concrete and in with the elms, oaks and maples.

This April will usher in a season-long construction project on King Street, part of a $7.6-million makeover turning the downtown into a greener, more pedestrian-friendly place.

By next year, you might not recognize it -- picture over a 100 new trees of six different species, grasses to filter storm water, and wider, "flexible" sidewalks that can be altered for patios and parking spaces.

"When we're done, there won't be anything like it in the region or the province," boasts Eric Saunderson, the city's project manager.

Workers will begin tearing up the old sidewalk April 6 on the south side of King Street, starting at Gaukel Street and moving west toward Benton Street. At Benton, the work will switch to the north side of the street, and construction will work its way back to City Hall, finishing up in September.

Work further east on King Street, up to Francis Street, is to be done in 2010.

Most people at a public information session last night seemed to like the city's plans.

"Downtown needs a major facelift," said Bob Clements, who lives in the city's west end.

"We don't shop downtown nearly as much as we used to 20 years ago . . . They need to give people a reason to come back."

http://news.therecord.com/article/506454 (http://news.therecord.com/article/506454)

Speakers Corner gets makeover

May 04, 2009
Terry Pender
RECORD STAFF

KITCHENER - The corner of King and Benton streets will be transformed in the coming months into an open, inviting public space as part of the city's $7.6 million makeover of the core's main street.

"It's definitely a big change from what we've had in the past," Cory Bluhm, an urban planner working in the city's economic development department, said.

Speakers Corner at Benton and King streets has already been cleared of trees, benches and gardens.

In the coming months new benches, trees, gardens, decorative lighting and granite clad walls will be constructed. The new plaza will feature a sculpture by local artist Allan Mackay.

"By September everything should be put back in order," Bluhm said.

The old corner was small and only a small number of people could sit on the benches there.

"Our hope is by opening it up it is a lot more inviting to a lot more people," Bluhm said.

"By moving toward more of a wide open, hard surface hopefully that allows groups like Oktoberfest to use it for a lot more public events and special events," Bluhm

The work at Speakers' Corner is expected to cost about $450,000.

While work is underway at Speakers' Corner, construction started near King and Gaukel streets.

During the coming months workers will proceed along King Street's south side heading toward Speakers' Corner.

Once there, construction switches to the north side of the street and heads back toward Gaukel.

Wider sidewalks, more planters holding about 100 new trees and decorative lighting will be added.

The whole idea is to make that stretch of King Street pedestrian friendly--an area that can easily be closed to vehicles during festivals.

tpender@therecord.com

http://news.therecord.com/article/531247 (http://news.therecord.com/article/531247)

King Street facelift in the home stretch

August 12, 2009
By Brent Davis, Record staff

KITCHENER — It’s been a difficult summer for downtown businesses, as work continues on one of the most dramatic facelifts in King Street’s history.

The finished product is getting positive reviews in the blocks where work is nearly done. But there’s still about seven weeks to go before the shovels fall silent for the year.

Throughout this first phase of the reconstruction project — which has seen the street narrowed and sidewalks widened to create a pedestrian-friendly atmosphere — maintaining access to businesses has been a priority.

However, with entire chunks of King Street closed to traffic for weeks at a time since the spring, and with another stretch near City Hall temporarily relegated to one-way flow, it’s been tough on many storekeepers.

“We all felt the pinch of slow sales for the two months of construction,” said Dawn Tran, co-owner of the Matter of Taste coffee shop. “Now that it’s open, things are starting to pick up.”

Tran said the pain was worth enduring, when she looks at the new streetscape’s planters, modern lights and sidewalks.

“Hopefully with this new streetscape, in most people’s eyes the downtown doesn’t seem to be as much of a scary place as it used to be.”

At Petsche’s Shoes, signs advertise a blowout sale as the store tries to move unsold inventory and regain some badly-need cash flow.

“The end result looks like it’s going to be beautiful,” manager Anita Petsche Good said. “But we personally have felt that the staging and delays in some of the construction work have definitely been difficult for us.

“We’re looking for a full return of vitality down here.”

Work on the first three-block phase is two weeks behind schedule, thanks in part to rainy days and unforeseen complications, project manager Eric Saunderson said. Completion of the first phase is now expected by the end of September.

The city is pleased with the contractor’s progress, especially in recent weeks. Saunderson said the $8.8 million project remains on budget.

By the end of September, crews should add a base coat of asphalt that will allow for parking on the new brick boulevards when road posts are removed.

A surface layer of asphalt and decorative crosswalks will be added later, likely next year. Next spring, work begins on three blocks on the other side of City Hall.

Although specifics on a parking and patio plan still have to be worked out, Saunderson said the new King Street will offer up to twelve additional parking spots when work is complete on the entire six-block stretch.

Wider boulevards and movable road posts were designed to allow for a flexible parking configuration.

Originally, the plan this year was to complete one side of King Street at a time. But with input from the Downtown Kitchener business association, the decision was made to complete an entire block at a time.

“There was a lot of interest from the local business community to take this block approach … so they wouldn’t be inconvenienced twice,” Saunderson said.

Restaurateur Peter Martin is critical of what he calls “project mismanagement” in altering the format after work was underway, and not doing a good job communicating the change.

He’s concerned about scheduling that allowed the King Street work to proceed in conjunction with road work on Lancaster and Queen streets, and about the loss of parking spaces at Charles and Benton streets as a parking garage is built.

“There’s a multitude of issues that different levels of government have to deal with, and they’re not all on the same page,” Martin said, inside his 20 King Restaurant.

But he acknowledged the street needs an overhaul, saying the cobblestone sidewalks went in shortly after he opened about two decades ago.

“We’re hearing businesses are down 50 to 70 per cent,” Martin said. “We’re trying to be optimistic about the long-term outcome.”

He said it will be key for the city to attract events to the core that draw crowds and make the most of the new layout.

Just down King, as backhoes tear up the street in front of her clothing store, Erin Young remains upbeat.

“I think it’s going to be great when it’s done,” said Young, co-owner of Inception. “Being in the third block, we’re able to see how the first block is looking.”

This is the business’s first brush with construction, but Young said she’s pleased with how crews have maintained access to the store.

“I think we expected it to be what it is,” she said. “We weren’t expecting it to be pretty.”

Saunderson said lessons learned during the first phase of the reconstruction will serve them well next year.

“It’s a very complicated project,” he said. “We understand there are a lot of business needs. We try to go above and beyond to do our best.”

bdavis@therecord.com

Spokes

01-08-2010, 11:04 AM

photos by urbandreamer http://www.urbantoronto.ca/showthrea...178#post301178

Photos taken at night, but wow, am I ever impressed! Best I've seen since Portland Oregon! (Or Montreal.)

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/6559/dsc07306d.jpg

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/7527/dsc07307.jpg

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/9364/dsc07308d.jpg

(Taken 6 August 2009)

Spokes

01-08-2010, 11:10 AM

From http://www.kitchener.ca/pdf/yourkitnews_2009_nov_dec.pdf:

Preliminary design work has started on the process to extend features of the King Street reconstruction project along College Street; and along Young Street up to the city-hall parking garage.

Those features include:

new street trees with tree guards and tree up- lighting;
planter beds and pots;
street lights;
benches;
moloks;
bollards;
bike racks, and
new paving stones.

The scope of these aspects of the reconstruction project is expected to be finalized soon.

--

From: http://www.kitchener.ca/infrastructure/city_hall_lighting.aspx

City hall lighting project

The city has been awarded $667,000 in federal and provincial infrastructure funding to enhance lighting around the perimeter of Kitchener City Hall (Young, King, College and Duke streets). The city has also contributed $333,000 in funding, which means the total amount allocated for this project is $1 million.
City Hall

Latest news

The lighting consultant for this project has been given approval to order parts for the walkway lighting. L.E.D. light fixtures have been selected for the front aluminum rail and granite benches, as well as the walkway lights.

Project background

The lighting upgrades will enhance the look of Civic Square; address some of the perceived safety issues; and highlight and showcase city hall as one of the main architectural features of the city.

Environmentally friendly aspects of the project include the replacement of old lighting technology with better, energy-efficient technology.

Spokes

01-08-2010, 11:11 AM

From JCollins - Taken November 14, 2009

Speakers Corner

http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af81/jcollins1311/Kitchener-Waterloo%20Shots/DSCF2205.jpg?t=1258225368

The new piece of art at Speakers Corner. It says "public speaking" around the base.

http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af81/jcollins1311/Kitchener-Waterloo%20Shots/DSCF2207.jpg?t=1258225408

Spokes

01-08-2010, 11:16 AM

Sleeker Speaker’s Corner still retains memories of old one

December 05, 2009
Melinda Dalton, Record staff

KITCHENER— With sleek granite, polished benches and modern light standards, the newly unveiled Speaker’s Corner bears little resemblance to its previous incarnation.

But looking closer at the square’s centrepiece — a shining, stainless steel cylinder — the memory of the old becomes apparent in the new.

“I think, very simply, we often forget our history,” said the man behind the work, artist Allan Harding MacKay. “It was really a way of relocating the memory.”

The redesigned Speaker’s Corner, located at the intersection of King and Benton streets, was unveiled Friday at a ceremony that formally marked the end of the first phase of the King Street redevelopment.

The project started last spring and is projected to cost just under $10 million when it’s finished.

“The reaction we’ve heard so far have been nothing but positive,” said city planner Cory Bluhm.

“I think what we didn’t sense prior to starting this project is there really is a sense of optimism and a sense that King Street really can be a special place for our community.”

The idea behind the project was to transform the city’s main thoroughfare into a sleek, environmentally conscious, urban centre with more places for pedestrians and little reminder of the hard times that have challenged the core.

The first phase included the section of King stretching from Benton up to city hall. New planters, improved and modern-looking street lights and wider sidewalks are the signatures of the newly reinvented downtown.

The idea behind the Speakers Corner renovation was to open up a more viable space for the community, said Bluhm.

“We wanted to make sure it is conducive to public events,” he said. “We wanted to give it a new civic function and still keep with the notion of what Speaker’s Corner was.”

That notion is summed up in the new focal points of the square — the three part installation that blends the corner’s soapbox heritage with its new, sleek facelift.

The work, titled Relocation and Transformation of Memory, is made up of three separate pieces in the square, including the centre sculpture. The piece features and anamorphic image – one that appears distorted unless viewed from a specific perspective.

When a viewer stands on the tiles at the base of the work and looks into the mirrored piece, they can see a photograph of the old square reflected back from a skewed image printed on the tiles.

Physics professor Jim Hunt of Guelph worked with MacKay to develop the anamorphic aspect of the piece.

Two granite-clad walls etched with the phrases, “SPEAK UP SPEAK OUT” and “SPEAKINGPUBLICSPEAKING” also border the square. The total cost for the art was $80,000.

The granite etchings mirror some of MacKay’s other high profile work, including the Veterans Memorial at the provincial legislature and the Pape subway modernization in Toronto.

The same granite used for the pieces at Speaker’s Corner will soon cover the new planters lining the entire stretch of King Street.

The piece drew a flock of curious onlookers Friday. Most stared for a few moments before cracking a smile when they discovered the reflection of the ghost of the old Speaker’s Corner.

“It’s so cool,” said Ashley Hamilton, who pulled over to check out what was happening in the square after she saw the crowd gathered. “I think it’s a great idea. It’s really beautiful.”

Work on the next phase of project has already started on the two streets bordering city hall. This spring, crews will start work on the stretch of King Street between Francis and Gaukel streets.

The major change on that stretch will be the expansion of the civic square in front of city hall. The curbs will be flattened so the square extends flat across King Street. Traffic will still be able to pass, but the area will be flexible and can easily be closed off for events, Bluhm said.

The entire redevelopment project is expected to be complete in 2011.

mdalton@therecord.com

http://news.therecord.com/article/639877 (http://news.therecord.com/article/639877)

UrbanWaterloo

01-09-2010, 12:07 PM

http://www.kitchener.ca/calendar/calendarEventDetailFull.aspx?tid=17775&caldate=Fri Dec 4, 2009

Speaker's Corner celebration
Fri Dec 4, 2009
The first phase of the King Street reconstruction has been completed, and the city is marking the occasion with the unveiling of its Speaker's Corner public art piece. As well, it will celebrate the designation of King Street as a "green street" as part of the Green Streets Canada program.
Start Time: 11:30 a.m.
Location: Speaker's Corner, Benton and King streets, downtown Kitchener

http://www.kitchenerdowntown.com/ (during early December):

Please join the City of Kitchener and the
Downtown Kitchener BIA as we celebrate:
The Completion of Phase 1
"Green Street Award" by
Tree Canada & Trees Ontario
Numerous fascade improvements
underway downtown
Relocation and Transformation:
a new public art sculpture
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4TH - 11:15 a.m.

December 4, 2009

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/SpeakersCornerCelebration-Decemb-2.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/SpeakersCornerCelebration-Decemb-1.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/SpeakersCornerCelebration-December4.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/SpeakersCornerCelebration-Decemb-8.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/SpeakersCornerCelebration-Decemb-7.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/SpeakersCornerCelebration-Decemb-6.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/SpeakersCornerCelebration-Decemb-5.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/SpeakersCornerCelebration-Decemb-4.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/SpeakersCornerCelebration-Decemb-3.jpg]

Spokes

01-09-2010, 01:28 PM

Updates of the King Street Makeover extension - the City Hall Lighting project from today. The same kind of planters and lights as King st. Should integrate quite well. I wonder if they'll do other side streets the same way in years to come?

http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af81/jcollins1311/Kitchener-Waterloo%20Shots/IM000061.jpg?t=1263061584

smably

02-08-2010, 09:13 PM

For historical reference, here are the before and after photos I posted on SSP:

Before:
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k55/smably/kitchener/1B.jpg
After:
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k55/smably/kitchener/1A.jpg

Before:
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k55/smably/kitchener/16B.jpg
After:
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k55/smably/kitchener/16A.jpg

Before:
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k55/smably/kitchener/2B.jpg
After:
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k55/smably/kitchener/2A.jpg

Before:
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k55/smably/kitchener/4B.jpg
After:
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k55/smably/kitchener/4A.jpg

Before:
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k55/smably/kitchener/5B.jpg
After:
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k55/smably/kitchener/5A.jpg

UrbanWaterloo

02-08-2010, 09:41 PM

Nice photos smably! :)

Spokes

02-08-2010, 10:03 PM

Very nice. A definite difference!

Spokes

02-08-2010, 10:08 PM

An update was given at the DTS meeting tonight (wasnt there but details are here: http://www.kitchener.ca/Files/Item/item18153_dts-10-034.pdf)

Work on the Young-Duke-College expansion is to resume late March
The second phase of King st is to start by April 5
Stage 1a: Young Street to College Street (late March / early April to early June)
Stage 1b: College Street to Water Street (May to July 9, *road reopened for “Cruising on King”)
Stage 2: Water Street to Francis Street (July to September, *road reopened for “Oktoberfest”)

UrbanWaterloo

03-08-2010, 12:27 PM

SUBJECT: EXTENSION OF PURCHASE ORDER - NEDCO LIGHTING
DATE OF MEETING: March 8, 2010
DATE OF REPORT: March 1, 2010
REPORT TO: Councillor B. Vrbanovic, Chair, and Members of the Finance
and Corporate Services Committee
SUBMITTED BY: Steve Allen, Manager, Engineering Design and Approvals.
Development and Technical Services
PREPARED BY: Steve Allen, Manager, Engineering Design and Approvals.
Development and Technical Services
WARD(S) INVOLVED: 1,6
REPORT NO.: DTS-10-059
http://www.kitchener.ca/Files/Item/item18331_dts-10-059_-_extension_of_po_-_nedco_lighting.pdf

RECOMMENDATION: That the purchase order PO#200386 issued to Nedco Electric be extended by $119,837 to accommodate the additional purchase of pedestrian lighting and traffic poles, to be used on the CAF and ISF funded improvements on King Street and adjacent to City Hall.

BACKGROUND:
As part of the King Street Streetscape project a contract for the supply of pedestrian lighting and intersection poles was awarded by council to Nedco Electric through a competitive bidding process (T09-005). The first phase of the King Street project is complete and roughly half of the material has been delivered and installed.
In 2009, the City applied for and was awarded funding from two grant applications, namely the Community Adjustment Fund (CAF) – “King Street Reconstruction” and the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund (ISF) – “City Hall Lighting”. The scope of work covered by these grants include the supply and installation of additional intersection poles on King Street and new pedestrian lighting adjacent to City Hall (College Street, Young Street, Duke Street, Civic Square). For continuity, the lighting types installed are the same as what has been installed as part of the King Street Streetscape project.

REPORT:
The pedestrian lighting and intersection poles used in the first phase of the King Street project were supplied by Nedco through a competitive bidding process (T09-005). To accommodate the purchase of 19 additional pedestrian light poles which form part of the work being completed under the CAF and ISF grant programs., the purchase order for Nedco must be increased by $119,837.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The cost of the work identified in the grant applications has been previously approved by
Council and is based on a 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 funding model.

RangersFan

03-16-2010, 07:29 PM

King Street redevelopment to start again in April

March 16, 2010

By Melinda Dalton, Record staff

KITCHENER — They’re readying the shovels for another season of construction in the city’s core.

The second phase of the $10 million King Street redevelopment project is slated to get underway April 5.

Work will start at the foot of city hall, where the road will be levelled to create a public space for festivals and events.

“We’re extending civic square across the street so it doesn’t look like city hall with a road running beside it,” said Cory Bluhm, manager of downtown community development. “When you hold special events, it won’t feel like you’re having events in the middle of a street. You’re actually holding it within an actual public square.”

After it’s completed, cars will still be able to drive past city hall. But, the space, which will be constructed out of concrete, will be easily converted into a pedestrian area with movable bollards.

That portion of the work is expected to take nine weeks, enough time to make sure it doesn’t impact the annual summer events happening in the square, Bluhm said.

At the end of April, work will start block by block on the rest of the stretch from College to Francis Street.

King Street will be closed to traffic as the work is done, but the sidewalks will remain open to pedestrians, as will the businesses.

Dozens of new trees, bike racks and environmentally-friendly planters that filter rain water will be added, mirroring the work already completed in the first phase last year.

That phase, which included the stretch of King between Frederick and Gaukel streets, wrapped up just before Oktoberfest. The project got off to a slightly sluggish start, but Bluhm said the contractors are now familiar with the build and he anticipates the next phase of the work will progress on schedule.

The city was able to extend the project up Young and College streets around city hall after it received stimulus and community fund grants from the federal and provincial governments last fall.

Most of that work was completed in the winter. That portion is still awaiting trees and, as with the rest of Phase 1, finishing touches on the planters. Crews will be out affixing granite to them this spring.

While the street shut downs have had an affect on businesses fronting onto the construction, Bluhm said most have expressed to the city they’re excited about the end result. Several have applied or completed façade improvements through the city’s granting program.

About six restaurants and cafes have already expressed interested in opening up outdoor patios on the newly extended pedestrian space this summer, he said.

“We’re also hearing a lot more inquires about prospective businesses looking to fill empty spaces. It seems to be generating the interest we envisioned it generating,” he said.

The streetscaping work should be complete by mid-September, according to the city’s schedule. The finishing touches, like a final layer of asphalt for the downtown King Street strip, will come after that.

The city has put out an alternative parking map for anyone concerned about finding a spot during the construction. To see the map, go to www.downtownkitchener.ca and click on “Reconstructing King Street”.

Urbanomicon

03-17-2010, 12:46 PM

From: http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/685388

http://media.therecord.topscms.com/images/65/02/b07b02254ac6804225f7589c9cd1.jpeg

An architects reconstruction illustrates the planned redevelopment of the Kitchener Civic Square.

Spokes

03-17-2010, 01:53 PM

That looks great?

So does it just mean that in front of City Hall there will be no curb?

Urbanomicon

03-17-2010, 02:55 PM

Spokes

03-17-2010, 03:20 PM

I'm not sure, but that looks like a great venue for an outdoor concert. I'm looking forward to the Kitchener Blues Festival and The Beat Rocks the Block to really take advantage of the new flexibility offered by this reconstruction.

Absolutely!

That being said, I wonder if it's enough space for traffic to be blocked off, or if they'll have to block off additional blocks as well

Urbanomicon

03-17-2010, 07:06 PM

Absolutely!

That being said, I wonder if it's enough space for traffic to be blocked off, or if they'll have to block off additional blocks as well

For larger concerts I think they would have to block off back to Young Street to accomodate the crowds.

Spokes

03-18-2010, 03:36 PM

With this great weather, Speakers Corner has become quite popular. I've seen a number of people there.

Spokes

03-29-2010, 07:23 PM

Noticed a number of planters were being clad with granite today on phase 1. Also, some benches were being installed.

UrbanWaterloo

03-29-2010, 08:13 PM

Around the same time I was snapping these pictures (7:00-7:03 PM) you were posting you had seen the granite today: I guess great minds really do think alike! :p

Granite Being Installed By Budds - March 29, 2010

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/ReconstructingKingStreet-March29-3.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/ReconstructingKingStreet-March29-2.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/ReconstructingKingStreet-March29-1.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/ReconstructingKingStreet-March29-4.jpg

Spokes

03-29-2010, 10:12 PM

These are going to look great. Im hoping that they don't provide a good surface for skateboarders to grind on (not going to get into a huge debate about that though). I know they've been used already, which Im not overly upset with, but once the granite is on, I could see it cracking/chipping quite easily. If they are using it, given what it costs, police should issue tickets.

Then again granite could provide a terrible surface to grind/slide on and it could be a non factor.

Edit: Maybe the spaces between the granite tiles are for metal brackets to prevent this?

UrbanWaterloo

04-02-2010, 10:14 AM

Continuing to add more granite...

Front of Bobby O'Brien's - April 1, 2010

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/ReconstructingKingStreet-InFrontofB.jpg

Spokes

04-02-2010, 12:41 PM

Ya I sat on Bobby Obriens patio the other day admiring it. They're starting on a number of the other planters which is great news. I thought they would do both phases at once this fall or next spring so its nice to see phase one getting its finishing touches

UrbanWaterloo

04-07-2010, 12:14 AM

April 6, 2010

Granite in front of Budds is now fence-less.
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/ReconstructingKingStreet-April62-4.jpg

Phase 2 Photos
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/ReconstructingKingStreet-April62-7.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/ReconstructingKingStreet-April62-5.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/ReconstructingKingStreet-April62-3.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/ReconstructingKingStreet-April62-2.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/ReconstructingKingStreet-April62-1.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/ReconstructingKingStreet-April62010.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/ReconstructingKingStreet-April62-8.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/ReconstructingKingStreet-April62-9.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/ReconstructingKingStreet-April62-6.jpg

taylortbb

04-07-2010, 01:12 AM

I hope there's more work coming on those planters. The gaps certainly need to be filled in or that will look very odd. Same goes for the rest of the planter, I hope the other 3 sides are getting some treatment.

Razzie

04-07-2010, 01:41 AM

The gaps make it tougher for skateboarders to grind on the edges, so I have a feeling it's gonna stay that way.

garthdanlor

04-07-2010, 04:00 AM

The gaps make it tougher for skateboarders to grind on the edges, so I have a feeling it's gonna stay that way.

Hmm, I was looking at these the other day and was wondering about the large gaps...didn't consider them as a skateboard deterrent. I guess they also create the illusion of separate benches. I hope they at least clean the excess mud & grout from the gaps to make it look a bit tidier. Thought the new wooden benches look kinda sharp though.

Spokes

04-07-2010, 08:16 AM

The gaps alone are definitely a deterrent for skateboarders. You can't grind on that. I was thinking they'd be installing those metal brackets to act as a deterrent. Id rather that then the open spaces.

Im thinking we might see a quicker/more efficient construction period this year. They admitted they made some mistakes and learned from them so it'll be interesting to see if WE notice any differences.

UrbanWaterloo

04-07-2010, 02:03 PM

I'd prefer the metal brackets myself, and I also agree the other 3 sides need finishing as well. I posted the photo not because I think they've completed working on them, but rather incase people now wanted to look-up close and touch the granite to see exactly what it looked/felt like.

UrbanWaterloo

04-07-2010, 02:09 PM

Staging Schedule for 2010 King Street Construction — Phase 2
http://www.downtownkitchener.ca/news/kingstreet/

Downtown Kitchener's transformation continues with Phase two of the reconstruction of King Street in 2010. Designed to put pedestrians first, the new streetscape is transforming King Street into a vibrant, urban, modern environment. Construction will begin April 5, 2010 and go block by block on King Street, from Young Street (city hall) to Francis Street.

Downtown businesses will remain open throughout construction, as well, the annual City of Kitchener special events will also take place during construction.

http://www.downtownkitchener.ca/sites/cityofkitchener/images/rks_map_march2010_mod.jpg

Throughout this construction project we will provide updates to the businesses and residents situated along King street that are directly affected by the construction.

Thank you to all the businesses, pedestrians and residents for their ongoing co-operation as we continue to work our way through the King Street reconstruction project. Your patience has been very much appreciated.

Spokes

04-10-2010, 03:35 PM

Looks like they'll be logging longer hours.

City staff are recommending to lift the noise bylaw between 7pm and 7am. From the look of the document, they're going to be working through the night often times.

http://www.kitchener.ca/Files/Item/item18786_dts-10-073.pdf

UrbanWaterloo

04-12-2010, 05:46 PM

Started filling in the smaller gaps with a jelly/grout-like substance.

April 12, 2010

Granite Being Installed In Front Of Budds
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/ReconstructingKingStreet-GraniteBei.jpg

Granite Being Installed In Front Of Bobby O'Brien's
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/ReconstructingKingStreet-Granite-1.jpg

UrbanWaterloo

04-21-2010, 02:05 AM

Lighting By Crabby Joes - April 20, 2010

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/ReconstructingKingStreet-ByCrabbyJo.jpg

Spokes

04-21-2010, 08:34 AM

I can't wait to see these completely clad in granite. For two reasons, one it'll look great, two they can finally fill them with soil and plant in them, it'll make them look 10 times better

Spokes

05-18-2010, 03:46 PM

UrbanWaterloo

05-21-2010, 10:10 PM

Talking to a worker today...

Good News: They're going to be filling in the large gaps, which is great because right now it looks unfinished.

Bad News: Granite is only for the one side. I guess that's where the budget constraints came in. :mad:

May 21, 2010

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/ReconstructingKingStreet-May212010-.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/ReconstructingKingStreet-May2120-1.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/ReconstructingKingStreet-May2120-2.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/ReconstructingKingStreet-May2120-3.jpg

panamaniac

05-21-2010, 11:04 PM

Every time I stand on the corner of King and Francis or King and Victoria, I think how much of a shame it is that the makeover is not going all the way to King and Victoria, I personally think it'll look a bit incomplete.

I agree with you, but Francis has always been the western end of "Downtown" King Street. The prominence of King and Victoria as something other than an industrial crossroads is a recent development and I guess the City hasn't caught up yet.

Urbanomicon

05-21-2010, 11:53 PM

I agree with you, but Francis has always been the western end of "Downtown" King Street. The prominence of King and Victoria as something other than an industrial crossroads is a recent development and I guess the City hasn't caught up yet.

I imagine that if the King Street reconstruction is a success, they will extend it towards Victoria in the coming years. Maybe someday it will extend all the way to Uptown Waterloo. *dreams*

mpd618

05-22-2010, 12:00 AM

I imagine that if the King Street reconstruction is a success, they will extend it towards Victoria in the coming years. Maybe someday it will extend all the way to Uptown Waterloo. *dreams*

I love the new streetscape and look forward to more of it, but I hope that future sections further out also provide quality space for cycling.

taylortbb

05-22-2010, 01:33 AM

I agree with you, but Francis has always been the western end of "Downtown" King Street. The prominence of King and Victoria as something other than an industrial crossroads is a recent development and I guess the City hasn't caught up yet.

I suspect that Francis being the border between the City Centre District and the Warehouse District may have something to do with it. They'll likely want to do something a little more thematically appropriate through the Warehouse District, something with an old-fashioned feel. That being said, I'm not certain that's a good idea on King St. The only old building on King St in the Warehouse District in the Kaufman lofts, and there's the UW pharmacy campus which is definitely modern. I think in an ideal world the streetscaping could go as far as William St. Beyond that it doesn't fit with the design of Uptown. More realistically though, I want to see it extended through the Market District. Though not right away, the new streetscape is bringing new life to downtown Kitchener, let's not kill it with permanent construction.

Waterlooer

05-22-2010, 09:51 AM

They need to reconstruct the market district... I think it's the worst district in downtown Kitchener.

Duke-of-Waterloo

05-22-2010, 11:36 AM

I imagine that if the King Street reconstruction is a success, they will extend it towards Victoria in the coming years. Maybe someday it will extend all the way to Uptown Waterloo. *dreams*

Maybe somehow combine the Uptown and Downtown streatscape improvements? :)

smably

05-23-2010, 01:22 PM

I walked through downtown today and saw a few places with tables out on the sidewalk. The ones I remember were in front of Matter of Taste, Coffee Culture, and around Taco Bite (not sure whether it's theirs though). They seemed to be pretty popular.

Spokes

05-23-2010, 06:55 PM

Spokes

05-23-2010, 06:58 PM

I imagine that if the King Street reconstruction is a success, they will extend it towards Victoria in the coming years. Maybe someday it will extend all the way to Uptown Waterloo. *dreams*

That'd be amazing. I hope you're right. I think if they do Francis to Victoria, it'll be part of a bigger project further along King, they woudlnt do just that block

Spokes

05-23-2010, 06:59 PM

They need to reconstruct the market district... I think it's the worst district in downtown Kitchener.

Ya, there are a lot of problems there though, not just the street scaping, but its definitely part of it.

Spokes

05-23-2010, 07:00 PM

Maybe somehow combine the Uptown and Downtown streatscape improvements? :)

Or if/when they redo mid town design it so it connects to both downtown and uptown, have it be kind of a transitional area.

Waterlooer

05-23-2010, 10:29 PM

I think King Street North in Waterloo needs to be reconstructed. It's a road built for cars not people. They need a streetscape for up there with vegetation and make it more comfortable for pedestrians and bikers.

UrbanWaterloo

05-24-2010, 06:13 PM

Patios - May 21, 2010

Coffee Culture (1 King Street West)
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/CoffeeCulturePatio1KingStreetWestKi.jpg

Cafe Maestro (24 King Street East)
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/CafeMaestroPatio24KingStreetEastKit.jpg

panamaniac

05-24-2010, 07:48 PM

I like what Maestro's is doing, but could do without the Coffee Culture's line of "boundary boxes". Not sure why, exactly, but the former just seems more "boulevardier".

Spokes

05-24-2010, 08:24 PM

They might be temporary until they put up actual fences, if that is the plan that is.

panamaniac

05-24-2010, 10:04 PM

They might be temporary until they put up actual fences, if that is the plan that is.

Hope not, although if alcohol is to be sold, I think Ontario's puritanical liquour laws may require it.

Spokes

05-24-2010, 10:45 PM

Hope not, although if alcohol is to be sold, I think Ontario's puritanical liquour laws may require it.

That would make sense. I wondered that about the patio at The Museum Cafe and if thats why they had the fencing.

taylortbb

05-24-2010, 11:52 PM

They might be temporary until they put up actual fences, if that is the plan that is.

The planters are supposed to be in place of fences, they're purchased through the BIA to co-ordinate the look. Cafes serving alcohol need a fence, hence The Museum.

I agree that the current coffee culture look isn't very good. Hopefully they straighten them out once it's actually setup.

UrbanWaterloo

05-25-2010, 12:09 AM

The thing I don't like about the Coffee Culture set-up is the awkward pedestrian flow, weaving from the right-side along the patio to the left side along the bus shelter. The patio should be beside the street (like Cafe Maestro) to allow a smooth flow of pedestrians along the side of the building.

taylortbb

05-25-2010, 03:07 AM

Spokes

05-25-2010, 07:26 AM

The planters are supposed to be in place of fences, they're purchased through the BIA to co-ordinate the look. Cafes service alcohol need a fence, hence The Museum.

I agree that the current coffee culture look isn't very good. Hopefully they straighten them out once it's actually setup.

They have, I was sitting out on their patio yesterday. And they look considerably better with the patio furnature out there, they blend in a lot more rather than looking like a baracade.

UrbanWaterloo

05-31-2010, 06:42 PM

Coffee Culture Patio (1 King Street West) - May 31, 2010

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/CoffeeCulturePatio1KingStreetWest-M.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/CoffeeCulturePatio1KingStreetWes-1.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/CoffeeCulturePatio1KingStreetWes-2.jpg

UrbanWaterloo

05-31-2010, 06:47 PM

Front of City Hall - May 31, 2010

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/ReconstructingKingStreet-CityHall-M.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/ReconstructingKingStreet-CityHal-1.jpg

Urbanomicon

05-31-2010, 09:40 PM

Now that's a sidewalk. :)

DKsan

06-11-2010, 10:21 PM

Intersection closed as King Street reconstruction project moves along
June 11, 2010
Record staff

KITCHENER – Starting Monday, the intersection at Water and King streets will be shut down for two weeks as crews continue work on the downtown reconstruction project.

The intersection will shut down at 6 a.m., prohibiting all through traffic. Construction crews will be conducting underground utility work as well as installing concrete curbs and making improvements to the sidewalk.

Local access will be permitted on Water Street from Charles Street to Halls Lane and from Duke Street to Bell Lane but no access will be permitted across King Street, between Halls Lane and Bell Lane. Pedestrians will have access to the area.

Phase 2 of the King Street reconstruction project, which began April 5, will feature wider sidewalks, flexible parking, improved lighting, street trees and planters that will filter storm water.
http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/726929

UrbanWaterloo

06-15-2010, 03:24 PM

At last Thursday's Downtown Advisory Committee meeting, it was mentioned that:

Final Paving for Phase 1 will take place on June 23rd. Sewer heads are to be raised this week.
Civic Square in front of City Hall opens July 9th.

June 14, 2010

King & Water
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/ReconstructingKingStreet-June142010.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/ReconstructingKingStreet-June142-1.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/ReconstructingKingStreet-June142-2.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/ReconstructingKingStreet-June142-3.jpg

Civic Square
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/ReconstructingKingStreet-June142-4.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/ReconstructingKingStreet-June142-5.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/ReconstructingKingStreet-June142-6.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/ReconstructingKingStreet-June142-7.jpg

King Street (@ College)
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/ReconstructingKingStreet-June142-8.jpg

Finally! So this is how they're going to fill in the larger gaps, with raised granite. Example on the Young Street side of City Hall. They still need to put some sealer on though imo.
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/ReconstructingKingStreet-June142-9.jpg

Spokes

06-15-2010, 04:56 PM

Finally! So this is how they're going to fill in the larger gaps, with raised granite. Example on the Young Street side of City Hall. They still need to put some sealer on though imo.
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/ReconstructingKingStreet-June142-9.jpg

Looks pretty good!
Any word on the other 3 sides of the planter? Its not granite but will they leave it bare?

Urban_Enthusiast86

06-15-2010, 05:17 PM

Civic Square
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/ReconstructingKingStreet-June142-4.jpg

Okay, so I'm confused about this. Why does it look like there's continuous sidewalk in front of city hall from one side of the street to the other? Will this be paved over? If not, how can you tell the difference between the road and the sidewalks?

Spokes

06-15-2010, 05:21 PM

Okay, so I'm confused about this. Why does it look like there's continuous sidewalk in front of city hall from one side of the street to the other? Will this be paved over? If not, how can you tell the difference between the road and the sidewalks?

The goal is to be able to close off King St and have the entire area as pedestrian only for big events

Urban_Enthusiast86

06-15-2010, 05:28 PM

The goal is to be able to close off King St and have the entire area as pedestrian only for big events

Okay, but what about when there aren't big events going on?

UrbanWaterloo

06-15-2010, 05:33 PM

Any word on the other 3 sides of the planter? Its not granite but will they leave it bare?

Unfortunately I've heard they're going to remain bare concrete. Initially they wanted to use more granite, but the other sides were part of the cuts when the tenders came in higher than expected. Although it's not too late to up the budget a bit (Hint Hint to any city planners reading this ;)).

Okay, but what about when there aren't big events going on?

Probably the bollards will be in place to distinguish between the sidewalk & the road. It looks really neat in person, although super bright on a sunny day. Vehicles are already driving through the King/Gaukel intersection.

DKsan

06-15-2010, 05:38 PM

I was walking around downtown Kitchener on Saturday and I must say this looks rather impressive. I just showed the above pictures to a friend and he said it looked vaguely like a road.

Urbanomicon

06-15-2010, 05:39 PM

Okay, but what about when there aren't big events going on?

I assume they will also be painting lines/turning lanes/etc. on the road/sidewalk to make it clear.

mpd618

06-15-2010, 10:15 PM

I assume they will also be painting lines/turning lanes/etc. on the road/sidewalk to make it clear.

The fewer markings there are, the less clear it is for drivers, and the more cautious they are. You can bet that cars will be driving even slower along that stretch of King as on the rest of the already narrow redesigned sections.

UrbanWaterloo

06-22-2010, 12:19 PM

King & Ontario - June 22, 2010
Sewer heads have been raised for the Final Paving of Phase 1 which is scheduled to start tomorrow.

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/ReconstructingKingStreet-Phase1Fina.jpg

Spokes

06-22-2010, 12:26 PM

Im curious what kind of pedestrian crossings they'll paint at the intersections. My guess, and hope, is the "ladder" style ones they painted at King and Victoria a while back

UrbanWaterloo

07-12-2010, 03:41 AM

July 11, 2010

King Street is now open up to Water Street.
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/SAM_2615.jpg

There's now a sloped entrance up to Shoppers which looks much better.
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/SAM_2617.jpg

Plaza in front of City Hall.
http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/Reconstructing%20King%20Street/SAM_2622.jpg

Spokes

07-12-2010, 08:59 AM

That new entrance to SDM is 100x better than it used to be, I was thrilled to see it was changed. Things are coming along nicely. They really don't have that much more to do, shouldn't take until late september as it did last year.

Hopefully this stretch gets a jumpstart over the next year or so.

Spokes

07-12-2010, 09:07 AM

On a totally off topic (from this thread at least) I think the project that SDM is located in is a really understated project, but in my mind, one of the more important ones! It looks great, serves a great purpose, and houses a lot of employees! WW Award anyone? Too bad it's a year late.

Just take a look at this pic from UrbanWaterloo's Cruising on King photo set:

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Culture/CruisingonKing-July92010-37b.jpg

KevinL

07-12-2010, 05:06 PM

On a totally off topic (from this thread at least) I think the project that SDM is located in is a really understated project, but in my mind, one of the more important ones! It looks great, serves a great purpose, and houses a lot of employees!

Indeed! I still find it hard to believe it's the same building as the old King's College cinemas (many memories of 90s summer blockbusters there).

jeffsangers

07-13-2010, 04:28 PM

I like seeing our tax dollars hard at work

I'm more that satisfied with the results

Rowe

08-03-2010, 06:44 PM

I go Downtown so much more often now that this has been developed. One of the best things to happen to Kitchener and maybe the region in terms of design. The use of the planters as bioswales, the type of street trees that can handle 'urban stress' and the fact that there is now an extended public realm in front of the city's most important civic building.

I don't like the quality of the white strips on the bollards but overall I love it.

Spokes

08-03-2010, 08:54 PM

Rowe

08-03-2010, 09:38 PM

Thanks I appreciate that.

I'm glad that the city is investing in downtown. My father has told me of a time when downtown was the place to be. I hopeful of downtown Kitchener.

Spokes

08-03-2010, 10:05 PM

Thanks I appreciate that.

I'm glad that the city is investing in downtown. My father has told me of a time when downtown was the place to be. I hopeful of downtown Kitchener.

It's got some improvement to go still, but a friend and I were talking after having beers on Bobby Obrien's patio, if this continues it's going to be the place to be again. A drastic difference from what it was like 10 years ago.

Rowe

08-03-2010, 10:23 PM

Spokes

08-03-2010, 10:37 PM

Agreed.

I went to Cameron Heights starting in 2004. I was seeing everyday the slowing down of downtown. Seeing Market Square every year lose a store.. a restaurant.. then just the dead silence of the whole place during my spare in my last year.

But its good to see Kitchener not giving up on it's downtown.

Ya market square has changed so much. I worked at Braun's on Scott street in high school and going back there now, it's changed so much. So many stores are gone. Back then neither the Record or Stantec were there too.

In your time at Cameron you would have seen things start to get a bit better though, although maybe while there was action happening, the true evidence wasn't able to be seen yet.

Rowe

08-03-2010, 10:44 PM

Spokes

08-03-2010, 10:49 PM

From what I remember the transition went from Market Square to Your Kitchener Market. Students still go further downtown thought. Yes, I did see a lot of the older changes to downtown such as the Record.

But the biggest notice was Market Square. Those shops were all occupied in 2004 but in 2008 there was so little.

Heck, now there's so little. Im surprised Athletic Direct stayed. Nigel's just a stubborn guy. He'd do a lot better in a King/Charles/Duke street facing location. Lots more traffic. Probably lots more money to rent though.

jay

08-03-2010, 11:59 PM

Spokes

08-04-2010, 07:40 AM

Speaking of Bobby's it has been better lately and will get better after Centre Block is built. The only thing that hinders downtown is the homeless/crazies walking around. Me and the GF went to Coffee Culture the other day and it amazed me on how many people were sitting on there outdoor patio who weren't even supporting the business, and how many homeless people went into the place as we sat there. I'm not trying to start a debate on the whole homeless/shady aspect of downtown kitchener, but it is a major turnoff to people going there to eat/drink.

Hopefully with all this revitalization going on it will curb this problem a little. I felt bad for the people working there to tell you the truth.

Ya Ive noticed that too. Its definitely an issue. And a lot of the employees dont want to go out there and ask them to leave. But that being said there's still a number of people (regardless of class) that grab a coffee before sitting out there. Not sure how to enforce it though.

As for Bobby's, ya it's been a lot better. More and more people are coming downtown and it's making the atmosphere a lot better.

But you're right about the people. And I think you're right too though that the revitalization will help things. I think the more people there are in the core, the better it will be. (or seem)

diego

08-04-2010, 10:28 AM

Speaking of Bobby's it has been better lately and will get better after Centre Block is built. The only thing that hinders downtown is the homeless/crazies walking around. Me and the GF went to Coffee Culture the other day and it amazed me on how many people were sitting on there outdoor patio who weren't even supporting the business, and how many homeless people went into the place as we sat there. I'm not trying to start a debate on the whole homeless/shady aspect of downtown kitchener, but it is a major turnoff to people going there to eat/drink.

Hopefully with all this revitalization going on it will curb this problem a little. I felt bad for the people working there to tell you the truth.

Well the reason for this is because there is a much larger number of homeless shelters and support services in downtown Kitchener, while Waterloo has decided to completely ignore them. It will definitely get better as more people move downtown, it's not the number of homeless people, it's just that there's not enough of the other types of people that it seems there are too many of them (just look at any bigger city). Even with all of its negative aspects, the fact that Kitchener supports homeless and unprivileged people is a very good thing from a social planning point of view.

fin2limb

08-04-2010, 12:03 PM

Speaking of Bobby's it has been better lately and will get better after Centre Block is built. The only thing that hinders downtown is the homeless/crazies walking around. Me and the GF went to Coffee Culture the other day and it amazed me on how many people were sitting on there outdoor patio who weren't even supporting the business, and how many homeless people went into the place as we sat there. I'm not trying to start a debate on the whole homeless/shady aspect of downtown kitchener, but it is a major turnoff to people going there to eat/drink.

Hopefully with all this revitalization going on it will curb this problem a little. I felt bad for the people working there to tell you the truth.

Honestly, I can't go for a walk downtown without running into at least one person who asks me for money. I don't view it as a threat to my safety, or even as an inconvenience. It's just part of living downtown in a city.

I think some people blow it out of proportion though... Like my friends that live in Waterloo that frequently pull out adjectives like "sketchy" or "scummy" when describing downtown Kitchener. It's really not that "sketchy".

As for the upgrades to the street scape. I moved to downtown at about the same time they started construction and I have to say that I'm pleased with the results! Maybe the facelift will help change the negative perceptions of downtown and help bring more people and businesses to the core.

mpd618

08-04-2010, 04:15 PM

I think some people blow it out of proportion though... Like my friends that live in Waterloo that frequently pull out adjectives like "sketchy" or "scummy" when describing downtown Kitchener. It's really not that "sketchy".

As for the upgrades to the street scape. I moved to downtown at about the same time they started construction and I have to say that I'm pleased with the results! Maybe the facelift will help change the negative perceptions of downtown and help bring more people and businesses to the core.

At this point King Street in downtown Kitchener is for people, whereas King Street in uptown Waterloo remains for cars (5-6 lane wide roadway!). Once people experience this difference, their perceptions will change.

Spokes

08-04-2010, 05:04 PM

Well the reason for this is because there is a much larger number of homeless shelters and support services in downtown Kitchener, while Waterloo has decided to completely ignore them. It will definitely get better as more people move downtown, it's not the number of homeless people, it's just that there's not enough of the other types of people that it seems there are too many of them (just look at any bigger city). Even with all of its negative aspects, the fact that Kitchener supports homeless and unprivileged people is a very good thing from a social planning point of view.

100% right!!

Any big city has homeless people, but they have far more people in general, so they are a much smaller percentage of the overall population in the core. Here they're a much higher percentage.

Like fin2limb said, it's just part of what a downtown is. Find a big city that doesn't have that.

Spokes

08-04-2010, 05:14 PM

As for the upgrades to the street scape. I moved to downtown at about the same time they started construction and I have to say that I'm pleased with the results! Maybe the facelift will help change the negative perceptions of downtown and help bring more people and businesses to the core.

Im in the same boat. Moved downtown sept of last fall (2009) when phase one was just finishing up, and I've enjoyed the first phase so much. I can't wait for the second one to be finished. Hopefully it results in a lot of businesses improving at that end of downtown.

As for perceptions, I think it is. The brightness is definitely helping. I see more people out at night then I used to. Streets other than King need to have lighting addressed in my mind.

Same goes for Victoria Park. Along the pathways, there are about half as many lights as are needed.

Tinbasher

08-04-2010, 09:19 PM

Well the reason for this is because there is a much larger number of homeless shelters and support services in downtown Kitchener, while Waterloo has decided to completely ignore them. It will definitely get better as more people move downtown, it's not the number of homeless people, it's just that there's not enough of the other types of people that it seems there are too many of them (just look at any bigger city). Even with all of its negative aspects, the fact that Kitchener supports homeless and unprivileged people is a very good thing from a social planning point of view.

My wife just started started school down there at Trios College, and that's all she talked about for the first week. She was afraid to park in Markets Square parking lot, so I told her to go over too the Delt parking lot where it is much brighter. I also mentioned that there was a much higher density of down and out people down there, but in all most of them are non violent. (On a side note I haven't been down King st in years what a 100% turn around)

UrbanWaterloo

08-10-2010, 01:23 PM

August 6, 2010

@ Francis Street
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa262/AndrewEH/Kitchener/ReconstructingKingStreet-August62010-KingFrancis.jpg

Halfway Between Francis & Water
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa262/AndrewEH/Kitchener/ReconstructingKingStreet-August62010-HalfwayBetweenFrancisWater.jpg

Spokes

08-26-2010, 07:13 AM

Decorative crosswalk part of King Street reconstruction

August 25, 2010
By Melinda Dalton, Record staff

http://media.therecord.topscms.com/images/ac/e6/de7fca5b4cbdade9efb397b1e18d.jpeg

KITCHENER – The final push is on to get the revitalized King Street streetscape completed by the end of the construction season.

But the $10.9-million project isn’t running out of time. Favorable weather and contractor efficiencies have meant the work west of Gaukel Street was completed faster this year than the first phase was last year.

Crews closed King Street west of Benton Street earlier this week to complete an entrance feature that was bumped last year by tight Oktoberfest timelines. The work will include a decorative paving-stone crosswalk and a concrete roadway similar to the one already in front of city hall.

“All this is forming a formal entrance or gateway into the city centre district,” said Eric Saunderson, project manager.

That section of King Street will be closed until Labour Day.

Meanwhile, work on the final block of streetscaping continues further down between Water and Francis streets. Crews have finished the sidewalks and trees have been planted.

They’re working to install paving stones before the road work is wrapped up.

There will be an entrance feature at that end of the street similar to the one going in at King and Benton, Saunderson said. That should be finished by the end of September.

The city is considering adding the same decorative crosswalks throughout the redeveloped street, but hasn’t made a decision on that yet. Those can be installed after the final layer of asphalt is down, Saunderson said.

The plan was to finish the final layer in 2011, but the work has been accelerated. If nothing alters the pace, it could be finished this year.

The street reconstruction is part of a larger push by the city to bring more traffic and business to the core.

The city’s façade improvement grant program in the core has already seen 13 storefronts upgraded, with another three underway and eight approved but not yet started.

They’re in addition to a number of businesses — Coffee Culture, Laurier Optical, Crabby Joes and Shoppers Drug Mart — which completed similar improvements outside of the program.

Other large downtown projects, including the University of Waterloo’s school of pharmacy, Wilfrid Laurier University’s graduate school of social work and a redevelopment of the former Lang Tannery, are also part of the city’s push to revitalize the core.

Spokes

08-26-2010, 07:23 AM

Well that explains things.

Im really glad they're ahead of schedule this year, hopefully they can finish it all this year and not go into next.

As for the decorative crosswalks through the rest of the project, I'd do it, but if they choose not to, I'd at least do the "ladder" crosswalks like at King/Victoria.

UrbanWaterloo

09-02-2010, 09:14 PM

September 1, 2010

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/ReconstructingKingStreet-September12010-AtFrederick-1.jpg

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Kitchener/ReconstructingKingStreet-September12010-AtFrederick-2.jpg

Urbanomicon

09-02-2010, 10:34 PM

That looks terrific! I can't wait until all the construction fences are down.

Waterlooer

09-02-2010, 11:08 PM

I haven't been a huge fan of downtown Kitchener, but I must admit I am liking it more and more as time goes on. Downtown Kitchener has a wonderful future ahead

Rowe

09-02-2010, 11:20 PM

Back in the day... downtown Kitchener was THE place to be. Hopefully council and city planners keep up with trying to invest in downtown.

Waterlooer

09-02-2010, 11:22 PM

It's had ups and downs, but I think it will be kept up good.

Spokes

10-12-2010, 10:09 AM

Looks like it's open from end to end now!

KevinL

10-12-2010, 06:16 PM

Looks like it's open from end to end now!

Indeed, they opened it yesterday just in time for the parade!

markster

10-20-2010, 03:48 PM

It is certainly an odd feeling to drive over the concrete section at Benton.

Waterlooer

10-21-2010, 05:49 PM

CompassRose

10-21-2010, 06:22 PM

On the other hand, a lot of people seem to feel the same way, which means you have an even chance of actually finding street parking on King Street at high noon. It is awkward though. I noticed last winter that it particularly sucks when there's snow around.

Spokes

10-21-2010, 07:26 PM

I like how King Street looks except for one thing... the parking. It's awkward to park on King now, I can't really explain it but it feels like you're parking your car over the curb onto the sidewalk.

There shouldn't even be on street parking. Move all the bollards out.

There's TONS of parking downtown already as is.

Waterlooer

10-21-2010, 07:30 PM

There shouldn't even be on street parking. Move all the bollards out.

There's TONS of parking downtown already as is.

Good point. We're lucky parking is free here... in London, ON you have to pay for it all! :RpS_sad: But paid parking is better than free parking in a few ways (I think).

Spokes

10-21-2010, 07:34 PM

Good point. We're lucky parking is free here... in London, ON you have to pay for it all! :RpS_sad: But paid parking is better than free parking in a few ways (I think).

Not really lucky. We need paid parking in the core, but probably in a few years once both cores are already destinations.

Waterlooer

10-21-2010, 07:37 PM

Not really lucky. We need paid parking in the core, but probably in a few years once both cores are already destinations.

Ya, I see

bcwessel

10-22-2010, 12:43 AM

I wasn't really sure where to post this, but seemed like as good a place as any:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsrqBHEOT0k&feature=player_embedded#!

The bit about the positive affects of food-holders and sidewalk cafes I found particularly interesting, and relevant to the changes being witnessed in our own downtown.

Also, for those of you not already familiar with Planetizen.com, it's a pretty amazing resource on all things planning and development.

Shawn

10-24-2010, 10:12 PM

I saw my first casualty of the bollards on King Street, downtown.

These photos were taken at the corner of King and Water Sts. Notice the Leaning Tower of Pisa "lean" this bollard has.

October 24th, 2010

http://i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af306/shawnwm/KitchenerparkingpollardOctober242010-1.jpg

After a little investigation I see why! Looks like a fender bender!

http://i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af306/shawnwm/KitchenerparkingpollardOctober242010-2.jpg

mikeyp

10-24-2010, 10:43 PM

I wonder how much these bollards cost to replace and what the annual budget is? I've seen a few already like that.

Urbanomicon

10-24-2010, 11:19 PM

They must not be very strong bollards. Bollards are designed to stop vehicles, not lean over!

Shawn

10-24-2010, 11:40 PM

The bollard wasn't actually bent, just a dented. However the base was damaged. It's like the whole thing shifted in the ground. Could be an installation issue.

KevinL

10-25-2010, 09:31 AM

One of last year's vintage is similarly canted, though perhaps not quite as bad. It's near Benton, inf front of the Bargain Shop if I recall.

ON-Inspector

10-26-2010, 10:53 PM

i'd be surprised if the base moved, did you see how much concrete are in those things?!

we'll see how they hold up, hopefully once people become more acustomed to them, they wont be such big targets!

Waterlooer

10-26-2010, 10:58 PM

At least the cars aren't hitting buildings and people

ON-Inspector

10-28-2010, 06:47 PM

that's the idea! the lit bollards in front of City Hall are now working as well

fin2limb

10-28-2010, 08:14 PM

that's the idea! the lit bollards in front of City Hall are now working as well

This was a big surprise to me last night! I didn't know those things lit up... I mean, I always thought they should. But I didn't know they actually did. Last night they had every other bollard lit up. T

For those of you who don't make it downtown... I took a pic with my BB (sorry about the quality).

Urbanomicon

10-28-2010, 09:49 PM

With all these rain days we've been having lately, King Street is going to be brighter at night than during the day. :RpS_biggrin:

Spokes

10-29-2010, 07:29 AM

This was a big surprise to me last night! I didn't know those things lit up... I mean, I always thought they should. But I didn't know they actually did. Last night they had every other bollard lit up. T

For those of you who don't make it downtown... I took a pic with my BB (sorry about the quality).

Thanks for the pic!! Ya only those in front of city hall light up, I assume for cost savings. The other ones are reflective though so they sometimes look like they're illuminated.

ON-Inspector

11-02-2010, 02:25 PM

Rowe

11-06-2010, 11:20 AM

With all these rain days we've been having lately, King Street is going to be brighter at night than during the day. :RpS_biggrin:

I heard someone say that Downtown Kitchener is the brightest city centre in Canada. Its like a stadium.

Rowe

11-06-2010, 11:22 AM

yes, it is every other one at City Hall that lights up, that is all that could be accommodated due to costs. The remainder are all reflective (they are supposed to be fixing the peeling reflective tape as well it was a quality control issue).

My day was made. This was the only issue I had with the whole project. Minor but really changes how the streetscaping looks.

UrbanWaterloo

11-26-2010, 10:16 AM

King Street design wins international award
King Street design wins International Community Places Award
November 25, 2010 | http://www.kitchener.ca/en/newslist/index.aspx?newsId=aHGru2QTKaPx5ObPWDGwogeQuAleQuAl

KITCHENER – The City of Kitchener and the IBI Group were recently awarded a prestigious Community Places Award at the International Making Cities Livable Conference in Charleston, South Carolina.

The award recognized King Street’s sustainable streetscape, as well as the innovative design for flexible, summer/winter sidewalks, which have succeeded in drawing more people downtown.

Other features of the new streetscape include:

Wider sidewalks;
Flexible parking options with Euro-style removable bollards which improve the core’s capacity to host more special events;
Improved lighting;
Myriad of environmental features, including more than 120 new street trees, sustainable planters that filter storm water before it enters the sewers;
Additional bike rack and bus stops.
“We are delighted that our newly redesigned King Street has been selected for the 2010 Community Places Award,” said Cory Bluhm, Kitchener’s manager of downtown community development. “The city is not just building a street; it’s building a vibrant people place.”

To be eligible for the award, projects were required to meet the following criteria:

Well designed
Provide a beautiful addition to the fabric of the city
Carefully planned and constructed
Contribute to the character of the place
Improve the overall quality of the urban environment
In addition, this year’s submissions also had to show a strong contribution to bringing people - youth in particular - back downtown.

So far this year, events held downtown have enjoyed record attendance. In fact, since 2003, the number of pedestrians on King Street alone has doubled during a typical day.

“This project has also re-energized existing businesses; many of them are looking at ways they can contribute to the new look and feel of the downtown,” Bluhm said.

The International Making Cities Livable Conference hosts hundreds of the world’s leading planners, architects, urban thinkers and community builders from North America and Europe. Previous winners of this award include: Jamieson Square in Portland, Oregon; Lakeside Master Plan in Chicago, Illinois; and hTo Park in Toronto. For more information about this award, please visit: www.livablecities.org (http://www.livablecities.org/) and search 2010 design awards.

Urban_Enthusiast86

11-26-2010, 10:44 AM

In fact, since 2003, the number of pedestrians on King Street alone has doubled during a typical day.

Wow, that is quite a powerful stat. Just think...they didn't need to demolish more buildings and build parking lots to do it!

Anyone know where the city keeps stats on pedestrian activity?

WatDot

11-26-2010, 11:31 AM

Wow, that is quite a powerful stat. Just think...they didn't need to demolish more buildings and build parking lots to do it!

Anyone know where the city keeps stats on pedestrian activity?

There is a report (stats) available, just not sure it's in the public realm yet. I was told by someone close to the Kitchener King Street reconstruction, pre-construction 3,000 ped/day, post-construction 7,500 ped/day. And as stated already "typical day"... not a special event, etc.

BuildingScout

11-26-2010, 12:13 PM

There is a report (stats) available, just not sure it's in the public realm yet. I was told by someone close to the Kitchener King Street reconstruction, pre-construction 3,000 ped/day, post-construction 7,500 ped/day. And as stated already "typical day"... not a special event, etc.

As a data point: we recently visited downtown Kitchener for the first time in quite a while. Things looked so nice that we went back a few days later. We will visit some time soon again. Only bad thing is that businesses close too early on Thursday and Friday, particularly considering it is the holiday season.

Spokes

11-26-2010, 02:26 PM

That's great news, not that it needed it, but this just further shows how good of a use of money this was.

Waterloo, do the same thing uptown!

Downtown Kitchener

07-06-2011, 10:50 PM

Rowe

07-06-2011, 11:04 PM

Saw those articles, amazing to see Kitchener get some attention.

plam

07-06-2011, 11:44 PM

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/toronto-eyes-bold-makeover-of-busy-yonge-street-corridor/article2086650/

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/globe-to/john-street-revitalization-plans-in-the-works/article2083742/

Two interesting articles in a week, both citing how Toronto is using King Street as the example of how to design two of their most prominent streets - Yonge and John - placing Kitchener in the same light as Paris Manhattan and Copenhagan.

Yes, that's certainly good news.

I was just hearing on the radio that Toronto was reconsidering the reconstruction pending a traffic survey. Their enlightened city council is trying to figure out how to move more traffic. (Free hint: it's not by adding car capacity!)

benjaminbach

07-07-2011, 05:43 AM

Yes, that's certainly good news.

I was just hearing on the radio that Toronto was reconsidering the reconstruction pending a traffic survey. Their enlightened city council is trying to figure out how to move more traffic. (Free hint: it's not by adding car capacity!)

Interestingly, Yonge Street has about twice as much pedestrian traffic as car traffic.

panamaniac

11-25-2011, 08:30 PM

570 News reports that:

The City has been given the gold award for urban design at the Design Exchange Awards in Toronto.

That makes it the top Urban Design project in Canada for 2011.

The recognition goes far beyond the award itself.

As well, the new King Street streetscape will be featured in the national Design Exchange Exhibition in Toronto through to the end of February.

The exhibition then hits the road across the country as well as to some international centres.

Drake

11-27-2011, 12:46 AM

I noticed tonight the bollards weren't lit. Is it because of the Christmas lighting or has the idea gone by the wayside?

KevinL

11-27-2011, 09:50 AM

I noticed tonight the bollards weren't lit. Is it because of the Christmas lighting or has the idea gone by the wayside?

Which area were you in? To my knowledge, only the City Hall area has lightable bollards.

Drake

11-27-2011, 09:58 AM

I drove from Frederick to Victoria.

KevinL

11-27-2011, 12:26 PM

I drove from Frederick to Victoria.

Then you should expect to see few lit bollards (only in, as I said, the City Hall area).