Advertise Here
  1. Twenty-One
    21 Columbia Street West
    Formerly 21, 23, 25, 27, 29 Columbia Street West
    6 storey | 41 unit | 205 bedroom student housing




    2. #1
    WatDot
    05-24-2011 10:39 AM
  2. From Waterloo | Member Since Feb 2010 | 424 Posts
    #2
    05-24-2011 11:06 AM
    Fences are up and it looks like they've started demolition. Pretty sketchy though, for a couple weeks doors have been left wide open, trash all over... very ghetto'istic. Probably hoping for someone to torch the place in order to save a few bucks...
  3. From Waterloo | Member Since Feb 2010 | 424 Posts
    #3
    06-03-2011 03:54 PM


  4. Member Since May 2010 | 39 Posts
    #4
    06-23-2011 11:42 AM
    Demolition has started, if it's slab on grade then I'm assuming it will be ready for May rental like the last building from this developer.
  5. UrbanWaterloo's Avatar
    From Kitchener-Waterloo | Member Since Dec 2009 | 5,678 Posts
    #5
    07-05-2011 08:00 AM
    July 4, 2011



  6. From Waterloo | Member Since Feb 2010 | 424 Posts
    #6
    07-14-2011 10:00 AM
    They've torn into one of WCI's baseball diamonds. I'm kind of surprised. Looks like they are putting in tons of sewage infrastructure.

    July 14, 2011



  7. Member Since May 2010 | 39 Posts
    #7
    07-14-2011 05:22 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by WatDot
    They've torn into one of WCI's baseball diamonds. I'm kind of surprised. Looks like they are putting in tons of sewage infrastructure.
    They have to connect the storm/sanitary to Spruce street, the city upgrades that were just done to Columbia did not properly account for increased volume and the Columbia street section can not handle the volume the new building would add on so they are going through an easement to Spruce
  8. From Waterloo | Member Since Feb 2010 | 424 Posts
    #8
    07-15-2011 10:53 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by usemywaterloo
    They have to connect the storm/sanitary to Spruce street, the city upgrades that were just done to Columbia did not properly account for increased volume and the Columbia street section can not handle the volume the new building would add on so they are going through an easement to Spruce
    Wow, great planning! I guess WCI gets a new ball diamond though?
    Any idea who eats the cost on this... developer or city?
  9. UrbanWaterloo's Avatar
    From Kitchener-Waterloo | Member Since Dec 2009 | 5,678 Posts
    #9
    07-21-2011 09:14 AM
    July 20, 2011

  10. Member Since May 2010 | 39 Posts
    #10
    07-21-2011 02:58 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by WatDot
    Wow, great planning! I guess WCI gets a new ball diamond though?
    Any idea who eats the cost on this... developer or city?
    Developer has to pay for it.
  11. UrbanWaterloo's Avatar
    From Kitchener-Waterloo | Member Since Dec 2009 | 5,678 Posts
    #11
    10-06-2011 05:03 PM
    October 5, 2011



  12. Member Since Oct 2011 | 15 Posts
    #12
    10-11-2011 08:01 AM
    I may be able to add some insight on this project. The name is "Twenty-One" and the municipal address is 21 Columbia St. W. The developer did in deed have to upgrade the sanitary sewer from Columbia St. W to Spruce St. through the school yard. The developer put in a new baseball diamond the their expense at a gift to the school. The project is slated for completion in August of 2012 and is well ahead of schedule.

  13. This Member Says Thank You:
    UrbanWaterloo

  14. Member Since Sep 2011 | 46 Posts
    #13
    10-11-2011 02:49 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by HankRearden
    I may be able to add some insight on this project. The name is "Twenty-One" and the municipal address is 21 Columbia St. W. The developer did in deed have to upgrade the sanitary sewer from Columbia St. W to Spruce St. through the school yard. The developer put in a new baseball diamond the their expense at a gift to the school. The project is slated for completion in August of 2012 and is well ahead of schedule.
    Considering your request for names for another condo project, is the developer the same for both projects? if so, are you part of this company?
    Last edited by insider; 10-11-2011 at 04:45 PM.
  15. Member Since Oct 2011 | 15 Posts
    #14
    10-11-2011 08:45 PM
    Yes. I am involved with both projects.
  16. Member Since Sep 2011 | 46 Posts
    #15
    10-11-2011 10:03 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by HankRearden
    Yes. I am involved with both projects.
    Thanks. I have a question, was mixed use ever considered for this project at Columbia? Is it clear to developers that there is a very big demand of services/amenities on Columbia? Maybe it was considered, but due to current zoning was it just too much of a hassle? It would be great to hear a developer's perspective on this important issue.
  17. Member Since Oct 2011 | 15 Posts
    #16
    10-12-2011 08:10 AM
    I agree that there would be a huge demand for commercial on Columbia. We would have absolutely loved to include ground floor retail in this project. Regretfully current (and likely future) zoning bylaws would not allow it. The city won't budge on this and we didn't have the time or money to fight for a low probability of success.

  18. This Member Says Thank You:
    mpd618

  19. From Waterloo | Member Since Oct 2010 | 14 Posts
    #17
    10-12-2011 10:25 AM
    Have they applied for a variance? Or are they just making excuses?

    City staff has heard loud and clear that people want retail services and amenities in that neighbourhood. Yes, the master plan posters for that area have that strip as residential, but the Northdale land use study is underway and it would take a very little push, I think, to get that strip zoned mixed use residential like University. Many of the forces arrayed to push for that land use study would, I believe, happily take up the cause and pressure council to make this happen. The developers just need to take the first step and file the paperwork.

    You can shrug your shoulders and say "Government. What are you gonna do?" or you can help change things. In this case, I don't think it would be particularly hard.
  20. Member Since Sep 2011 | 46 Posts
    #18
    10-12-2011 10:58 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by dscassel
    Have they applied for a variance? Or are they just making excuses?

    City staff has heard loud and clear that people want retail services and amenities in that neighbourhood. Yes, the master plan posters for that area have that strip as residential, but the Northdale land use study is underway and it would take a very little push, I think, to get that strip zoned mixed use residential like University. Many of the forces arrayed to push for that land use study would, I believe, happily take up the cause and pressure council to make this happen. The developers just need to take the first step and file the paperwork.

    You can shrug your shoulders and say "Government. What are you gonna do?" or you can help change things. In this case, I don't think it would be particularly hard.
    I am pretty sure that Waterloo is changing their zoning designation through their new official plan. Everything that is medium and high density, so anything more than 3 floors, will allow for mixed use. This means that all of Waterloo's 'MR' zones will allow for mixed use once the new official plan is approved.
  21. From Waterloo | Member Since Oct 2010 | 14 Posts
    #19
    10-12-2011 11:28 AM
    It's the land use study that's going to determine zoning in Northdale. When you ask city staff why Columbia still says low density residential for that section of Columbia, they'll say that it's up to the Northdale study.

    For more information on the land use study, see http://waterloo.ca/northdale

    ETA: I'm referring, of course, to the Waterloo Official Plan, currently up for review: http://www.waterloo.ca/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=1685
    Last edited by dscassel; 10-12-2011 at 11:44 AM.
  22. From Waterloo, ON | Member Since Jan 2010 | 1,975 Posts
    #20
    10-12-2011 05:28 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by HankRearden
    I agree that there would be a huge demand for commercial on Columbia. We would have absolutely loved to include ground floor retail in this project. Regretfully current (and likely future) zoning bylaws would not allow it. The city won't budge on this and we didn't have the time or money to fight for a low probability of success.
    I, personally, would be willing to advocate publicly for mixed-use along major corridors such as Columbia, University, and King Street North. Waterloo city planners do not understand the concept of planning around streets - they don't seem to be able to get very far from Euclidean zoning, even in the new official plan.

    Council and the public, on the other hand, seem to understand that major streets in all neighbourhoods should be allowed to have commercial uses. Developers would be able to find members of council willing to champion the cause, I suspect.
of 2