Proposed Phillip Street Student Housing Complex | 5 buildings | 25 floors

[bcwessel]

I think I've seen this approach to housing attempted elsewhere before. They were called "projects," and were mostly torn down less than halfway through their originally intended lifespan.

[panamaniac]

I was trying to find a way to describe my reaction to the concept drawing. "Projects" pretty much captures it.

[Spokes]

I was trying to find a way to describe my reaction to the concept drawing. "Projects" pretty much captures it.

That's what came to mind when I thought of it too. This is the worst thing that could happen.

[Newgrad]

It blows my mind that there isn't any attempt to develop something for the RIM & high tech workers in that area. Such a missed opportunity. As a commuter, I'd pay handsomely to be able to walk to work!

[bcwessel]

It blows my mind that there isn't any attempt to develop something for the RIM & high tech workers in that area. Such a missed opportunity. As a commuter, I'd pay handsomely to be able to walk to work!

I believe what you are describing is the north-western end of Downtown in five years, which I suspect will increasingly make Waterloo look pretty foolish regarding the ways in which it has allowed the spoils of its recent tech boom to be organized.

[RangersFan]

Just found this news article on the net, not really much in the way of unknown information but still a nice read.

Developer floats massive student apartment complex

June 30, 2011 | Greg Beneteau | Imprint | LINK

Developers are seeking input from the City of Waterloo and the University of Waterloo for an apartment complex on Phillip Street that would easily dwarf other buildings in the area, Imprint has learned.According to plans submitted to the Federation of Students by Markham-based JD Development Group, the proposed
complex at 256 Phillip Street would consist of five multi-storey buildings arranged around a central courtyard.

The two street-facing buildings, each 20 storeys high, would have retail and commercial space on the ground floor, with the possibility of more in the basement. Two additional 24-storey buildings and a 25-storey building would be constructed behind them.

The complex would also include street-level and underground parking for more than 550 vehicles.
The buildings, targeted primarily at students, would accommodate up to 2,255 occupants. If constructed, it would one of the tallest and most populated apartment complexes in the city.

[panamaniac]

Are there any successful examples of developments like this elsewhere in Ontario?

[garthdanlor]

Putting aside the design of this project, is there even a market for a student development of this size? With all the recently completed, under construction, and already approved student developments in town, it would seem at some point we will have a serious student housing glut in the city.

[BuildingScout]

Putting aside the design of this project, is there even a market for a student development of this size?

I understand Columbia Crossings had units available as of two days ago and that so did Domus housing. These are prime locations near the universities which are usually spoken for well before September 3rd.

[garthdanlor]

I understand Columbia Crossings had units available as of two days ago and that so did Domus housing. These are prime locations near the universities which are usually spoken for well before September 3rd.

Well at least more vacancies will work in the students' favour. Back in old days (the 90s) I remember paying over the odds for complete dives and still feeling lucky because of the shortage of accommodation.

[BuildingScout]

.... and still feeling lucky because of the shortage of accommodation.

This was an artificial shortage created by regressive city council policies, the consequences of which were monster houses and student ghettos.

Then Council tries to blame the students because Northdale doesn't look at nice as they'd like, as if students were the ones choosing what does and doesn't get developed.

Have a look at Waterloo co-op housing. This is a nice student area that could have been replicated elsewhere, but the city consistently rejected reasonable rezoning requests anywhere near the universities. They still do as the Northdale saga shows.

[UrbanWaterloo]

Demolition Control Application DC2012-11
Council Meeting: June 18, 2012 | Report No: DS2012-031

Recommendation

That Waterloo City Council receives Development Services report DS2012-031 and approves Demolition Control Application DC2012-11, 1130419 Ontario Inc., for the lands known municipally 256 Phillip Street in accordance with Section 8 of DS2012-031.

Executive Summary

1130419 Ontario Inc. has submitted an application to demolish the existing buildings on the property known municipally as 256 Phillip Street (See Location Map). The subject land contains eight (8) townhouse buildings which contain a total of 59 units and 238 bedrooms. The demolition has been requested to facilitate the redevelopment of the lands for the purpose of constructing five (5) new 20-24 storey apartment buildings, containing 451 units and 2255 bedrooms.

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

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

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

Perspective Drawings

[DKsan]

It's...it's like a reverse tower-in-the-park (xD). Wish we could get some retail or something facing Philip St.

[Brenden]

It's...it's like a reverse tower-in-the-park (xD). Wish we could get some retail or something facing Philip St.

Agreed, retail would be great.

I wonder if this is the straw that breaks the camels back, 2255 new beds. Is there going to be enough students to fill them?

What do you think this and other developments like it will do to the rental market of older homes in uptown waterloo?

[markster]

Agreed, retail would be great.

I seem to recall in the original proposal, they called for retail on Philip.

My main concern is that the courtyard inbetween the towers will become ghetto-tastic.

[DKsan]

Agreed, retail would be great.

I wonder if this is the straw that breaks the camels back, 2255 new beds. Is there going to be enough students to fill them?

What do you think this and other developments like it will do to the rental market of older homes in uptown waterloo?

Most likely, this will be crap housing.

The Uptown rental market has it's audience, and that is students and other renters who don't want crap (myself included).

[BuildingScout]

I wonder if this is the straw that breaks the camels back, 2255 new beds. Is there going to be enough students to fill them?

I think we have more than enough beds for everyone and that a good number of people moving into new units are simply vacating units farther away, For example the apartments on Bridgeport and Regina used to rent themselves without need for advertising. Now you see them advertised every so often.

[Lugnut]

I seem to recall in the original proposal, they called for retail on Philip.

My main concern is that the courtyard inbetween the towers will become ghetto-tastic.

Mine too. I can just see stuff being thrown out of windows right now.

[planningthatplannyplan]

I am happy this project is giving renters somewhere to sit and relax and am surprised that open space is at issue here. It is better than having a parking lot cover the rest of the site, with a 1.5 metre landscape buffer along the perimeter of the property (standard fare for student housing). I also note that this project is the first that proposes glass in a serious way in KW. While I know glass isnt very efficient (failure of seals, heat loss, etc), my hope is that this project shakes up the industry and brings about better rental apartment designs.

It does look like a lot of mass on this site, but in the same breath, while people are still finding things to crap on this project about (lets face it, these forums are really just a bitch-fest, or so it seems to me), I see very few surface parking stalls.

Retail is all around this property. While I wouldnt be surprised if this project has some limited retail or services, why does this site have to have some too?

To recap:
1. Intensification between 2 Universities, on a major transit route, adjacent to a future LRT stop.
2. Retail within 5 metres of this property.
3. More modern design than current rental industry produces.
4. Significant underground parking.