U/C The Breithaupt Block | 16 m | 4 fl

[mpd618]

But how does the station in the top render have an LRT on the fourth floor? :P

Reflection! There's also cars in there.

[SP!RE]

Guys, this is a rendering done for Perimeter Development. The look of the intermodal station and what part of the street the LRT runs along are minor details... no need for them to be entirely accurate. It's a rendering to market the finished product to potential leasers. I'm impressed that they even had the future grade separation and intermodal station included at all... that's quite comprehensive for a small private developer's rendering.

[benjaminbach]

quite comprehensive for a small private developer's rendering.

This development is a partnership between Perimeter Development and Allied REIT. I wouldn't call either a small private developer: Perimeter & the principles involved have had a large impact on our Region, and Allied is one of the largest office landlords in Canada, with millions of square feet across the country. Locally, Allied owns 72 Victoria South.

[SP!RE]

I know the guys from Perimeter, and this seems to be a lot more their vision. I'd say Allied REIT is partnered with them, but it's Perimeter's development as far as I'm concerned.

Regardless, the point I was trying to make was that it's ridiculous to pinpoint details of a rendering that most developers would simply have not included. Rather than criticize, I'm happy they included them at all as it helps people envision the area in a few years more accurately.

[Greg Moore]

Regardless, the point I was trying to make was that it's ridiculous to pinpoint details of a rendering that most developers would simply have not included. Rather than criticize, I'm happy they included them at all as it helps people envision the area in a few years more accurately.

The feeling of the board used to be excitement and optimism. As it's grown, there is a weight of negativity that now overwhelms the positivity that was once here. The number of times I've seen posts criticizing half-built projects is, nicely put, discouraging. See the Domain Hotel and RIM Headquarters threads.

Thank you Sp!re for remaining positive.

[BuildingScout]

Actually I think DKsan knew that was a reflection and he was poking fun at KevinL, thus the smiley next to it.

[Lugnut]

I know the guys from Perimeter, and this seems to be a lot more their vision. I'd say Allied REIT is partnered with them, but it's Perimeter's development as far as I'm concerned.

Regardless, the point I was trying to make was that it's ridiculous to pinpoint details of a rendering that most developers would simply have not included. Rather than criticize, I'm happy they included them at all as it helps people envision the area in a few years more accurately.

Well said. I feel the same way, it was theirs from the get go as Gibson was the one that snatched the factory up.

[BuildingScout]

The feeling of the board used to be excitement and optimism. As it's grown, there is a weight of negativity that now overwhelms the positivity that was once here. The number of times I've seen posts criticizing half-built projects is, nicely put, discouraging. See the Domain Hotel and RIM Headquarters threads.

Thank you Sp!re for remaining positive.

I think it is easy to lose hope when one sees opportunities missed, while forgetting overall progress made in the last ten years. A decade ago, GRT was a bus service for seniors and high school kids, zoning laws forbade increased density anywhere, Uptown Waterloo was a parking lot and Downtown Kitchener was in a death spiral.

Fast forward ten years later and we have the expanding iXpress system, the LRT on the wings, the Uptown square and district, the revitalized Downtown core and pushes in density right across town.

[mpd618]

The feeling of the board used to be excitement and optimism. As it's grown, there is a weight of negativity that now overwhelms the positivity that was once here. The number of times I've seen posts criticizing half-built projects is, nicely put, discouraging. See the Domain Hotel and RIM Headquarters threads.

I would say that general boosterism of urban development has been replaced with support as well as criticism (often constructive), and I would not call that a bad thing. In fact, I think it indicates broader participation here beyond the development/investing community.

There are ongoing projects which get large support here: LRT, the King/Victoria transit hub, the Red Condos, City Centre, Arrow Lofts, the Spur Line Trail, the Tannery, and Breithaupt Block - among others. Should any and all urban development be lauded by us as a good thing?

[WaterlooNative]

Should any and all urban development be lauded by us as a good thing?

Within reason, but mindless bulldozing of either our natural heritage (greenfields) or our built heritage should not. That said, I am pleasantly pleased with the results of projects like Kaufman, Lang and Breithaupt. It's a pity that Waterloo has virtually no built industrial heritage left. Can you imagine what might have been done if the old Seagram buildings hadn't burned down or if the Ontario Table and Chair property had had a more sympathetic development? We can't win them all, but when we lose them, they're gone for good.

[bcwessel]

An article on The Breithaup Block appeared in the Kitchener Post last week. There wasn't much on the actual project itself, aside from the usual "we're excited" comments, and plenty of praise for the City and Region as good places for developers to do business. A few interesting not-Breithaup-Block-specific items, though:

Perimeter [Development Corp., The Breithaup Block developer] is so bullish on the market, they’re even planning to relocate their own office later this year, moving from Toronto to a property they own on King Street in the downtown core.

Coun. Jean Haalboom said she would like to see the parameters [of the City's brownfield incentivization program] expanded, allowing for adaptive reuse projects such as the former Uniroyal Goodrich tire plant on Strange Street to qualify.
“There are these buildings that are under-utilized, and it isn’t just because of the contaminated site. They’re very attractive to be re-used,” she said.

It's great to see how keen Perimeter is on Downtown Kitchener, and it's always a positive to bring a few more high-quality jobs to the core. Tthe article didn't specify exactly which property they plan to move their offices to, but I seem to remember the company purchasing the building next to Bobby O'Brien's last year with plans to update it into upscale offices in the future.

It's also encouraging to see some members of council actively pushing quality adaptive re-use beyond Downtown. Plenty of reasons to be excited about Kitchener's urban future.

[panamaniac]

Today's Mop and Pail reports that Facebook is NOT setting up a Canadian office in Breithaupt Block (or anywhere else in K-W).

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle2366833/

[speed]

yawn............. told ya so :-)

[4Kitchener]

Thats too bad . Any news as to how this building is doing re:leasing? and do we know when the move in dates may be?

Today's Mop and Pail reports that Facebook is NOT setting up a Canadian office in Breithaupt Block (or anywhere else in K-W).

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle2366833/

[bcwessel]

Thats too bad . Any news as to how this building is doing re:leasing? and do we know when the move in dates may be?

From the article in The Post:

The project is slated to be complete in about a month and discussions have begun with prospective tenants, including some major technology players.

“We’re looking for creative, tech-based companies. These types of buildings just seem to attract those types of tenants,” said Beattie.

Not really much to go on, but it sounds like some of the space may be occupied before the Spring is out.

[speed]

They are just finishing pouring the concrete floors in building C and tile guys are there installing tile in the common areas, hallways and bathrooms etc... still a few windows left to install. Elevators still not in service for a couple of weeks yet.

[speed]

An engineering company has taken 8,000sq/ft on level 2 of building C

[Smore]

An engineering company has taken 8,000sq/ft on level 2 of building C

Firm retained by region to run the LRT show?

[mpd618]

Firm retained by region to run the LRT show?

If you mean the General Engineering Consultant for the LRT, I can't imagine they are going to need that big a presence here. It's something else.

[panamaniac]

An engineering company has taken 8,000sq/ft on level 2 of building C

Where did you pick that up? I don't see anything online at the Record or 570News, so they must be sitting on it as a story.