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Development Ideas
To discuss properties which aren't actively being developed, but should be.
Development Ideas
To discuss properties which aren't actively being developed, but should be.
This isn't related to a current development but everytime I drive/walk by Kitchener City Hall I see this property sitting vacant.
Out of curiosity (I have no idea who owns, leases the land) what would you like to see this prime piece of land in Downtown be redeveloped into?
I believe that was the formed location of the Zappers arcade as well as one or two other businesses. They burnt down several years ago.
It is a very deep lot. I can see it being turning into another Still / Bobby O'Briens type place with a large outdoor seating area. It would be in a prime position for clients to watch parades or events outside city hall, or for the Manulife employees to conduct "business meetings".
"Only the insane have the strength enough to prosper. Only those that prosper may truly judge what is sane."
I thought Zappers was the one next to it. Or maybe it was both?
None the less.
I'd love to see that property and it's neighbors (all the way to the Public Utilities Building) bought up and converted to a mixed use residential property. Have some retail/pubs along the base. Just an idea.
I think the main tenant in the building that burnt down next to the old King Centre was the Ackers furniture store. I think it sat on the spot for many years. Overdue for re-development, for sure.
Here's an image of the property originally posted in the Old Photos of Waterloo Region thread.
Photographs of downtown Kitchener Ontario Canada taken in December 1981
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2113263...7613680412500/
Great Idea for a thread! I'd thought of doing one similar a while back.
One idea is for Conestoga's Waterloo campus. I'd love to see them put an east and west addition onto their building. It would flank the central part but the new parts would come right out to the street. They would be all glass and about 3 or 4 floors. It'd be a lot easier now that they've torn down the building on the west side of their lot. Doing this would expand their space, look fantastic, not affect their parking lot, but hide it from the street.
I'd also encourage a coffee shop of some sort be mandatory at ground floor level. Probably at the corner of University and Weber. This would serve both the students and the public.
The only land acquisition needed would be to buy the car lot at the corner of University and Weber and potentially that burger shack (Sonnys?) but they could also build around that if needed.
Here's what Im thinking:
It's too bad that burnt down, it looks pretty good there. But it provides redevelopment opporuntity.Originally Posted by UrbanWaterloo
To expand on what I said above about it. I'd love to see mixed use residential there. A 3 storey podium, retail on the ground level then two floors of residential, then floors 4-8 will be stepped back every floor allowing for teraces/patios (whatever you want to call it). There should be a variety of 1, 2, and 3 bedroom units.
Another idea I had, and it would require significantly more land acquisition, and therefore is less likely would be at the corner of Queen and Joseph:
It's zoned MU-2 so it's the perfect place for an 8 storey mixed use residential building with a bit of a courtyard tucked back in behind.
I'd like to see something like this (111 West in Ottawa):
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...=163525&page=3
That's a good idea. Weber and University is officially Waterloo's busiest intersection and one of the Region's top 5 busiest (moving about 45,000 vehicles per day), so its a prime spot for redevelopment. I think Sonnys has to stay! It's a local landmark.
Ya as I was typing it up I was thinking that too. Maybe incorporate it some how?That's a good idea. Weber and University is officially Waterloo's busiest intersection and one of the Region's top 5 busiest (moving about 45,000 vehicles per day), so its a prime spot for redevelopment. I think Sonnys has to stay! It's a local landmark.
It'd also be nice to get more Conestoga students in closer to the core. An expansion of this size would probably at least double their existing facilities there.
Spokes that Conestoga Waterloo campus expansion idea is pretty awesome, I would really like to see something like that materialize there.
As I was out walking today, I thought a good spot for a highrise residential with base retail would be here at the corner of Hazel and Albert st, in Waterloo. I am not sure if it would work but I think with all the high tech employees at Research and technology Park, RIM and the Waterloo Technology Campus on Albert may make this a prime location. I think a grocery store would be quite successful here as well if enough residential was built. The current site is looking outdated and could use a major facelift anyways.
Thanks! If only I had gone into architecture or planning huh? haha.
You're right that's a great spot! Close to a ton of tech companies, the R+T Park and maybe most importantly, a LRT stop. A grocery store like Sobeys Urban Fresh (or whatever its called - Express maybe?) would do well there. But also a mix of other retail/commercial. Coffee shops/upscale pubs would succeed there.
My only concern is the "highrise" part of it. Obviously not knowing what you were thinking, I'm not sure something more than 12 floors would work there. What do you think?
Well I was thinking something a little higher than 12 storeys but also combined with some 8 and 5 storey buildings for diversity. But whatever the actual height I think the most important part is high density for the surrounding/incorporated business to survive.
Ya you're definitely right about that.
My only concern with all that residential is if there is the demand in that area or not. When Uptown isn't even thriving yet, I don;t know that a spot like this could facilitate something of that magnitude.
While that is certainly true about Uptown which I hope we can consider thriving in a few years. At this point Uptown does not have the huge employment draw, that something at this intersection might, it may not appeal to many people, maybe the area they don't like etc, but just on sole principle the area has a large employment, if not the largest in the region.
You make a really good point. You're right, it's real benefit is the proximity to work. Good call.
And it being close to a transit stop will cause other development. We could see lots of Transit orriented development there.
Now that would be nice for a change.
Land For Sale: 257 Frederick Street, Kitchener
http://www.loopnet.com/xNet/Looplink...SRID=829267976
Price: $699,000 CAD
Lot Size: 0.46 AC
Property Type: Land
Property Sub-type: Commercial/ Other (land)
Last Verified 3/31/2010
Listing ID: 16628932
Description: Excellent infill opportunity in downtown Kitchener. Zoned CR1 this 0.46 acre site has site plan approval for 24,610 SF development including 2,730 SF of commercial on the main floor and 14,290 SF of residential in 13 units. Plans, renderings and development agreement available for qualified buyer. Near Samuel Street.
I would really like to see a nice development, along the highlighted area along bridgeport. Preferably a architecturally appealing high-rise to make an awesome Entrance/exit to Uptown Waterloo.
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