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(03-19-2021, 11:25 AM)ac3r Wrote: I just remembered the proposed 50-52 Weber/107 Young seniors housing project. It hasn't been constructed and personally I think it looks awful, but the architects specifically tried to take inspiration from the architecture of the region to incorporate it into the building, blending various styles and eras. It somewhat fits into the middle housing criteria, albeit on the larger end of things: https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/...p?tid=1455
That borrowing elements concept was a good one. The execution, as drawn up, not so good. It was more like me just putting random shit in random places on my Potato Head as a kid.
03-20-2021, 12:40 AM (This post was last modified: 03-20-2021, 12:41 AM by nms.)
8 Churchill St. Waterloo (near Fisher-Hallman and Erb) is an 8 unit building that was built within the last ten years on the edge of an existing single-family home neighbourhood.
But once again...take a look at the satellite view and just look at how many parking spots are there. I count 26 of them. The parking lot takes up the exact same amount of space as the actual building.
(03-20-2021, 11:11 AM)ac3r Wrote: There's also 555 King Street - modern rowhouses that went up about 10~ years ago. I think they really suit the neighbourhood: https://www.google.com/maps/@43.4456441,...384!8i8192
But once again...take a look at the satellite view and just look at how many parking spots are there. I count 26 of them. The parking lot takes up the exact same amount of space as the actual building.
I looked at one of these last time I was house hunting, really interesting location.
(03-20-2021, 11:11 AM)ac3r Wrote: There's also 555 King Street - modern rowhouses that went up about 10~ years ago. I think they really suit the neighbourhood: https://www.google.com/maps/@43.4456441,...384!8i8192
But once again...take a look at the satellite view and just look at how many parking spots are there. I count 26 of them. The parking lot takes up the exact same amount of space as the actual building.
They are neat, but they are not in a neighbourhood of single-family homes. :-(
(03-22-2021, 08:05 PM)danbrotherston Wrote: Except that the claimed median rents are unbelievably low. I've never seen a one bedroom unit for under $900, even 10 years ago when I was searching.
Me and my (now) wife were paying 1k/month for a 1 bedroom in the centre of uptown 5 years ago, and most of our neighbours payed significantly less than that.
I'm paying <1K/month for a 2 bedroom in Waterloo. Now, that's rent increase controlled starting from 8 years ago, but a 1 bed in my building is still <1K/month. It's not uptown/downtown, but I can walk or bike to most things I need.
(03-22-2021, 09:20 PM)megabytephreak Wrote: I'm paying <1K/month for a 2 bedroom in Waterloo. Now, that's rent increase controlled starting from 8 years ago, but a 1 bed in my building is still <1K/month. It's not uptown/downtown, but I can walk or bike to most things I need.
Can I ask what building that is? I might be interested.
But I think you folks are still missing the point, for the median to be like 853, there has to be one unit less than 853 for every unit more than 853. Even if you managed to find a unit under 853, I don't believe for one second that you can find as many as there are above 853.
(03-22-2021, 08:05 PM)danbrotherston Wrote: I have to agree with her issues, but I'm also concerned about some of the numbers, 80% of median rents doesn't sound very affordable in this city. Except that the claimed median rents are unbelievably low. I've never seen a one bedroom unit for under $900, even 10 years ago when I was searching. Anyone have any idea how they get to a median (as in, average, not minimum or lowest) rent for a one bedroom unit of like $853?!
Further, if we figure what the subsidy will cost the developer to offer, its nowhere NEAR 3 million dollars and could range anything from under 500k to 200k short of 3MM if we consider luxury apartment pricing.
If rent control applies after the 25-year period (it does not now, but I think there is a high likelihood that it will by that time), the transition to market pricing will not be sudden, as rent control currently allows annual increases of only about 2% unless the landlord does major renovations etc. So, I think this would narrow the gap.
However, I agree that a long-term lease of the land (at a nominal price, as long as the building provides affordable housing) might work better. There might need to be an option for the developer to be able to buy at some point in the future, though.
(03-18-2021, 10:31 AM)Bytor Wrote: Can anybody suggest some buildings in Kitchener, Waterloo, or Cambridge that are good of examples of higher-density housing being built in existing single-family dwelling neighbourhoods that fit in and complement the style of houses around them?
The final 4-storey building in Williamsburg was recently completed, there are also stacked towns just south of here on the other side of Max Becker.
