General Urban Kitchener Updates and Rumours

[CP42]

Stumbled across this drone footage of DTK today:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlCSax_vTfE&t=2s

I previously posted it in " Post your pictures of Waterloo Region!".

Ahh, my apologies! I haven’t frequented many areas outside of the land development section!

[Acitta]

I previously posted it in " Post your pictures of Waterloo Region!".

Ahh, my apologies! I haven’t frequented many areas outside of the land development section!

I always use the "What's New" link, so I follow every thread.

[ac3r]

I was told 18 Pine Street has been purchased by Grand River Hospital for offices or something like that.

[dtkmelissa]

Not sure if there's a better thread for this or not, but Kitchener considers a vacancy tax. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener...-1.6284174

[tomh009]

Not sure if there's a better thread for this or not, but Kitchener considers a vacancy tax. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener...-1.6284174

That's excellent news! They should additionally get rid of the discounted property tax rate on vacant land, as that rewards landowners for not developing it.

[Belmonster]

Not sure if there's a better thread for this or not, but Kitchener considers a vacancy tax. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener...-1.6284174

That's excellent news! They should additionally get rid of the discounted property tax rate on vacant land, as that rewards landowners for not developing it.

I'd like to see them consider a vacancy tax for commercial property as well. Maybe there's some reason it's not feasible... But naively, it seems like persistently vacant storefronts impose negative externalities on their neighbors and should be taxed accordingly.

[ijmorlan]

I'd like to see them consider a vacancy tax for commercial property as well. Maybe there's some reason it's not feasible... But naively, it seems like persistently vacant storefronts impose negative externalities on their neighbors and should be taxed accordingly.

It’s very hard to write a definition of vacancy which works. Somebody who wants to leave a store vacant will likely be able to have a facade of a store which isn’t really different from an empty store. On the other hand, they presumably would at least have to make it look active even if it’s not; but that’s an improvement on an obviously-vacant storefront.

[tomh009]

I'd like to see them consider a vacancy tax for commercial property as well. Maybe there's some reason it's not feasible... But naively, it seems like persistently vacant storefronts impose negative externalities on their neighbors and should be taxed accordingly.

It’s very hard to write a definition of vacancy which works. Somebody who wants to leave a store vacant will likely be able to have a facade of a store which isn’t really different from an empty store. On the other hand, they presumably would at least have to make it look active even if it’s not; but that’s an improvement on an obviously-vacant storefront.

Checking whether a store is actually open is prett easy. Identifying condos that are empty is much more difficult, though.

[ijmorlan]

Checking whether a store is actually open is prett easy. Identifying condos that are empty is much more difficult, though.

How many hours a week does it need to be open? What if it’s being renovated? Etc.

Not saying it’s impossible, just saying it’s easier said than done.

Also, we need to ask why basic economic incentives aren’t enough. How can it make sense to leave something of high value like a storefront vacant?

[danbrotherston]

Checking whether a store is actually open is prett easy. Identifying condos that are empty is much more difficult, though.

How many hours a week does it need to be open? What if it’s being renovated? Etc.

Not saying it’s impossible, just saying it’s easier said than done.

Also, we need to ask why basic economic incentives aren’t enough. How can it make sense to leave something of high value like a storefront vacant?

Yeah, I mean, I don't think it's necessarily harder to tell than with housing, but certainly it isn't trivial.

As for why high value storefronts are being left vacant, or worse, turned into parking lots...well...you have to look at the perverse incentives our society has...

[Acitta]

Neighbourhoods need more than just single family houses and towers
Building more housing alone will not solve the supply problem nor make housing more affordable, says UW planning professor.

[YKF]

I'm not sure whether this has been mentioned before on this site, but there's a 34 unit stacked townhouse listed on realtor.ca at 624 King Street West.
Link: https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/23862...-kitchener

This is very different than the midrise that was floated a few years ago. Very unfortunate if this site gets redeveloped with 34 stacked townhouse units, IMO, rather than something much denser and appropriate for this location.

[CP42]

I'm not sure whether this has been mentioned before on this site, but there's a 34 unit stacked townhouse listed on realtor.ca at 624 King Street West.
Link: https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/23862...-kitchener

This is very different than the midrise that was floated a few years ago. Very unfortunate if this site gets redeveloped with 34 stacked townhouse units, IMO, rather than something much denser and appropriate for this location.

I’ve seen this somewhere on here - perhaps the Station Park thread.
It is a shame that there will potentially be such a light use of land right next to one of the densest developments in the area.

[tomh009]

Stacked townhouses aren't really dramatically lower density than a midrise -- three floors instead of four or five, maybe?

[LesPio]

I'm not sure whether this has been mentioned before on this site, but there's a 34 unit stacked townhouse listed on realtor.ca at 624 King Street West.
Link: https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/23862...-kitchener

This is very different than the midrise that was floated a few years ago. Very unfortunate if this site gets redeveloped with 34 stacked townhouse units, IMO, rather than something much denser and appropriate for this location.

This site has been in transition over the past few years. I am questioning the legitimacy of putting this on Realtor.  In my opinion, I would think that the sale of the entire site to a developer with deeper pockets at a higher price like the Benton/Charles empty lot sale would make sense to me.  ie. sell this property for $10 million or more.