ODC redevelopment (119 Roger St) | 6 fl | U/C

[MidTowner]

It's been pretty cool to watch walking through the cemetery the last week. They've been making quick work of it.

[jwilliamson]

There's only one small bit of the building still standing.

[jwilliamson]

The last bit of building has been demolished and the concrete slab has been broken up and mostly removed.

[MidTowner]

Everything is gone from here now, and this week there is a sole backhoe working moving earth.

I was a bit dismayed today to see a Reid's Heritage Homes sign. I'd forgotten it was them.

[tomh009]

I was a bit dismayed today to see a Reid's Heritage Homes sign. I'd forgotten it was them.

Same as Victoria Commons, is it not?

[MidTowner]

I was a bit dismayed today to see a Reid's Heritage Homes sign. I'd forgotten it was them.

Same as Victoria Commons, is it not?

It's not, no. Victoria Common is Queensgate, apparently, according to a quick internet search.

[welltoldtales]

I feel like Reid's is such a mixed bag. They are pioneers in NetZero homes in Ontario. One of very few companies even trying. But they also build some pretty suburban developments and pretty clearly don't like paying for expensive city centre land.

[tomh009]

My understanding is that Queensgate is building the apartment condos and that Losani is building all of the towns.

RHC Design Build is the contractor building the apartment condos on behalf of Queensgate.

RHC = Reids Heritage Construction

A search answered my question. So Victoria Commons is not a Reid's project but they are (were?) doing the construction.

[MidTowner]

I feel like Reid's is such a mixed bag. They are pioneers in NetZero homes in Ontario. One of very few companies even trying. But they also build some pretty suburban developments and pretty clearly don't like paying for expensive city centre land.

I'm not sure if they are or were pioneers, but there are several large suburban developers talking about net zero and net negative emission buildings, while continuing to pursue the type of form and segregation of uses that perpetuate car dependency. A lot of it seems like green washing, though I'm not sure about Reid's, so I'll take your word for it. I'm thinking specifically of West 5 in London, built by tract home builder Sifton. But I've seen others in Milton and York Region talking about net zero.

This development will be purely residential as far as I understand it, which is disappointing. ODC's consultant who handled the zone change was talking a lot about commercial components. There really should be.

[welltoldtales]

I feel like Reid's is such a mixed bag. They are pioneers in NetZero homes in Ontario. One of very few companies even trying. But they also build some pretty suburban developments and pretty clearly don't like paying for expensive city centre land.

I'm not sure if they are or were pioneers, but there are several large suburban developers talking about net zero and net negative emission buildings, while continuing to pursue the type of form and segregation of uses that perpetuate car dependency. A lot of it seems like green washing, though I'm not sure about Reid's, so I'll take your word for it. I'm thinking specifically of West 5 in London, built by tract home builder Sifton. But I've seen others in Milton and York Region talking about net zero.

This development will be purely residential as far as I understand it, which is disappointing. ODC's consultant who handled the zone change was talking a lot about commercial components. There really should be.

Definitely should be. But local residents were against commercial components.

[MidTowner]

Not all local residents were. I'm a local resident, though I live on the wrong side of the municipal border from this, and I want more amenities in my neighbourhood, not fewer. Once again, a tiny vocal minority has encouraged and allowed for poor planning decisions.

[panamaniac]

Not all local residents were. I'm a local resident, though I live on the wrong side of the municipal border from this, and I want more amenities in my neighbourhood, not fewer. Once again, a tiny vocal minority has encouraged and allowed for poor planning decisions.

Never considered it before, but is the wider "neighbourhood" covered by two different neighbourhood associations?  I.e. one in Kitchener and one in Waterloo?

[welltoldtales]

Officially yes. MHBPNA and MANA. Although borders are always funny.

[MidTowner]

It would be strange to have a Neighbourhood Association spanning two municipalities. There is a group (sort of) called Midtown KW that has no (as far as I know) official recognition by the City of Kitchener or Waterloo, and purports to represent residents on both sides of the border. I would hesitate to call them NIMBY, but their web site posts anti-development opinions (including of this development and Breithaupt Block Phase III).

I don't think MHBPNA was invited to comment about the ODC development. Obviously City of Kitchener residents were free to, but to what extent should another city's council listen to their input? I don't know the answer to that.

[Spokes]

Nice little addition.