General Urban Kitchener Updates and Rumours

[danbrotherston]

I don't think some people are bright enough that in many cases there are two choices, new development, or if you keep pushing developers away you can have vacant buildings, empty lots and blight. Maybe that's what they prefer. Keepin' it gritty.

Absolutely, too many people are like toddlers, who aren't willing to face the facts.

[nms]

I think much of it is, "If you don't express an opinion, you too will have a tower in your backyard."

[BruceAshe]

Not a huge project, but 27 Roy St has a redevelopment plan. Apartments and art space. https://bit.ly/3wBoWls

[ac3r]

Nice! We need to grow our artistic culture in this region. It's pathetically weak.

[mastermind]

Is there a thread for the Borden St project right near the Kitchener Aud? A tower crane went up there recently.

[jeffster]

Is there a thread for the Borden St project right near the Kitchener Aud?  A tower crane went up there recently.

Not sure, I wonder if the mods could make one if it doesn't exist?

Got a picture of it though, as it was going up.

   

[ac3r]

Does anyone know if they're renovating the Oktoberfest building downtown? I've noticed the windows are boarded up and they have bins outside of the building.

[ZEBuilder]

Does anyone know if they're renovating the Oktoberfest building downtown? I've noticed the windows are boarded up and they have bins outside of the building.

The building was sold to Hans Haus Inc. and they are renovating it and converting the space into offices and retail.

Here's a CTV news article about it:
https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/kw-oktoberf...-1.5430874

[ac3r]

That's a shame. It's an ugly building for sure, but that kitsch castle architecture has been an iconic part of the Kitchener identity so it seems suiting for the Oktoberfest offices.

[panamaniac]

A part of our identity that I won’t miss, I must say.

[jeffster]

That's a shame. It's an ugly building for sure, but that kitsch castle architecture has been an iconic part of the Kitchener identity so it seems suiting for the Oktoberfest offices.

How long has it been ugly? Before making it ugly it wasn't ugly. But I honestly can't remember when they renovated it to make it ugly.

[panamaniac]

It was a standard issue red brick commercial building with a ground floor storefront. The renovation will be an improvement, I think.

[tomh009]

A part of our identity that I won’t miss, I must say.

And getting retail/restaurant space on the ground floor will be an improvement, too.

[nms]

I think the castle façade is about 15 years old (a Wikipedia image of the building is dated 2006).  Prior to that, it was more of an A-frame façade (if you traced the angle from the ground floor front windows, you get a general idea).

[ijmorlan]

I think the castle façade is about 15 years old (a Wikipedia image of the building is dated 2006).  Prior to that, it was more of an A-frame façade (if you traced the angle from the ground floor front windows, you get a general idea).

I would have guessed earlier. Amazing how quickly changes become part of the environment and feel like they had always been there. I was talking to somebody just a couple of weeks ago and commented that the LRT had opened in 2019. They had only come to the city since then and didn’t realize it hadn’t been there for much longer.

I must confess I like oddities like the castle building. It may be in poor taste, but I’m a little sorry to see it change. Even the J&J building on Weber with its crenellations brings a bit of character to that bit of the road. That being said, I wouldn’t want too many buildings to look like that!