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The Hub | 44m | 14fl | Complete
#1
[align=center]The Hub
[color=#000000]124 and 130 Columbia St. W. and 365 Albert St.
Developer : Prica Group
Architect: ASP Design Group
Project: Development of five new mixed use buildings with underground parking and a landscape promenade through the middle of
the site. When development is completed, the site would contain up to 769 bedrooms in 600 units with buildings ranging in height from 6 to 14 storeys.

[Image: render.png]

[Image: render2.png]

Video render of the project can be seen here.

Staff Report
Plan Report

Site plan

[Image: siteplan.png]

location

[Image: location.png]

Before

365 Albert st

[Image: August2720142.png]


124 and 130 Columbia st

[Image: August2720141.png]
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#2
Where were developments like this a few years ago when Waterloo really needed them? This seems light years better than what we've been seeing.
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#3
panamaniac Wrote:Where were developments like this a few years ago when Waterloo really needed them? This seems light years better than what we've been seeing.

Exactly, it seems like most developers have really upped their offering which is great to see. It must be due to a combination of competition and Waterloo's new Northdale zoning.
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#4
panamaniac Wrote:Where were developments like this a few years ago when Waterloo really needed them? This seems light years better than what we've been seeing.

You can say that again!

This is a very ambitious project, but a great one to say the least. I can't imagine the people along Columbia will be happy about this though. Those houses would be perfect replaced as mid rise mixed use buildings.
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#5
Councillors marvel at Columbia Street project
September 24, 2014 | Paige Desmond | The Record | LINK


Quote:WATERLOO — Iconic. Remarkable. Futuristic.

Those were just three of the words councillors used Monday to describe a five-building, multi-use project on a massive swath of land at 124 and 130 Columbia St. W. and 365 Albert Street.

Councillors approved the third and final version of the Prica Group project unanimously.

"I enthusiastically endorse this proposal," said Coun. Mark Whaley.

Calling the transformation of the project "remarkable," he admitted he wasn't as enthusiastic when it was first brought forward January.

"I was publicly negative," he said.

The project has changed dramatically since it was first proposed in January.

It started with four-buildings, 195 units, 975 bedrooms and 195 parking spaces. It was revised to five seven-to-13-storey buildings and 250 bedrooms, before landing at the approved plan.

It includes:

• Five buildings ranging from six to 14 storeys.

• Six hundred one- and two-bedroom units, 769 bedrooms.

• 2,250 square metres of commercial space.

• 283 parking spaces, mostly underground.

Typically, 818 parking spaces would be required, but because of the building is in Northdale and walking distance to transit, employment and the universities a reduction was permitted.

Coun. Karen Scian said when she was first elected to council she voted against most development applications because they just weren't good enough.

She said this is the type of development council wanted to see.

Ward

Jeff Henry agreed.

"What this demonstrates today is that when council sets out a bold vision for what it wants to see in the community the private sector can respond to that," he said.

Two 14-storey buildings back on to an existing industrial business and face north to block wind impacts.

Three six-storey and one eight storey building front on to Columbia Street West.

Perhaps one of the most unique elements of the project is a pedestrian corridor that runs horizontally from Albert Street between the towers.

"Our site is essentially a hub which brings everything together," said architect Atif Aqeel from ASP Design Group.

It includes an amphitheatre, raised patio, promenade, performance area and also has vertical connections form Columbia running between the buildings.

Development planner Trevor Hawkins said the design of the promenade took some work, to ensure pedestrians wouldn't be swept down a wind tunnel.

"We were concerned that … it perhaps would not be the most hospitable," he said.

The developer will spend about $200,000 on public art for the space and has also agreed to upgrade the Columbia and Albert streetscapes.

The project is within 800 metres of two planned light rail transit stops and is on an iXpress bus route.

Commercial and amenity space will be on the ground floor of every building and could include offices, medical/dental, coffee shop, variety store, art gallery, food store or community use.

Still to be worked out are noise mitigation measures between Prica Group and an abutting business directly to the north of the property to ensure they won't impact each other with noise.

Brian Smith from Raytheon Canada Ltd. said he wants to ensure the business isn't impacted.

"We didn't want this development to affect the ability of Raytheon to continue operating," he said.
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#6
Looks like the trend from WW continues. We get excited about something, then the record reports on it.

All joking aside, Mark Whaley is right. This proposal originally sucked. I've done a total 180 on it.
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#7
Very cool idea. That part in between the buildings will be a cool spot to hang out.
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#8
365 Albert st is being prepared for demolition, the windows have been removed and filled in with plywood panels.
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#9
Looks like the delay is due to development charges.

http://m.therecord.com/news-story/606039...rge-grants
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#10
(10-29-2015, 06:28 AM)rangersfan Wrote: Looks like the delay is due to development charges.

http://m.therecord.com/news-story/606039...rge-grants

That's quite the split between mayors and non-mayors in the vote.
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#11
$12M is a pretty substantial development charge, too.
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#12
(10-29-2015, 06:28 AM)rangersfan Wrote: Looks like the delay is due to development charges.

http://m.therecord.com/news-story/606039...rge-grants

Some choice quotes:

Quote:Caroline Baker from GSP Group, agent for the developer, said the project can only go ahead if fees are deferred.

Since 1989 the region has only allowed deferrals three times. The amounts were less than $200,000 and in each case it was for a non-profit or similar project.

"The region and our taxpayers are not getting into the business of bankrolling the development industry," Coun. Sean Strickland said in opposition. "This is not a line that I want to see us cross."
"(The development charge reserve) is at one of the lowest levels in years," Strickland said.
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#13
(10-29-2015, 10:00 AM)mpd618 Wrote:
(10-29-2015, 06:28 AM)rangersfan Wrote: Looks like the delay is due to development charges.

http://m.therecord.com/news-story/606039...rge-grants

That's quite the split between mayors and non-mayors in the vote.

Mayors 5-2 in favour (5-3 if you count Ken Seiling).  Councillors split 4-4.
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#14
(10-29-2015, 10:50 AM)Markster Wrote:
Quote:Caroline Baker from GSP Group, agent for the developer, said the project can only go ahead if fees are deferred.

Since 1989 the region has only allowed deferrals three times. The amounts were less than $200,000 and in each case it was for a non-profit or similar project.

"The region and our taxpayers are not getting into the business of bankrolling the development industry," Coun. Sean Strickland said in opposition. "This is not a line that I want to see us cross."
"(The development charge reserve) is at one of the lowest levels in years," Strickland said.

Development charge reserve is at a low level.  To increase that, you need to collect more development charges.  To collect more development charges, you need more development.  To get more development ... maybe you need to compromise on the timing of those charges.

The region wants the charges up front.  Developer wants to pay in two years.  Maybe a reasonable compromise would be $4M now, $4M in a year, and $4M in two years (plus appropriate interest).
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#15
"Development charges of $66 million were expected to be collected this year. Between Aug. 1, 2014 and July 31 just $38 million has been collected"

Where is the uncollected development charges... in default or collected at another time, or...? If that's the case, kudos to the developer asking for a deferral instead of just dodging the development charges after the fact.

Also comparatively, 12mil is nearly 20% of development charges (if we're to assume this coming year is on the same pace). That's a ton of change being dished out by one developer for one project. Pretty sure Prica Group has another one or two on the table if I've been following the threads in here correctly.
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