ONE28 | 15 fl | U/C

[Spokes]

Council approves Elgin St. condo
June 18, 2014 | James Jackson | Waterloo Chronicle | Link

After making several changes to a proposed condo development at the corner of King Street and Elgin Street in Waterloo, a developer has finally received council approval to proceed with the project.

Councillors deferred the project in January due to uncertainties over how the building would impact the neighbourhood, or how proposed density bonusing would benefit residents and the community.

The building will amalgamate the lands at 128, 130, 136 and 138 King St. N. and 6 Elgin St. and the 14-storey building will include 110 units, 144 bedrooms, 80 parking spaces and commercial space on the ground floor.

It will also include several density bonusing provisions, including: the remediation of contaminated soil from the site (a former gas station and service centre), a LEED energy efficiency rating of silver, and multi-modal transit options including a secure bicycle parking and repair area, electric vehicle charging stations and parking for Grand River Car Share.

The developer will also pitch in up to $150,000 for a public art display and make streetscape improvements.

An earlier staff report lacked specific detail on how the density bonusing would play out on the site, which was one reason for why it was deferred in January.

The city also held several public meetings with nearby residents to discuss the development and any concerns they might have. Those concerns were then forwarded to the developer and solutions were drawn up.

One of the primary worries was the proposed height of 20 storeys, prompting the developer to change the layout and reduce the height to 14 storeys. The site will also include 80 parking spots divided between an underground garage and parking spots on the second floor.

“This iteration is viable and it fits the architectural design of the area,” said Chris Pidgeon of GSP Group, the agent representing the developer.

“This development has come a long way and I appreciate staff, neighbours and the builder collaborating,” said Coun. Melissa Durrell. “I think it’s interesting that it was once a gas station and will now have electric car charging stations.”