Hey if they're even just moving dirt, that's good news. This project is huge and while it isn't great and will probably take 15 years minimum, it'll certainly be a big change.
This entire area (talking about the entire area between Borden and Mill Stations; the low density old industrial buildings etc) has so much potential to be one of the densest parts of the region and with good planning, could become a really desirable area. While unfortunately they completely screwed up the LRT in this area by having 4 almost 90 degree turns that take forever to traverse, there are still at least good roads and the Iron Horse Trail cuts through it. There is so much space that can be transformed into a desirable urban area here, though I kind of doubt our ability to utilize it correctly. A huge problem with transit oriented development is how immediate it gentrifies an area, which is usually almost 99.9% bad. If the local community and council worked together to maintain a vision, well, maybe this big chunk of land will be nice. I mean...you could easily fit a good sports stadium in this area, allowing GRH to build a hospital at the former Aud location. :'P Though if we just let developers and big business move in, the area will be completely sterile of actual life. The goal should be to organically develop something like Kensington Market in Toronto, rather than end up with some sort of generic Tridel Condo complex.
As a reminder, here's what the City of Kitchener pictured just a tiny, tiny, tiny slice of this area to eventually look like, specifically near Schneider Creek:
![[Image: 1D4ek3g.jpeg]](https://i.imgur.com/1D4ek3g.jpeg)
Hopefully we can pull this off. It'll take a long time but the Rockway PARTS plan had so many good ideas. Now all we need are ambitious developers who are ready to start now... And good planning from council.
This entire area (talking about the entire area between Borden and Mill Stations; the low density old industrial buildings etc) has so much potential to be one of the densest parts of the region and with good planning, could become a really desirable area. While unfortunately they completely screwed up the LRT in this area by having 4 almost 90 degree turns that take forever to traverse, there are still at least good roads and the Iron Horse Trail cuts through it. There is so much space that can be transformed into a desirable urban area here, though I kind of doubt our ability to utilize it correctly. A huge problem with transit oriented development is how immediate it gentrifies an area, which is usually almost 99.9% bad. If the local community and council worked together to maintain a vision, well, maybe this big chunk of land will be nice. I mean...you could easily fit a good sports stadium in this area, allowing GRH to build a hospital at the former Aud location. :'P Though if we just let developers and big business move in, the area will be completely sterile of actual life. The goal should be to organically develop something like Kensington Market in Toronto, rather than end up with some sort of generic Tridel Condo complex.
As a reminder, here's what the City of Kitchener pictured just a tiny, tiny, tiny slice of this area to eventually look like, specifically near Schneider Creek:
Hopefully we can pull this off. It'll take a long time but the Rockway PARTS plan had so many good ideas. Now all we need are ambitious developers who are ready to start now... And good planning from council.