The Metz (Schneiders site redevelopment)

[tomh009]

Eh, it was a plain box and not that old. Schneider's initial commercial building is 63 Courtland (which has several later additions).

The bit I'm thinking of, between the modern expansion and the 1950s office, dated back to the 1920's - 1940s, iirc.  It was modest, but with everything gone, I fear that the chance of a new neighbourhood with a mix of materials and age has been lost.   In its place, I'd be concerned that this could end up as "Barrel Yards Redux", which is not something I'd wish on Kitchener or any other city.

There were pre-war buildings, yes. But they were in poor condition and not practical to salvage and repurpose. This is why Auburn is keeping the probably least attractive one of the buildings fronting onto Courtland, and not any of the older ones.

Auburn's plans do envision a mixed neighbourhood, but on the factory lands themselves there really won't be much variation in age.