900 King St W | 25 fl | U/C - Printable Version +- Waterloo Region Connected (https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com) +-- Forum: Land Development and Real Estate (https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=4) +--- Forum: Urban Areas (https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=5) +--- Thread: 900 King St W | 25 fl | U/C (/showthread.php?tid=1595) |
RE: 900 King St W | 25 fl | Proposed - ac3r - 01-21-2022 Yeah it's not really the architects who work there. I know a local architect who has jumped around a few of our local firms. They're a very talented individual. The problem is the people who run SRM - and by extension, the clients they choose - tent to want something done for low cost, thus skimp on materials or tell them not to spend too much time on design. At the same time, it can also come down to the skill of the architects they employ (an architect with a better portfolio is unlikely to want to work at a place like SRM etc) but not always, especially when it comes to limited local job options. RE: 900 King St W | 25 fl | Proposed - CP42 - 03-07-2022 This was supposed to go to council tonight. They just finished with the first item (30 Francis) now (started at 6pm). Some councillors are visually dozing off and have suggested pushing this topic until the 9th. It’s been stated since they advertised the public meeting being tonight, they would have to send out another proper notice period and wouldn’t be heard until May. Appears they are going to hear from the public delegates and staff presentation tonight and then hear from the applicant and vote on Wednesday the 9th. RE: 900 King St W | 25 fl | Proposed - CP42 - 03-08-2022 One speaker stating that the increase traffic will increase illegal parking (on her driveway) and exhaust emissions in the neighbourhood. Next speaker stating that high rises are creating isolation and they are bad for mental and physical health because people don’t exercise because it takes more effort to go outside? She has stated “the research is clear.” She is now stating tall buildings are associated with increased crime rates… here we go. Also has “research” stating tall buildings put more stress on people. Is now claiming that high rises are 2x as more harmful to the environment. And the cherry on top: “tall buildings = profits for developers” and “low rise = connection, safety, health and environmental benefits” RE: 900 King St W | 25 fl | Proposed - CP42 - 03-08-2022 Developer is in discussions with Grand River Hospital Foundation to donate space in the building got be a “compassionate care lodge” for the hospital (similar to Ronald McDonald House). RE: 900 King St W | 25 fl | Proposed - ac3r - 03-08-2022 (03-08-2022, 12:29 AM)CP42 Wrote: One speaker stating that the increase traffic will increase illegal parking (on her driveway) and exhaust emissions in the neighbourhood. FWIW there have been studies linking life in high rises to poor mental health and increased laziness. As for higher crime rates, that's a load of nonsense (at least in this case. As you can see below, there were higher crime rates found in high rises, but that research was on New York City social housing projects in the latter part of the 20th century when the city was seeing extremely high rates of crime). That said, we do need some buildings to be high because there are a lot of people and limited space. However she is no doubt just using these arguments in bad faith to oppose a high rise development, rather than having true concern over health, environment and crime. Quote:There is every reason to believe that high-rise apartment dwelling has adverse effects on mental and social health. And there is sufficient clinical, anecdotal and intuitive observations to back this up. Herewith, in no particular order ranking, a host of factors: http://iwritewordsgood.com/apl/patterns/apl021.htm https://www.jstor.org/stable/41986998 The above quote comes from a great work of architectural theory called A Pattern Language, spearheaded by the architect Christopher Alexander. I believe I've mentioned him on this forum before. It's a great book on how to design homes/buildings, neighbourhoods and cities. Here's an online version, though you'll have to forgive the archaic website design: https://iwritewordsgood.com/apl/set.htm RE: 900 King St W | 25 fl | Proposed - tomh009 - 03-08-2022 The Danish study is more credible than one person's observations in the York Region. But I still wonder whether they have accounted for income and other demographics in doing the comparison. Even in Denmark, I would expect that people who live in single-family housing would have higher incomes than those in apartment buildings. If that effect is not considered, then it's not possible to isolate the impact of the housing type. RE: 900 King St W | 25 fl | Proposed - ac3r - 03-08-2022 Good point. I have never read the Danish research in detail, but it would be interesting to do so. If I can find that study for download anywhere, I'll share a link or at the very least some excerpts if all I can locate is a DRM version. RE: 900 King St W | 25 fl | Proposed - CP42 - 03-08-2022 ‘Not every property is suitable for a highrise’ Kitchener resident tells councillors http://archive.today/rq77Q RE: 900 King St W | 25 fl | Proposed - Rainrider22 - 03-08-2022 Oh boy..."Desbarats said King Street West in front of Grand River Hospital is already a congested area and adding a rental tower to the corner will only increase traffic and parking concerns" I drive here often and I have yet to see congestion and too much traffic... Let them have their say, then approve. RE: 900 King St W | 25 fl | Proposed - jeffster - 03-08-2022 (03-08-2022, 07:23 PM)Rainrider22 Wrote: Oh boy..."Desbarats said King Street West in front of Grand River Hospital is already a congested area and adding a rental tower to the corner will only increase traffic and parking concerns" Tell 'em to go to Toronto for a day. Drive around the various areas. And, I am not talking Downtown Toronto. Just a random section of the city where you're on a main street. Ask them to find parking. Tell them to drive around the block. Get them to come back here and bitch about how bad KW traffic is. Guess what, they won't. I was in Toronto this past weekend, Dufferin and St. Clair area... 5 KM from downtown Toronto. Lots of traffic, hard to find parking. However, houses are densely packed together (maybe 3 feet between houses, and narrow homes at that). People in this city (KW) need to keep in mind that we're a couple hundred years away from every being close to Toronto like. It's just the reality. Unless something changes quickly. RE: 900 King St W | 25 fl | Proposed - Joedelay Highhoe - 03-10-2022 "Kitchener gives green light to 25-storey tower proposal in midtown" https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/kitchener-gives-green-light-to-25-storey-tower-proposal-in-midtown-1.5813506 RE: 900 King St W | 25 fl | Proposed - CP42 - 03-10-2022 A 25-storey rental tower on King Street in front of Grand River Hospital ‘can’t happen soon enough,’ says Kitchener councillor http://archive.today/YMOpa RE: 900 King St W | 25 fl | Proposed - CP42 - 03-10-2022 (03-10-2022, 02:28 PM)CP42 Wrote: A 25-storey rental tower on King Street in front of Grand River Hospital ‘can’t happen soon enough,’ says Kitchener councillor “When asked about three-bedroom units, Wacko said bigger family units would likely not be desirable in this location but will be planned at another proposed development project the developer is considering on Courtland Avenue.” RE: 900 King St W | 25 fl | Proposed - nms - 03-10-2022 (03-10-2022, 02:31 PM)CP42 Wrote:(03-10-2022, 02:28 PM)CP42 Wrote: A 25-storey rental tower on King Street in front of Grand River Hospital ‘can’t happen soon enough,’ says Kitchener councillor I wonder why they wouldn't be desirable there? The project is half a block away from a whole bunch of family housing. Nearby apartment buildings have two-bedoom units so stretching to one more wouldn't be stretch. RE: 900 King St W | 25 fl | Proposed - tomh009 - 03-10-2022 (03-10-2022, 02:31 PM)CP42 Wrote:(03-10-2022, 02:28 PM)CP42 Wrote: A 25-storey rental tower on King Street in front of Grand River Hospital ‘can’t happen soon enough,’ says Kitchener councillor That server won't respond to me. The Record still works, though. https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/2022/03/09/a-25-storey-rental-tower-on-king-street-in-front-of-grand-river-hospital-cant-happen-soon-enough-says-kitchener-councillor.html Anyway, the project he's referring to is at Courtland and Benton, where the demolition is now almost complete. |