General Urban Kitchener Updates and Rumours

[Spokes]

I seen that the garage across the street from the Via station that was up for sale for a long while has sold.

That's great news.  Fantastic development potential.

[CTGal1011]

The backhoe/digger is BACK at the Noir spot on Courtland/Peter....

[tomh009]

A 13-unit townhouse, it seems like? If done well, that would still be good, and a big improvement on the empty lot.

[panamaniac]

Renovation work has started (looks like refurbished storefronts, for now) at 64 Queen St S.

[KevinL]

No major progress at the former Bargain Shop site, but the branding has now switched to Dollarama. Caught this after dark:

[rangersfan]

CBC has a small slide show of photos of 48 Weber st as workers begin to restore the complex.


http://www.cbc.ca/m/news/canada/kitchene...-1.3187837

[Spokes]

Thanks for posting this. I have high hopes for this that this project will help to "widen" downtown

[DHLawrence]

That huge pile of stuff outside the building in the first pic is a shame. So much being thrown out unnecessarily; doesn't all look like garbage.

[CTGal1011]

A 13-unit townhouse, it seems like?  If done well, that would still be good, and a big improvement on the empty lot.

And should be a catalyst for the clean up of Sandhills park. Some of the notorious users of the park may find an alternative location for their activities if the townhouses have little balconies looking right on to the park. Win Win!

Of course, in the mean time, my children do a fine job asking precocious questions (as kids do), making them uncomfortable enough to mumble something about "just leaving."

[clasher]

That huge pile of stuff outside the building in the first pic is a shame. So much being thrown out unnecessarily; doesn't all look like garbage.

Looks like some people were running a bicycle chop-shop out of that place, so many people have their wheels or whole bikes stolen downtown it makes sense that a nearby operation was parting them out, stolen bikes and dealin' drugs go hand-in-hand.

[Viewfromthe42]

That huge pile of stuff outside the building in the first pic is a shame. So much being thrown out unnecessarily; doesn't all look like garbage.

Looks like some people were running a bicycle chop-shop out of that place, so many people have their wheels or whole bikes stolen downtown it makes sense that a nearby operation was parting them out, stolen bikes and dealin' drugs go hand-in-hand.

There's another (all-but-assuredly) bike chop shop at 21 Bridgeport in Waterloo. Even Google street view seems to confirm this [https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.4678347,-...56!6m1!1e1] (though this is relatively light amounts of "work" on the site). One of the busiest roads in Waterloo, and you can still see men on bikes coming in, making a quick exchange from their messenger bags, and riding out. Once at night, I even saw in the door, a circle of ragged men of all ages with bags being barked orders from a man in the middle. Of course, it's all just speculation...

[Chris]

There's another (all-but-assuredly) bike chop shop at 21 Bridgeport in Waterloo. Even Google street view seems to confirm this [https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.4678347,-...56!6m1!1e1] (though this is relatively light amounts of "work" on the site). One of the busiest roads in Waterloo, and you can still see men on bikes coming in, making a quick exchange from their messenger bags, and riding out. Once at night, I even saw in the door, a circle of ragged men of all ages with bags being barked orders from a man in the middle. Of course, it's all just speculation...

And their neighbours just down a few houses too. Both places attract a convoy of bikes with trailers filled with scrap metal and other misc. finds. https://goo.gl/maps/0kH2z

[Smore]

these reports brought to you by the balconies of the42!

[Smore]

I don't think there is another thread elsewhere (please move if so), but the houses near the corner of Moore and Union have begun being demolished.

[panamaniac]

Wouldn't that be in Waterloo?