The line of thinking that this should be more residential focused or handed off to developers is suuuuuccchhhh an incorrect way to look at this. It's clear they want to keep the space for business/commercial, not parcel it off and sell it off to condo developers or anything like that. That would be utterly foolish from a planning perspective. Long term, King/Victoria is intended to be the main intersection of...well...the entire region but also Kitchener. We've already got Google, Dillon Consulting, Communitech, University of Waterloo, McMaster University, a future new train station and a number of incredibly high density skyscraper projects either under construction or approved for construction around this area. They're expecting this intersection to have as much importance and centrality as Bay/Front/York/Yonge area is for Toronto.
Short-medium term? As in within our lives? I think most of Bramm Yards would be medium density office and retail space. Long term? Perhaps some office towers and skyscrapers would spring up there that could offer much more office space, commercial and perhaps hotel space. Either way, this intersection is going to be seen as one of (if not the) main intersection of the city and region as a whole due to the ongoing development, the new train station and Highway 7/Victoria Street acting as a good (if not a bit awkward) way for vehicular traffic from suburban or intracity regions to funnel into the core of the region. Hence the desire to develop a master plan and retain ownership or at least direct control over what is developed here. The city sure isn't picturing more VanMar and Vive projects, hipster bars shilling IPAs on these 8 acres and Victoria Street becoming a giant bike lane, they're picturing it being an incredibly strong economic centre for business and residence. It's really the heart of the area and it always has been, to the point even our brain rotted council members can see. Well, except for Little Debbie I guess.
Short-medium term? As in within our lives? I think most of Bramm Yards would be medium density office and retail space. Long term? Perhaps some office towers and skyscrapers would spring up there that could offer much more office space, commercial and perhaps hotel space. Either way, this intersection is going to be seen as one of (if not the) main intersection of the city and region as a whole due to the ongoing development, the new train station and Highway 7/Victoria Street acting as a good (if not a bit awkward) way for vehicular traffic from suburban or intracity regions to funnel into the core of the region. Hence the desire to develop a master plan and retain ownership or at least direct control over what is developed here. The city sure isn't picturing more VanMar and Vive projects, hipster bars shilling IPAs on these 8 acres and Victoria Street becoming a giant bike lane, they're picturing it being an incredibly strong economic centre for business and residence. It's really the heart of the area and it always has been, to the point even our brain rotted council members can see. Well, except for Little Debbie I guess.