General Suburban Updates and Rumours

[tomh009]

What would the facilitation involve?

Based on the Lexington Park web site, the renovation will be a new façade plus interior renovations, I don't expect any structural changes.

[scarfinv]

Does anyone know what is going in at Erb & Ira Needles, by the gas bar and Royal Bank?

[danbrotherston]

What would the facilitation involve?

Based on the Lexington Park web site, the renovation will be a new façade plus interior renovations, I don't expect any structural changes.

I suppose the most effective way to would be to come through the building, plus another bridge, and formalizing some of the trails on the other side.

All I know is there is a lot of mid density housing right behind that plaza, that almost certainly cannot walk to the plaza easily.

Think Traynor Ave, but there never was easy access.

[neonjoe]

Does anyone know what is going in at Erb & Ira Needles, by the gas bar and Royal Bank?

On the property management site it shows future development of 5000sqft but not where the construction is taking place.
https://www.mallmaverick.com/system/site...1530025078

[tomh009]

What would the facilitation involve?

Based on the Lexington Park web site, the renovation will be a new façade plus interior renovations, I don't expect any structural changes.

I suppose the most effective way to would be to come through the building, plus another bridge, and formalizing some of the trails on the other side.

All I know is there is a lot of mid density housing right behind that plaza, that almost certainly cannot walk to the plaza easily.

Think Traynor Ave, but there never was easy access.

I'd say it's extremely unlikely that the owner would give up a commercial unit to put in a cut between two halves of the strip mall. Certainly the plan is only for façade plus interior renovations.

In any case, i don't think it would make the plaza all that much quicker to access for the people in the townhouses. Unless you made the bridge, and cut another trail through the trees in the middle of the loop. That would reduce the trip from roughly 500m (6 minutes) to 200m (2-3 minutes) for the people living right in the middle, and maybe from 700m to 400m on the "left side". On the "right side" there would be little benefit as walking along Lawrence would be equally quick anyway.

New trail and bridge by the city. Lost commercial unit for the property owner. I don't think the ROI is that good in this case, I'm sure we can find other places where the same money can make a much bigger impact.

   

[danbrotherston]

I suppose the most effective way to would be to come through the building, plus another bridge, and formalizing some of the trails on the other side.

All I know is there is a lot of mid density housing right behind that plaza, that almost certainly cannot walk to the plaza easily.

Think Traynor Ave, but there never was easy access.

I'd say it's extremely unlikely that the owner would give up a commercial unit to put in a cut between two halves of the strip mall. Certainly the plan is only for façade plus interior renovations.

In any case, i don't think it would make the plaza all that much quicker to access for the people in the townhouses. Unless you made the bridge, and cut another trail through the trees in the middle of the loop. That would reduce the trip from roughly 500m (6 minutes) to 200m (2-3 minutes) for the people living right in the middle, and maybe from 700m to 400m on the "left side". On the "right side" there would be little benefit as walking along Lawrence would be equally quick anyway.

New trail and bridge by the city. Lost commercial unit for the property owner. I don't think the ROI is that good in this case, I'm sure we can find other places where the same money can make a much bigger impact.

Well we can agree to disagree on this issue.

But I have no idea where you're getting your walking distance, by all my Google maps measurements, walking distance ranges from 650 meters to 1100 meters.  Reducing that down to 200-400 meters would be less than half.

Also, this is relatively high density area, it *could* be very walkable, but isn't, there's a big opportunity.  There's also a question of equality, this area is relatively inexpensive, making it more feasible to not own, or own fewer cars, is a big win for social equity.

I think we have to change city and planning priority.  I guarantee you this idea has not even crossed the minds of anyone involved, let alone been costed and evaluated.

As for cost, I don't think cost is an issue, this infra would be cheap compared with the money we waste on roads...and yes, waste, I'm not anti-car, but the waste of money to rebuild Belmont at 4-5 lanes wide, when 2-3 lanes is more than sufficient is waste by any objective value system.  It would easily have paid for the infra I'm talking about (probably including buying out a commercial unit).  So yeah, not a cost issue, a priority issue.

[clasher]

If you put another bridge between Lawrence and the existing one it would be right at the bottom of a steep little hill. I know I would choose to walk a longer route if it meant the grade wasn't so steep, especially pulling a bundle buggy or pushing a stroller. The existing wide path you can see on the map is a loose gravel trail that topped out at 11% on my bike gps last time I went up it. I've never bushwacked from the top down to the creek but it looks fairly steep too. If you make the trail winding to ease the gradient you end up making it longer and taking away green space for asphalt.

The city should pave the existing trail that runs along the creek (all the way out to Fischer-Hallman) and perhaps also formalize the route that runs from the existing bridge up to the townhouses on Paulander but it's still a steep little bit of trail that isn't really practical for anyone in a wheelchair, pushing a stroller or using a bundle buggy.

Also the back of that plaza smells like garbage and urine.

[tomh009]

As for cost, I don't think cost is an issue, this infra would be cheap compared with the money we waste on roads...

If you are able to get the city to reallocate the road budget to building trails and pedestrian bridges, I congratulate you.

[scarfinv]

Does anyone know what is going in at Erb & Ira Needles, by the gas bar and Royal Bank?

On the property management site it shows future development of 5000sqft but not where the construction is taking place.
https://www.mallmaverick.com/system/site...1530025078

That must be old. The part that is being developed is shown as parking on the diagram.

[Watclif]

Does anyone know what is going in at Erb & Ira Needles, by the gas bar and Royal Bank?

It's just what any great neighborhood needs:  An A&W with Drive Thru 

[jeffster]

Does anyone know what is going in at Erb & Ira Needles, by the gas bar and Royal Bank?

It's just what any great neighborhood needs:  An A&W with Drive Thru 

Well, at least that's better than a McDonald's Drive-Thru. I see this cup as half-full.

[timio]

That corner of town has a distinct lack of fast food options, so not a terrible thing to add.

[scarfinv]

That corner of town has a distinct lack of fast food options, so not a terrible thing to add.

I agree. Now if only we could also get a Tim Hortons over here too.

[rangersfan]

Noticed today that there was construction hoarding around Volkswagen Waterloo with signs saying renovation.

The industrial building under construction on Randall Dr is quite large and the exterior looks to be nearing completion. The project is being done by GranVal Construction.


Also the space formally occupied by Caml Tomlin now has signs for a forthcoming business Heffner Cabinetry and Woodworking.

[bgb_ca]

If anyone is into the vaping scene I learned that Toronto's DashVapes is opening a shop in Waterloo by the beer store north of King and Northfield in September.