King-Victoria Transit Hub

[danbrotherston]

You overlook how fundamental its manufacturing history is to Kitchener's identity.

I do? I lived in the city for 15 years. I know some of the history. But I don’t see how it’s more fundamental than Toyota is today or google is to the City’s reimagining as a tech hub.

[tomh009]

I understand that factory facades have been incorporated into designs of buildings, but right now there is little to no appetite for this type of additional development cost.

The developer who acquired the 1920s Schneiders factory building on Courtland is developing a proposal that incorporates (a part of) it into the new building. And many people do still like the old brick and beam aesthetic. So, I don't know that the appetite has disappeared altogether, or that heritage status of this building is the primary challenge for the transit hub.

[panamaniac]

I understand that factory facades have been incorporated into designs of buildings, but right now there is little to no appetite for this type of additional development cost.

The developer who acquired the 1920s Schneiders factory building on Courtland is developing a proposal that incorporates (a part of) it into the new building. And many people do still like the old brick and beam aesthetic. So, I don't know that the appetite has disappeared altogether, or that heritage status of this building is the primary challenge for the transit hub.

If we had more imaginative developers, it would not be a challenge at all.  Just an opportunity.

[westwardloo]

I understand that factory facades have been incorporated into designs of buildings, but right now there is little to no appetite for this type of additional development cost.

The developer who acquired the 1920s Schneiders factory building on Courtland is developing a proposal that incorporates (a part of) it into the new building. And many people do still like the old brick and beam aesthetic. So, I don't know that the appetite has disappeared altogether, or that heritage status of this building is the primary challenge for the transit hub.

If that project gets done in the next decade I will be extremely surprised.

[ZEBuilder]

For those interested the bid that the Region had for the partial demolition of the Rumpel Felt building has been cancelled. The bid was posted in early August with the intent being closure of the bid in September (I don't recall the exact date). However the bid kept getting extensions, the last extension required bids to be submitted by the 21st of October. However it was cancelled on Thursday or Friday of this week.

It would be to the surprise of no one if timelines have slipped on this now, considering they wanted to start work on the track and all the related infrastructure in March of next year, the Rumpel Felt building was intended to be partially demolished before then, if it goes through the normal bid process the building won't likely start demolition until next year at the earliest, but even then it all depends on how the Region intends on bidding for the project.

[MidTowner]

Terrible news, thank you.

[Momo26]

So new Transit Hub construction start date still unknown?

[ZEBuilder]

So new Transit Hub construction start date still unknown?

Publicly March 2026 has been the date given for Metrolinx work, Regional work needs to coincide with Metrolinx so early 2026.

Once there's tenders sent out a timeline will be easier to determine. At this point with nothing beyond the cancelled Rumpel Felt tender no one publicly knows. There's those involved in the project that know however.

[nms]

For those interested the bid that the Region had for the partial demolition of the Rumpel Felt building has been cancelled. The bid was posted in early August with the intent being closure of the bid in September (I don't recall the exact date). However the bid kept getting extensions, the last extension required bids to be submitted by the 21st of October. However it was cancelled on Thursday or Friday of this week.

It would be to the surprise of no one if timelines have slipped on this now, considering they wanted to start work on the track and all the related infrastructure in March of next year, the Rumpel Felt building was intended to be partially demolished before then, if it goes through the normal bid process the building won't likely start demolition until next year at the earliest, but even then it all depends on how the Region intends on bidding for the project.

Besides construction timelines shifting, are bids extended if no bids have been received by the deadline?

[ZEBuilder]

For those interested the bid that the Region had for the partial demolition of the Rumpel Felt building has been cancelled. The bid was posted in early August with the intent being closure of the bid in September (I don't recall the exact date). However the bid kept getting extensions, the last extension required bids to be submitted by the 21st of October. However it was cancelled on Thursday or Friday of this week.

It would be to the surprise of no one if timelines have slipped on this now, considering they wanted to start work on the track and all the related infrastructure in March of next year, the Rumpel Felt building was intended to be partially demolished before then, if it goes through the normal bid process the building won't likely start demolition until next year at the earliest, but even then it all depends on how the Region intends on bidding for the project.

Besides construction timelines shifting, are bids extended if no bids have been received by the deadline?

Generally no, bids are typically only extended when there are addenda which for engineering/construction procurement typically involves some additional report that wasn't originally provided, for example additional drawings, specifications, and standard drawings are relatively common. It will also include answers to any questions that have been asked up until a certain point, this is why you see so many addenda because often times questions trickle in. One can ask for a bid extension, and it does often get agreed upon but it really depends.

The Region has let bids lapse before and had no bidders and it tends to go out to tender again. Canceling a bid is way less common though so something is definitely happening (Metrolinx related?).

[Square]

They are still doing the utility work on Duke Street. I wonder if this is still going to be a underpass and Duke Street being permantly closed?

[ZEBuilder]

They are still doing the utility work on Duke Street.  I wonder if this is still going to be a underpass and Duke Street being permantly closed?

Yes, that will still happen because of the position of platforms and the raised track.

[taylortbb]

Via Urban Toronto: https://www.metrolinx.merx.com/public/so...t?origin=0

To achieve the capacity, agility and scale required to handle the increased demand Metrolinx is looking to engage Contractors to execute and manage construction services pertaining to Metrolinx’s scope of the Kitchener Central Transit Hub project, a new GO Station in downtown Kitchener. The new facility will be located between King Street West and Duke Street and the scope includes upgrades to existing tracks, the construction of two new barrier free side platforms, two pedestrian tunnels with entrance lobbies, elevators and stairs, a retaining wall along the south side of the rail corridor, a service building and a grade separation at Duke Street West with a rail-carrying bridge and new multi-use pathway. The work also includes the construction of a new rail crossover and signals west of the GO Transit’s Shirley Street Layover facility. Works will occur on the Metrolinx-owned Guelph Subdivision.

[...]

The RFP for the construction is anticipated in early 2026.

[ac3r]

Wow, they haven't even got that far yet? When did this even get proposed...a decade ago? All they've done is put up a fence around the place to keep the slum nextdoor from taking over. And if I remember, that slum is also getting in the way of this moving ahead since they want to use it to stage construction equipment and materials but the thought of kicking a bunch of homeless addicts off the property triggers them. Bulldoze the goddamn thing already, none of those people can be saved anyway. They can nod off on dope somewhere other than the heart of the city.

[neonjoe]

^ Society fails when we lose empathy…