General Urban Kitchener Updates and Rumours

[ac3r]

Yeah the property has been up for sale since sometime last year and CKCO is moving out to the suburbs. No takers on this property yet, but I suspect it'll be one of the usual suspects who develops it...just please, not another SRM building like the one that's going up next door to it.

[Rainrider22]

They should have went DTK, got a store front studio...

[nms]

They should have went DTK, got a store front studio...

The office location is likely decided by the suits and bean counters outside the region.

Here's where your local media currently sits:
- CBC Radio is the only major broadcaster in Downtown Kitchener. Their studio space fits with their general policy of having their studios in urban centres.
- 105.3 FM is still at 255 King St. N in Waterloo. (University and King)
- CHYM and 570 News broadcasts from the Boardwalk. They used to be at the top of 305 King W before they moved out to the Boardwalk. I first learned about that during the 2003 blackout and the poor reporters were having to walk up and down the stairs to get to the studio.
- Rogers TV is at 85 Grand Crest Place, Kitchener which is well outside any core but geographically pretty much the center of Waterloo Region with easy access to the 401 and Highway 8.
- The Record (and Co) have a Kitchener PO Box, but as far as I know, no local brick and mortar office.

[plam]

I was biking on King St in Kitchener yesterday. Anyone know what the sidewalk construction on the, um, east side of the street south of City Hall is all about?

[dtkvictim]

I was biking on King St in Kitchener yesterday. Anyone know what the sidewalk construction on the, um, east side of the street south of City Hall is all about?

If you mean the King St construction east of Gaukel/Young, they are continuing with the tree and paver replacements that they started last year.

[plam]

I was biking on King St in Kitchener yesterday. Anyone know what the sidewalk construction on the, um, east side of the street south of City Hall is all about?

If you mean the King St construction east of Gaukel/Young, they are continuing with the tree and paver replacements that they started last year.

Makes sense. Thanks!

[DK519]

There is a listing for 744 King E. now that it has been approved.[url=https://housesigma.com/bkv2/landing/rootpage/listing?id_listing=GMnKYq0xqMb3w1Qr&utm_campaign=listing&utm_source=user-share&utm_medium=android&ign=][/url]

[KaiserWilhelmsBust]

There is a listing for 744 King E. now that it has been approved.[url=https://housesigma.com/bkv2/landing/rootpage/listing?id_listing=GMnKYq0xqMb3w1Qr&utm_campaign=listing&utm_source=user-share&utm_medium=android&ign=][/url]

This kinda stuff annoys me when the nimby crowd uses the arguments like "there is x number of approved housing units, build those before approving more!" or "we have enough approved housing that hasn't been built to hit our goals, it's developers fault for not actually building any" 

They ignore how there are entire businesses built on 'approval speculation' where they get projects approved to boost land value, but with zero intention of ever building them. When these do sell they're almost never built. Eventually an actual developers comes along and pays their inflated number, but then has to get the project reapproved to actually make the numbers work. 

Even if they stick with the same density (they never do) the designs are always junk. They're made by people who don't build, and don't know better as to what is actually buildable, or what the market actually wants

[SF22]

Noticed this week that Frederick Mall seems to be readying a unit for a new tenant - the empty storefront that previously housed the Christian bookstore (and Steve's TV Rentals before that, and Pharma Plus a loooong time ago) is getting a door cut into the exterior wall to provide access directly from the parking lot, facing towards the grocery store. Previously it was only accessible by entering the mall first. No signage up yet for whoever is taking that space next.

I know Frederick Mall is old and has a reputation for being lacklustre and kind of a dump, but it legitimately has a number of stores that our family uses regularly (groceries, Dollarama, barber shop, optometrist, sewing store, Subway), and I'd love to see more life breathed into it again!

[ac3r]

That mall could use a makeover, but I always hear people say it's great. Lots of good small businesses as well as major ones.

[danbrotherston]

Noticed this week that Frederick Mall seems to be readying a unit for a new tenant - the empty storefront that previously housed the Christian bookstore (and Steve's TV Rentals before that, and Pharma Plus a loooong time ago) is getting a door cut into the exterior wall to provide access directly from the parking lot, facing towards the grocery store. Previously it was only accessible by entering the mall first. No signage up yet for whoever is taking that space next.

I know Frederick Mall is old and has a reputation for being lacklustre and kind of a dump, but it legitimately has a number of stores that our family uses regularly (groceries, Dollarama, barber shop, optometrist, sewing store, Subway), and I'd love to see more life breathed into it again!

I used to go to the grocery store there occasionally...it reminded me of all the struggling malls of my youth.

I didn't know all that stuff was there as well, I don't think I actually ever went in the mall.

[Acitta]

Noticed this week that Frederick Mall seems to be readying a unit for a new tenant - the empty storefront that previously housed the Christian bookstore (and Steve's TV Rentals before that, and Pharma Plus a loooong time ago) is getting a door cut into the exterior wall to provide access directly from the parking lot, facing towards the grocery store. Previously it was only accessible by entering the mall first. No signage up yet for whoever is taking that space next.

I know Frederick Mall is old and has a reputation for being lacklustre and kind of a dump, but it legitimately has a number of stores that our family uses regularly (groceries, Dollarama, barber shop, optometrist, sewing store, Subway), and I'd love to see more life breathed into it again!

I used to go to the grocery store there occasionally...it reminded me of all the struggling malls of my youth.

I didn't know all that stuff was there as well, I don't think I actually ever went in the mall.

I have been going to the optometrist's office there for years.

[Chris]

That mall could use a makeover, but I always hear people say it's great. Lots of good small businesses as well as major ones.

They just renovated the whole mall. It's very modern looking inside. I don't think the floor is level but maybe that's just me.

[SF22]

That mall could use a makeover, but I always hear people say it's great. Lots of good small businesses as well as major ones.

They just renovated the whole mall. It's very modern looking inside. I don't think the floor is level but maybe that's just me.

They took out all the benches during that reno, which was kind of disappointing. But it definitely looks a lot brighter inside now! Kind of miss that old brown flooring, though haha

[ac3r]

I'll have to check it out then! I admit I love the vibe that old malls from the 60s and 70s had so I hate when they get redone. 80s can look awesome as well if they have that old Saved By The Bell aesthetic where everything looked like a Jazz cup. But I can understand the desire for the mall operator to bring them into the contemporary era.