06-03-2021, 11:38 PM
I attended the meeting last night and generally the meeting went well. The comments were respectful both from the community to the staff & developers during the Q&A and within the chat. There was one troll within the chat who was doing his best to bait the opponents and mock them for wanting to live in a small town. No one rose to the bait. Kitchener has done a good job of figuring out how to do online meetings.
Among the takeaways that I heard:
1. Concerns were raised about traffic congestion along Hall's Lane since that is the entrance and exit for 1 Vic. The City staff response was effectively: "Yes, 1 Vic would be done differently if it were built again."
2. A question was raised whether In8 was responsible for any kind of fees to contribute towards green space or other community amenities. City staff response: "No"
3. In8 is proposing 0 setbacks but a wider sidewalk underneath their podium overhang.
4. City staff did not respond to the question about whether adequate green space was planned to accommodate extra population downtown. The only response was that there is a study underway that will be finished at the end of 2022.
5. While the architect claimed to be referencing the local industrial heritage while designing the exterior, the reality is that there will be a multistorey parking podium along Charles St, hidden behind some paneling.
6. In8 has not yet confirmed if the ground floor space will be outward facing retail space, or inward facing common space. "We've been going back and forth on that a lot. We don't want empty storefronts"
7. There were concerns that there was not enough bicycle parking provided for given that the Kaufman Lofts apparently has more bicycles than spots to store them.
One thing I noticed was that the smallest unit available was a bachelor apartment that appeared to be the same size as two parking spots. That seems mighty tiny and makes me wonder why not just add it to the unit next door to add another bedroom?
Among the takeaways that I heard:
1. Concerns were raised about traffic congestion along Hall's Lane since that is the entrance and exit for 1 Vic. The City staff response was effectively: "Yes, 1 Vic would be done differently if it were built again."
2. A question was raised whether In8 was responsible for any kind of fees to contribute towards green space or other community amenities. City staff response: "No"
3. In8 is proposing 0 setbacks but a wider sidewalk underneath their podium overhang.
4. City staff did not respond to the question about whether adequate green space was planned to accommodate extra population downtown. The only response was that there is a study underway that will be finished at the end of 2022.
5. While the architect claimed to be referencing the local industrial heritage while designing the exterior, the reality is that there will be a multistorey parking podium along Charles St, hidden behind some paneling.
6. In8 has not yet confirmed if the ground floor space will be outward facing retail space, or inward facing common space. "We've been going back and forth on that a lot. We don't want empty storefronts"
7. There were concerns that there was not enough bicycle parking provided for given that the Kaufman Lofts apparently has more bicycles than spots to store them.
One thing I noticed was that the smallest unit available was a bachelor apartment that appeared to be the same size as two parking spots. That seems mighty tiny and makes me wonder why not just add it to the unit next door to add another bedroom?