Vanmar is probably my favourite developer in the region right now. I don't love the parking podium, but they even manage to make that aspect not overly offensive. Their designs are always good. Not perfect, but generally nice.

Sounds like a massing model of this is in order...

*Franklin Blvd has entered the chat* I used to work in the traffic signals dept at a GTA municipality and I now swear by roundabouts 😆

Feeling like the answer is obvious, but I'm blanking right now... VE?

I'm a [Cambridge demonym] and this is a Google Maps streetview shot from Oct. 2023, but it's better than nothing. I kinda love it. Colours on the bottom seem a smidge out of place, but overall looks pretty spectacular compared to a lot of other recent downtown Kitchener projects.

Architectural Plans Overall I mostly like it, but I do get the insensitivity argument. I'm still mad about the neglect, but no sense dwelling on the past. Not a fan of the exterior (knock-off Mies Van de Rohe vibes lol), but interior renderings, floorplates, etc. look pretty decent. 5 storey...

900+ parking spaces for a 500-unit project next to a rapid transit station. You love to see it. *sigh*

15 storeys does not exist on this site. The townhouses in the centre of that rendering are built out, and the buildings by the 401 are now two buildings running parallel (length-wise) to the highway at 8 or 9 storeys, connected by a central lobby/ quasi-podium. They buildings along Pinebush...

Took some photos of the site yesterday. Fencing has come down and there's been some site work or grading done on the portion of the property along Groh and Bechtel. Southern part of the site (not shown) remains largely untouched. Also including a couple pictures of the multi-use path that was...

That's the problem though, the current mayor hates big developments. The more there are along the existing ion, the more she'll be opposed to it lol Having seen the insane amount of people taking the ion bus directly after getting off the ion, I think that and the development we've already...

I didn't mean as part of phase 2, just generally. Also don't disagree with a line going down to the Franklin/ Dundas area, I think it'd be a great area for intensification - but it should not be where phase 2 goes, keep that downtown. I'm probably a bit too gung ho about LRT, but it would be...

Let's just keep delaying everything and then wonder why it's so expensive.

Probably. Also not familiar with the Ontario building code. I think you can do a handful of floors with usual stick construction, but sound insulation is typically pretty bad, whereas solid, cross-laminated timber can provide similar default sound insulation standards to solid concrete with a...

I think GO rail service to Cambridge (via Guelph to Hespeler, or via Milton to Galt... or both would be unimaginably awesome) would more than the ION. I feel like the proximity to the 401 would attract more Toronto-bound commuter demographic rather than an inter-city, intra-region focused...

Demolition started on the old Dickson Bowl building on-site last week.

Going to throw this file here. PDF of presentation I gave to council. Looking back, I have indoor parking with only one entrance/ exit, which might not meet building codes, I honestly have no idea. Just a concept of what we COULD have here (and everywhere if we're actually serious about...

So much for wanting to get started "immediately" on this project 🙄 maybe I'm missing some details, but the old Rona is empty and has been for a while (even since it was used as a vax site) and that's probably close to 20% of the whole SmartCentres property. Pretty sure the Bed Bath & Beyond/ Old...

Anyone know of any updates on whether this got approved or has seen any action at all? Article also mentioned the two-phase approach, with podium and one tower first, then a second tower later on. Curious if anyone has thoughts on which would come first? City doesn't seem to know (which I find...

Didn't manage to get a photo, but the tower crane went up for this project on Tuesday (Sept. 26, 2023) I believe. Went past on the ion on Monday - no crane. Drove to Waterloo on Tuesday - didn't pass the site. Took the ion on Wednesday - crane. @Paclo Excited to see this project get moving a...

Renderings of the unit exteriors appear on Crescent Homes' Maple Keys website too (https://www.crescenthomes.ca/property/maple-keys/). The aerial view also conforms to that Maple Keys development site plan. I was confused by that view because there was no layout of the structures on the Groh...