Wonderful Waterloo Archive

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Proposed 31 Alexandra Avenue | 36 m | 12 fl

Post #2189 Unknown date Unknown Author	31 Alexandra Avenue City of Waterloo Developer: Auburn Developments
Post #2190 02-21-2010 01:03 PM Unknown Author City Member Joined Dec 2009 681 posts	What is happening with this?
Post #2191 02-21-2010 01:14 PM Unknown Author Town Member Waterloo Joined Feb 2010 430 posts	Originally Posted by Bauer123 What is happening with this? Well considering "Auburn" is to be developing the Canbar lands and a shovel is yet to go in there it will probably be another 10 years before this gets started, even if they get approval tomorrow.
Post #2194 02-21-2010 01:59 PM Unknown Author City Member Joined Dec 2009 681 posts	Your probably right . I went to their website and there is no mention of the project. But on the other hand it looks like it hasn't been updated in awhile. If this does happen they should buy that Art store house and demo it, so they have more land to work with and a corner presence. Distinctly Tea has already moved out and I'm sure the other stores could relocate.
Post #2195 02-21-2010 03:01 PM Unknown Author City Member Joined Jan 2010 744 posts	The Catalina townhouses across the street will be a major obstacle to this development and scream NIMBY to the city.
Post #2201 02-21-2010 09:31 PM Unknown Author Metropolis Member Kitchener Joined Dec 2009 4277 posts	This one should get going any time now. Once Arrow is completed, and Barrel Yards hah.
Post #2301 02-25-2010 11:01 PM Unknown Author Sports & Recreation Moderator Kitchener Joined Jan 2010 1387 posts	I am amazed at the lack of detail on Auburn's website regarding updated information on this project, the BarrelYards and the Arrow Lofts.
Post #2310 02-26-2010 09:26 AM Unknown Author City Member Joined Dec 2009 681 posts	Ya I know... I check that site every now and then; it's frustrating.. I hope this gets built but I am doubtful with the BS of all the other projects.
Post #2320 02-26-2010 01:17 PM Unknown Author Moderator Kitchener-Waterloo Joined Dec 2009 5693 posts	I'm amazed the city even works with Auburn on 'new' projects like this when it's quite clear they already have too much on their plate.
Post #2323 02-26-2010 03:16 PM Unknown Author Metropolis Member Kitchener Joined Dec 2009 4277 posts	Well lets hope they don't approve this until they show they're serious about completing their other two projects in a timely manor.
Post #2324 02-26-2010 03:22 PM Unknown Author City Member Joined Dec 2009 681 posts	Well they own the land so if they don't approve it, it will just stay empty. But I guess if it's approved it will stay empty also . We could hope they sell it to another developer who builds on the site. But I can't see that happening.
Post #2326 02-26-2010 03:52 PM Unknown Author Metropolis Member Kitchener Joined Dec 2009 4277 posts	Originally Posted by Bauer123 Well they own the land so if they don't approve it, it will just stay empty. But I guess if it's approved it will stay empty also . We could hope they sell it to another developer who builds on the site. But I can't see that happening. Ya that's a good point. Maybe they get their act together once one project is done and they have some money flow. And you're right though, they won't sell it. It's a fairly prime piece of land.
Post #2393 03-02-2010 05:34 AM Unknown Author Town Member Joined Mar 2010 216 posts	I hope the developer has to pass a design review panel before proceeding with such an ugly design. But being a London-based developer, they're probably too cheap to hire a quality architect. It would be nice to see more work in the style done by Joseph Bogdan Associates for the Uptown Square strip...aka, something from this century, not something that belongs in c.1990 905/519 land.
Post #2400 03-02-2010 09:30 AM Unknown Author City Member Joined Dec 2009 681 posts	I agree but I don't think this design is horrible. It's sure better from what I have seen from them in the past. I'm skeptical on the high end market in Uptown now with HST coming into play. I know nothing about architects prices, etc.. But I would assume it cost more, and I'm not saying since it's more money don't do it. They just have to do it right. For example if this building turned into something from a architect that you mentioned they would have to make most units under the 400k range. Which is fine I suppose but it would limit the square footage of the units. Like I said I know little about this kind of stuff and maybe a good design isn't that much more and these companies are just cheap/lazy and enjoy pre-deisgned buildings.
Post #2403 03-02-2010 09:48 AM Unknown Author Town Member Joined Mar 2010 216 posts	Although checking out Bauer condo pricing, coming from a Toronto perspective, is quite shocking: you get large one bedrooms in Waterloo compared to Toronto's market. I'd say uptown should probably target the under $400k price point, aiming at young professionals (heck even working class folk could afford cheap condos in K-W), students and single people. In the immediate area, home prices have crashed by the looks of mls listings (thinking of Union/King/Moore/Waterloo St area--I love the red brick homes, that can now be had for under $200k, a price I haven't seen in at least 8 years), thus condo prices will have to get in line or else become out of reach to most K-Wers.
Post #2408 03-02-2010 10:08 AM Unknown Author City Member Joined Dec 2009 681 posts	I agree we get bigger 1 bedrooms than Toronto but they are still somewhat pricey unless you want to live in 600sq/ft and even that is 220-230 now. Home prices are still pretty high in the areas your talking about. I haven't seen a home under 200k in awhile and if there is one you would need to put in a lot of cash to get it up to snuff. What is different here is people don't have to live in a condo yet because of prices like Toronto. They do it because they want to. All the homes across the street around King St by the Bauer Lofts are all pretty pricey. 300's, etc. There is a house that I can see on Allen St from my condo that is around 700k. If you want one of the older homes on Willow that is turned into rentals they fetch in the 600-700 range also.
Post #2414 03-02-2010 10:22 AM Unknown Author Metropolis Member Kitchener Joined Dec 2009 4277 posts	I don't mind the look of this one either. Nice big windows which is a definite plus. But as Bauer said, could be a tough sell if they decide to go really upscale. If they price it like 144, it won't sell. If they price it starting around 200k for the base/small units they'll do alright. Another thought on the design. Since it's not yet approved, theres nothing saying Waterloo City Council doesn't make them improve it based on the new design guidelines.
Post #5686 04-27-2010 05:12 PM Unknown Author Village Member KW Joined Jan 2010 85 posts	Anyone heard any updates on this project?
Post #5939 05-01-2010 08:22 PM Unknown Author City Member Joined Jan 2010 744 posts	Nothing of late. It's not even on Auburn's website. They might want to see how the BarrelYards go over before moving any further with this.
Post #43793 02-21-2010 11:22 AM Unknown Author City Member Joined Jan 2010 744 posts	31 Alexandra Avenue City of Waterloo Developer: Auburn Developments Condo developer seeks OK to build 12-storey tower THE RECORD \| Saturday, November 29, 2008 \| http://news.therecord.com/article/451387 WATERLOO - A developer is seeking a zone change uptown to allow for a 12-storey, 128-unit condo development on Alexandra Avenue. London-based Auburn Developments wants to build the luxury condos on the former parking lot at 31 Alexandra Ave., which backs onto William Street. Chris Pidgeon of GSP Group in Kitchener, said the project, on about a third of a hectare, will feature two- and one-bedroom units. Councillors will hold a public meeting on Monday night at City Hall. Pidgeon said the developer has done a traffic study that concluded the condo building will not cause traffic problems for the neighbours. The development will offer three floors of underground parking with 200 spots and about a dozen surface parking spots. Auburn is asking for approval to increase density on the property to 400 units per hectare from 250 units per hectare. Scott Amos, director of development approvals for the city, said higher intensity in the core area is exactly what the city is looking for. "It's a pretty funky place to live,'' Amos said. The condo project would be adjacent to the old Alexandra school, which now has 22 condos. Developer Shawky Fahel preserved the 1908 school in renovating the building, which has hardwood floors and high ceilings. Auburn is the developer behind the $250-million BarrelYards project, which is to feature 1,000 residential units on the former Canbar lands. Construction is expected to start in the spring.