Post #4759
04-15-2010 03:05 PM
IEFBR14
Senior Member
Date Mar 2010 Location H2OWC Posts 379
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Any news on developments in Belmont Village? The place seems moribund now that Vincenzo's and the Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office have moved out. |
Post #5220
04-20-2010 04:23 PM
IEFBR14
Senior Member
Date Mar 2010 Location H2OWC Posts 379
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 Originally Posted by mpd618  (Neat idea, but I don't think there's enough room on the Iron Horse Trail for both a delivery cart and anyone going the other way.) OK then, how about a pony cart?  Or perhaps a miniature narrow gauge steam train? Anyway I was just brainstorming.
(Actually I'd prefer that they ran a small pipeline underground. I'd even let them bury part of it on my property. And I'd even tap into it to do the occasional quality control sampling at no extra charge...) |
Post #5225
04-20-2010 04:44 PM
mpd618
Senior Member
Date Jan 2010 Location Waterloo, ON Posts 434
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Originally Posted by IEFBR14 (Actually I'd prefer that they ran a small pipeline underground. I'd even let them bury part of it on my property. And I'd even tap into it to do the occasional quality control sampling at no extra charge...) Beer pipeline is an awesome idea. =) |
Post #5227
04-20-2010 05:25 PM
panamaniac
Senior Member
Date Mar 2010 Posts 174
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Originally Posted by Osiris While I think this would be a great idea, the procession of Adult Rec Centre -> Pub -> Funeral Home -> Retirement Residence doesn't really seem to fit. I would love to see them take up the old Vincenzo's space, however. Hmmm - Recreation, Libation, Cremation, Constipation. The funeral home really needs to move! |
Post #5231
04-20-2010 07:52 PM
Spokes
Senior Moderator
Date Dec 2009 Location Kitchener Posts 2,577
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Originally Posted by IEFBR14 IIRC it was the original brewmaster's residence back in the 19th century days of Kuntz. It seems too small for a pub and probably can't be enlarged because it's a heritage building. In any case there's the Red Baron lounge at the brewery itself, although it too is too small.
If Brick opens a pub at Vincenzo's they could have a horse-drawn delivery cart going along the Iron Horse Trail. That would be a big hit with the tourists during Oktoberfest. And of course the old Vincenzo's would make another decent sized venue for that festival. But it could be redeveloped and a new structure put up. I think that's what WatDot had in mind. |
Post #5232
04-20-2010 07:53 PM
Spokes
Senior Moderator
Date Dec 2009 Location Kitchener Posts 2,577
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Originally Posted by IEFBR14 (Actually I'd prefer that they ran a small pipeline underground. I'd even let them bury part of it on my property. And I'd even tap into it to do the occasional quality control sampling at no extra charge...) I would expect an invite! |
Post #5234
04-20-2010 09:39 PM
WatDot
Senior Member
Date Feb 2010 Posts 116
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Originally Posted by Spokes But it could be redeveloped and a new structure put up. I think that's what WatDot had in mind. That's exactly what I had in mind. An addition; all brick, large glass... the same as the main building. Given the condition of the building though, I question if it has that official designation. It's not on the Municipal Heritage Property list... |
Post #5252
04-21-2010 08:26 AM
Spokes
Senior Moderator
Date Dec 2009 Location Kitchener Posts 2,577
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Originally Posted by WatDot That's exactly what I had in mind. An addition; all brick, large glass... the same as the main building. Given the condition of the building though, I question if it has that official designation. It's not on the Municipal Heritage Property list... That would look good matching it with the original building. A two storey pub would be fantastic. And it would hide the tanks from the street. |
Post #5265
04-21-2010 10:08 AM
IEFBR14
Senior Member
Date Mar 2010 Location H2OWC Posts 379
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Originally Posted by WatDot I question if it has that official designation. It's not on the Municipal Heritage Property list... I thought I saw a plaque there but maybe it's not an official one. If it's not officially designated then yes that could be converted into a pub. There's still an issue of lack of parking. (Not that people should be driving to/from a pub so much as possible zoning and bylaw issues. And with LRT there would a station very nearby.) |
Post #5297
04-21-2010 07:07 PM
Duke-of-Waterloo
Construction Moderator
Date Jan 2010 Location Waterloo, ON Posts 422
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Originally Posted by IEFBR14 If Brick opens a pub at Vincenzo's they could have a horse-drawn delivery cart going along the Iron Horse Trail. That would be a big hit with the tourists during Oktoberfest. Might be a little too cliché... |
Post #5325
04-22-2010 05:02 AM
garthdanlor
Senior Member
Date Mar 2010 Location Uglyopolis Posts 158
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Originally Posted by Duke-of-Waterloo Might be a little too cliché... And Oktoberfest isn't? |
Post #5336
04-22-2010 09:08 AM
IEFBR14
Senior Member
Date Mar 2010 Location H2OWC Posts 379
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While the horse and train ideas were somewhat tongue-in-cheek, the most direct path for pedestrians and cyclists between the Brick and Vincenzo's is the Iron Horse Trail. Presumably we want to encourage more people to use those modes of transportation and to use the IHT. ISTM that Brick could help the cause by using the IHT themselves to make deliveries between the two buildings. Yes, it's a bit clichéed, but often that's what it takes to get the job done. Anyway, just some ideas. First the Brick has to decide to do something with the Vincenzo's property. |
Post #5351
04-22-2010 09:48 AM
kwliving
Member
Date Dec 2009 Location Westmount/Belmont Villiage Posts 97
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I noticed on icx.ca today that Casa Rugantino is for sale. $250,000. http://www.icx.ca/propertyDetails.as...ertyId=9327642
That place has been around over 30 years. I'd like to see that section of Belmont knocked down and put up a nice building with residential above. I don't think TD would go for it though. |
Post #5355
04-22-2010 10:02 AM
uptownfoodcritic
Member
Date Jan 2010 Posts 64
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Yikes! That will be another big loss for Belmont. The Creperie is still an excellent restaurat there though.
I'm not sure there is a recovery to be had for Belmont Village. The times have changed. With their anchor tenant gone (100,000 visits a month) what reason is there to go there any more?
BTW, I know you guys are havng fun with the Brick pub speculation but you do know it will never happen right? |
Post #5358
04-22-2010 10:22 AM
IEFBR14
Senior Member
Date Mar 2010 Location H2OWC Posts 379
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Originally Posted by uptownfoodcritic Yikes! That will be another big loss for Belmont. Sadly, yes. Perhaps the owners reached retirement age and simply wanted out? Another candidate is Helen at Belmont Hairstylists. According to this, she's been there since 1954! Do the math.
I'm not sure there is a recovery to be had for Belmont Village. The times have changed. With their anchor tenant gone (100,000 visits a month) what reason is there to go there any more? That's why they need to get a new anchor ASAP.
BTW, I know you guys are havng fun with the Brick pub speculation but you do know it will never happen right? I do. In fact I think it would be a mistake for BV. Pubs don't get a lot of traffic during normal business hours. They really need a anchor with the same or greater drawing power of a Vincenzo's. |
Post #5364
04-22-2010 11:25 AM
Spokes
Senior Moderator
Date Dec 2009 Location Kitchener Posts 2,577
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Originally Posted by uptownfoodcritic I'm not sure there is a recovery to be had for Belmont Village. The times have changed. With their anchor tenant gone (100,000 visits a month) what reason is there to go there any more? There's two things that HAVE to happen for recovery. One, an anchor tennant. Two, a mixed use residential development. That would a) get people living/shopping there b) get a new retail tenant there (not the anchor tennant that's needed though)
Originally Posted by uptownfoodcritic BTW, I know you guys are havng fun with the Brick pub speculation but you do know it will never happen right? Yup, it won't happen, no time soon at least. If the two things I listed abover happened, a pub would work, but without them, it wouldn't. And if it did, it wouldn't help "save" BV |
Post #5385
04-22-2010 12:12 PM
mpd618
Senior Member
Date Jan 2010 Location Waterloo, ON Posts 434
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Originally Posted by Spokes There's two things that HAVE to happen for recovery. One, an anchor tennant. Two, a mixed use residential development. That would a) get people living/shopping there b) get a new retail tenant there (not the anchor tennant that's needed though) Is Belmont Village actually struggling? Not that I would mind mixed-use development (and it is a future mixed-use corridor), but I think a main reason for Belmont Village's overall success is that it does have plenty of residential around it. |
Post #5387
04-22-2010 12:15 PM
Spokes
Senior Moderator
Date Dec 2009 Location Kitchener Posts 2,577
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Originally Posted by mpd618 Is Belmont Village actually struggling? Not that I would mind mixed-use development (and it is a future mixed-use corridor), but I think a main reason for Belmont Village's overall success is that it does have plenty of residential around it. I didn't think it was doing GREAT. I could be wrong though. Any time Im down there it seems pretty dead.
It's got a decent amount of housing around it, but are those people going to BV? Are there stores there that they want to shop/eat at? So as much as it's an issue of people, its also an issue of the businesses that are there getting people shopping there. |
Post #5392
04-22-2010 12:25 PM
IEFBR14
Senior Member
Date Mar 2010 Location H2OWC Posts 379
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Originally Posted by Spokes It's got a decent amount of housing around it, but are those people going to BV? It's a sample of one, but for me, nowhere near as often as when Vincenzo's was the draw. |
Post #5395
04-22-2010 12:27 PM
Spokes
Senior Moderator
Date Dec 2009 Location Kitchener Posts 2,577
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Originally Posted by IEFBR14 It's a sample of one, but for me, nowhere near as often as when Vincenzo's was the draw. Yup, I would agree. And not all of those people going there were necessarily from the BV area. A lot of people would drive in to come to Vincenzos |
Post #5402
04-22-2010 12:42 PM
Duke-of-Waterloo
Construction Moderator
Date Jan 2010 Location Waterloo, ON Posts 422
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Originally Posted by kwliving  noooooo |
Post #5405
04-22-2010 12:44 PM
Duke-of-Waterloo
Construction Moderator
Date Jan 2010 Location Waterloo, ON Posts 421
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Originally Posted by uptownfoodcritic BTW, I know you guys are havng fun with the Brick pub speculation but you do know it will never happen right? Way to rain on my parade. It was my idea.  |
Post #5406
04-22-2010 12:46 PM
Spokes
Senior Moderator
Date Dec 2009 Location Kitchener Posts 2,576
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Originally Posted by kwliving I noticed on icx.ca today that Casa Rugantino is for sale. $250,000. http://www.icx.ca/propertyDetails.as...ertyId=9327642 That place has been around over 30 years. I'd like to see that section of Belmont knocked down and put up a nice building with residential above. I don't think TD would go for it though. So would I. Others too though. But in the mean time hopefully the new owners don't change anything. |
Post #5408
04-22-2010 12:48 PM
Duke-of-Waterloo
Construction Moderator
Date Jan 2010 Location Waterloo, ON Posts 421
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Originally Posted by Spokes Two, a mixed use residential development. That would a) get people living/shopping there b) get a new retail tenant there (not the anchor tennant that's needed though)
Whatever happened to Five 39 BV (Belmont condo proposal from 2 years agogone stale)? |
Post #5414
04-22-2010 01:12 PM
Spokes
Senior Moderator
Date Dec 2009 Location Kitchener Posts 2,576
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Originally Posted by Duke-of-Waterloo Whatever happened to Five 39 BV (Belmont condo proposal from 2 years agogone stale)? One of those ideas that just never happened I guess? Think Icon Condos? |
Post #5446
04-22-2010 05:47 PM
garthdanlor
Senior Member
Date Mar 2010 Location Uglyopolis Posts 158
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Originally Posted by mpd618 Is Belmont Village actually struggling? Not that I would mind mixed-use development (and it is a future mixed-use corridor), but I think a main reason for Belmont Village's overall success is that it does have plenty of residential around it. Yeah I don't think it is struggling, just changing. Businesses move and people retire all the time. Not sure what the best anchor would be for this area but I think the area could do quite well with a few more restaurants/pubs, sort of becoming a little restaurant/antique district. More housing certainly wouldn't hurt, but this area has plenty of residential (a mix of single family and apartment) already with a large population within easy walking distance (and lots of people actually do walk to its business district). Vincenzos made the area a bit of a destination. Maybe now the area could become the destination rather than just the one business...might be healthier in the long run? |
Post #5916
05-01-2010 08:19 AM
urbandreamer
Member
Date Mar 2010 Posts 93
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Belmont Village needs 4-6 storey walkup apartments above retail. Along the main drag area, at least 5000 people could be living here, if the Village were extended all the way to Victoria. I would target Montreal-style density meets Portland-style design. |
Post #5922
05-01-2010 11:42 AM
panamaniac
Senior Member
Date Mar 2010 Posts 174
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Originally Posted by urbandreamer Belmont Village needs 4-6 storey walkup apartments above retail. Along the main drag area, at least 5000 people could be living here, if the Village were extended all the way to Victoria. I would target Montreal-style density meets Portland-style design. Do building codes even permit construction of walkups above three stories anymore? For better or worse I have trouble seeing anyone willing to live above the third floor anymore without an elevator. |
Post #5924
05-01-2010 01:30 PM
garthdanlor
Senior Member
Date Mar 2010 Location Uglyopolis Posts 158
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Originally Posted by panamaniac Do building codes even permit construction of walkups above three stories anymore? For better or worse I have trouble seeing anyone willing to live above the third floor anymore without an elevator. Yeah, carrying the stove up 5 or 6 flights of stairs wouldn't be fun. |
Post #5983
05-02-2010 07:55 PM
Spokes
Senior Moderator
Date Dec 2009 Location Kitchener Posts 2,576
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Ya it definitely needs an elevator, but you're dead on with the 5 or 6 floors. Call Momentum Developments! |