The good news has been flowing recently for the Kitchener downtown core! We’re struggling to keep up with the news flow and bring it to your attention. This article came out on Thursday of last week, published in the Waterloo Region Record.
Please note, this is great news for the Kitchener core and for Parmasters KW. Realex will bring new energy and vitality, as noted in our previous blog entry, to both the downtown core and to Market Square. Through the due diligence process involved in any major acquisition, Realex is fully aware of our tenancy in Market Square. They share the vision held by both our current landlord, Cora, and us, that Parmasters KW will be a fantastic addition to both Market Square and the Kitchener core.
Calgary firm buys chunks of Kitchener downtown
Cora Group selling six major properties in $141M deal
From The Record.com
Michael Hammond
RECORD STAFF; with files from Greg Mercer, Record staff
WATERLOO REGION
Downtown Kitchener is getting a major new landlord in a blockbuster deal that will see The Cora Group sell six office buildings and its property management business.
Realex Properties Corp., a real estate company headquartered in Calgary, announced yesterday it has signed a letter of intent to buy five buildings in downtown Kitchener and one in Waterloo from Kitchener-based Cora Group.
The deal, including the property management business, is worth $141.8 million. The price consists of cash, stock and debt, Realex said in a news release. The transaction, slated to close by the end of August, will give Realex sole ownership of the following properties in downtown Kitchener:
Market Square, a former mall that now houses offices, including the Waterloo Region Record
The Commerce House office building at 50 Queen St. E.
An office tower at 22 Frederick St.
The Galleria building at Frederick and Weber streets
An office building 235 King St. E.
Realex is also buying the Accelerator Centre building in the University of Waterloo Research and Technology Park.
The properties have a total of 933,000 square feet of space occupied or for rent and 2,000 parking spaces. Realex will also acquire from Cora the rights to jointly develop land in Kitchener and Waterloo.
Manfred Conrad, chief executive and principal owner of Cora, will join Realex Properties board of directors once the deal closes.
Adrian Conrad, who leads Cora's management business, will become Realex's vice-president in charge of southwestern Ontario.
Neither executive could be reached for comment.
Mayor Carl Zehr said he's pleased the Conrad family will maintain links to the downtown properties through their new roles with Realex.
He takes the deal as a sign outside investors are impressed with new developments happening in the core.
"The momentum that has been building from a number of ventures, both public and private, is sending a message loud and clear," Zehr said.
Mark Garner, executive director of Kitchener Downtown Business Association, said the deal is a promising show of confidence.
"If someone is willing to pay what they are paying, they clearly see a viable market here," he said.
"That can't be a bad thing."
In a press release issued yesterday, Realex's chief executive Marc Sardachuk said the Cora purchase fits with Realex's strategy of expanding into technology regions in eastern Canada.
"This acquisition will help Realex achieve its strategic objective of building a national real estate platform with core property holdings in high growth geographic areas," he said.
Sardachuk could not be reached for further comment yesterday.
Realex holds an ownership stake in 17 office and industrial properties, mainly in Calgary and Edmonton. The company also has a self storage business with locations in Alberta and British Columbia. Realex trades on the TSX Venture Exchange, but the company said in a recent investor presentation that it intends to graduate to the senior TSX exchange this year.
Besides the properties it owns and manages in the region, Cora also has properties in Corunna, Sarnia, Southampton, Blyth and Sudbury.
mhammond@therecord.com
Monday, June 30, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Urban Vitality
There has been much momentum occurring in our downtown as of late. The key to making a downtown a success is ‘urban vitality’ 24-7, 365 days a year, and Parmasters Kitchener-Waterloo will help contribute to the vitality of Kitchener’s downtown.
A downtown is a key identifier to a community. Downtowns help define and characterize a community. Our downtown is home to almost 12,000 employees, 691 businesses and 85 restaurants. Over the last year our downtown has also seen a decrease in the apartment vacancy rate and a decrease in the commercial vacancy rate. A downtown’s uniqueness, distinctiveness and vitality are what attract residents and visitors to live, work and play. Last year Kitchener’s downtown saw almost 400,000 people come to the downtown for events and festivals.
What will help Kitchener’s downtown to continue to prosper over the next few years will be more people moving into the core. This in turn will generate the need for more businesses and services in our downtown. Instead of activity coming to a halt at 5 pm when workers leave the downtown for their homes in the suburbs, the residents living in the downtown and the businesses will contribute to a ‘vitality’ after 5 pm. The ‘vitality’ will in turn contribute to the perception that downtown is a safe environment. Unfortunately, there are many in our community that feel downtown as it exists now is not a safe place to be after 5 pm. They couldn’t be more wrong! ‘Urban Vitality’ after 5 pm will help change their perception.
For the next few months, our downtown will be very fortunate to have four Downtown Ambassadors whose job will be to help create a friendly, helpful and safe environment in our downtown. They will promote and respond to inquiries on downtown activities, events and businesses, support outreach workers in the downtown area as needed, provide guided tours for groups visiting the downtown or new hires in downtown businesses and monitor and report to by-law, security or police any negative activities as required. They will be working two shifts, 10 am to 6 pm and 3pm to 11 pm six days of the week. Our Ambassadors will be easily recognizable in their green shirts and will be a welcome addition to our downtown.
Parmasters Kitchener-Waterloo can’t wait to open its doors in Kitchener’s downtown and contribute to building ‘Urban Vitality’.
A downtown is a key identifier to a community. Downtowns help define and characterize a community. Our downtown is home to almost 12,000 employees, 691 businesses and 85 restaurants. Over the last year our downtown has also seen a decrease in the apartment vacancy rate and a decrease in the commercial vacancy rate. A downtown’s uniqueness, distinctiveness and vitality are what attract residents and visitors to live, work and play. Last year Kitchener’s downtown saw almost 400,000 people come to the downtown for events and festivals.
What will help Kitchener’s downtown to continue to prosper over the next few years will be more people moving into the core. This in turn will generate the need for more businesses and services in our downtown. Instead of activity coming to a halt at 5 pm when workers leave the downtown for their homes in the suburbs, the residents living in the downtown and the businesses will contribute to a ‘vitality’ after 5 pm. The ‘vitality’ will in turn contribute to the perception that downtown is a safe environment. Unfortunately, there are many in our community that feel downtown as it exists now is not a safe place to be after 5 pm. They couldn’t be more wrong! ‘Urban Vitality’ after 5 pm will help change their perception.
For the next few months, our downtown will be very fortunate to have four Downtown Ambassadors whose job will be to help create a friendly, helpful and safe environment in our downtown. They will promote and respond to inquiries on downtown activities, events and businesses, support outreach workers in the downtown area as needed, provide guided tours for groups visiting the downtown or new hires in downtown businesses and monitor and report to by-law, security or police any negative activities as required. They will be working two shifts, 10 am to 6 pm and 3pm to 11 pm six days of the week. Our Ambassadors will be easily recognizable in their green shirts and will be a welcome addition to our downtown.
Parmasters Kitchener-Waterloo can’t wait to open its doors in Kitchener’s downtown and contribute to building ‘Urban Vitality’.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Balance
We continue to set up our temporary Market Square Event Center. Late yesterday we created a meeting space with tables, an LCD panel, etc. Today we must acquire some chairs and other necessities.
I spoke briefly to a friend yesterday about life-work balance. He’s a hard worker and very dedicated, to his work. I’m sure he’s very dedicated to other aspects of life also, but I’ve only really known him as a colleague, connected through business functions.
Of course, as I urged him to maintain some focus on life-work balance, I knew that I was asking him to do as I say, not as I do. I’m currently in a period of great imbalance, working hours that are far too long, and not spending enough time recharging my batteries, so to speak.
Such periods of imbalance are, by their very nature, temporary. These periods may last days, weeks, months or even years, but they’re always temporary. We simply cannot keep going in a perpetual state of imbalance. Eventually our bodies and minds tell us that enough is enough, and we’re forced to re-assess, to re-balance. Thus, these periods of imbalance are always temporary.
And I realize that this period of imbalance for me is also temporary. There’s a lot going on right now, both personally and with Parmasters KW. It’s crunch time, as they say. And when crunch time ends, balance will be less elusive.
And yes, before I close, I do realize there are those that will disagree with the concept of being out of balance at all, even for short periods. Work-oholism is a real issue. But it’s not an issue I deal with. Given the choice between doing what I want (having fun) and working, I will always choose fun.
I spoke briefly to a friend yesterday about life-work balance. He’s a hard worker and very dedicated, to his work. I’m sure he’s very dedicated to other aspects of life also, but I’ve only really known him as a colleague, connected through business functions.
Of course, as I urged him to maintain some focus on life-work balance, I knew that I was asking him to do as I say, not as I do. I’m currently in a period of great imbalance, working hours that are far too long, and not spending enough time recharging my batteries, so to speak.
Such periods of imbalance are, by their very nature, temporary. These periods may last days, weeks, months or even years, but they’re always temporary. We simply cannot keep going in a perpetual state of imbalance. Eventually our bodies and minds tell us that enough is enough, and we’re forced to re-assess, to re-balance. Thus, these periods of imbalance are always temporary.
And I realize that this period of imbalance for me is also temporary. There’s a lot going on right now, both personally and with Parmasters KW. It’s crunch time, as they say. And when crunch time ends, balance will be less elusive.
And yes, before I close, I do realize there are those that will disagree with the concept of being out of balance at all, even for short periods. Work-oholism is a real issue. But it’s not an issue I deal with. Given the choice between doing what I want (having fun) and working, I will always choose fun.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Membership Preview Events Starting
We’re in the midst of setting up our temporary Market Square Event Center. It’s located within an existing empty retail unit in Market Square, at 25 Frederick Street (the corner of King and Frederick Streets) in the Kitchener core.
This Parmasters KW Event Center will serve as the hub for our pre-opening marketing and sales initiatives. We’ll invite all interested golfers and future golfers to join us for a Membership Preview Event, to consider a Parmasters KW membership.
We’d also like to welcome aboard Mike Perkins. Mike will take the lead on organizing and running our marketing efforts, and he will also coordinate and execute most Membership Preview Events.
Mike is a fantastic addition to our small and growing team. He brings with him a wealth of sales and service expertise and experience, as well as an energetic and positive attitude! I may get Mike to introduce himself via this blog in the next few days.
Mike and I will work this afternoon to put in place some of the final touches on our Event Center.
We’ll run our first Membership Preview Events this week!
This Parmasters KW Event Center will serve as the hub for our pre-opening marketing and sales initiatives. We’ll invite all interested golfers and future golfers to join us for a Membership Preview Event, to consider a Parmasters KW membership.
We’d also like to welcome aboard Mike Perkins. Mike will take the lead on organizing and running our marketing efforts, and he will also coordinate and execute most Membership Preview Events.
Mike is a fantastic addition to our small and growing team. He brings with him a wealth of sales and service expertise and experience, as well as an energetic and positive attitude! I may get Mike to introduce himself via this blog in the next few days.
Mike and I will work this afternoon to put in place some of the final touches on our Event Center.
We’ll run our first Membership Preview Events this week!
Friday, June 20, 2008
King Street Streetscape Redesign
For immediate release
June 18, 2008
Committee approves modified design for King Street streetscape
KITCHENER – Monday, June 16, the city’s development and technical services committee voted in favour of increasing the budget set aside for the King Street streetscape redesign project to $8.8 million, combining the city’s previous funds with the Province of Ontario’s allocation to fund the city’s original vision for the new streetscape.
The city’s portion of the funding for the project will be $5.68 million; while the remaining $3.2 million will come from the Provincial Municipal Infrastructure Investment Initiative.
The city will issue a tender for this project later this year that will ask vendors to respond with pricing options for different surface materials such as concrete pavers versus granite pavers. This will provide flexibility when city council makes a final decision on the project.
“Given the importance of this project to the overall revitalization of our downtown core, I think it’s only right that we attempt to achieve as much as we can through the redesign of the streetscape – while ensuring that we stay within our budget,” said Ward 6 Councillor Christina Weylie, chair of the development and technical services committee. “I’m very interested to see the ideas that will come out of the tender process.”
In early April 2008, in light of new information that showed the potential for the project’s cost to be $2 million to $4 million more than expected, council directed staff to pause the King Street streetscape project to complete a detailed third-party cost review.
The pause provided more time for staff to conduct a value engineering assessment that focused on determining ways to adjust the design of the project and reduce the overall cost.
Some of the features proposed for the redesign include:
- Replacement of all surface elements of King Street between Frederick and Francis streets;
- Extensive use of granite in sidewalks, curbs and crosswalks;
- New and upgraded street lighting with improved spacing incorporated throughout;
- Flexible parking delineated by removable bollards
- Stormwater infiltration planters and new transit shelters would be introduced throughout; new bike racks and benches would be installed;
- More than 100 trees would be planted
- More than 70 on-street parking spaces would be created.
"By issuing a tender that asks vendors to provide us with several pricing options for this project we will be able to find a way of completing the new streetscape to the benefit of the entire downtown," said Ward 1 Councillor John Smola.
The committee’s preferred option was one of five considered by city staff during their recent review of project costs.
Other options considered included:
- Postponing the project indefinitely;
- Undertaking a basic streetscape renewal that includes replacing surface elements and upgrading lighting ($5.3 million);
- Undertaking a streetscape renewal with the pedestrian first model in mind which would result in a design similar to the one originally proposed using lower quality materials ($7.9 million)
- Proceeding with a modified version of the original design ($6.5 million to $7.9 million)
The city’s portion of the streetscape improvements will be funded through the Economic Development Investment Fund (EDIF) and the roads resurfacing program.
A detailed breakdown of each of the options can be found at www.kitchener.ca. Construction is expected to be completed by 2010.
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For more information:
Michael May
Director of Corporate Communications and Marketing
City of Kitchener
519-741-2935
June 18, 2008
Committee approves modified design for King Street streetscape
KITCHENER – Monday, June 16, the city’s development and technical services committee voted in favour of increasing the budget set aside for the King Street streetscape redesign project to $8.8 million, combining the city’s previous funds with the Province of Ontario’s allocation to fund the city’s original vision for the new streetscape.
The city’s portion of the funding for the project will be $5.68 million; while the remaining $3.2 million will come from the Provincial Municipal Infrastructure Investment Initiative.
The city will issue a tender for this project later this year that will ask vendors to respond with pricing options for different surface materials such as concrete pavers versus granite pavers. This will provide flexibility when city council makes a final decision on the project.
“Given the importance of this project to the overall revitalization of our downtown core, I think it’s only right that we attempt to achieve as much as we can through the redesign of the streetscape – while ensuring that we stay within our budget,” said Ward 6 Councillor Christina Weylie, chair of the development and technical services committee. “I’m very interested to see the ideas that will come out of the tender process.”
In early April 2008, in light of new information that showed the potential for the project’s cost to be $2 million to $4 million more than expected, council directed staff to pause the King Street streetscape project to complete a detailed third-party cost review.
The pause provided more time for staff to conduct a value engineering assessment that focused on determining ways to adjust the design of the project and reduce the overall cost.
Some of the features proposed for the redesign include:
- Replacement of all surface elements of King Street between Frederick and Francis streets;
- Extensive use of granite in sidewalks, curbs and crosswalks;
- New and upgraded street lighting with improved spacing incorporated throughout;
- Flexible parking delineated by removable bollards
- Stormwater infiltration planters and new transit shelters would be introduced throughout; new bike racks and benches would be installed;
- More than 100 trees would be planted
- More than 70 on-street parking spaces would be created.
"By issuing a tender that asks vendors to provide us with several pricing options for this project we will be able to find a way of completing the new streetscape to the benefit of the entire downtown," said Ward 1 Councillor John Smola.
The committee’s preferred option was one of five considered by city staff during their recent review of project costs.
Other options considered included:
- Postponing the project indefinitely;
- Undertaking a basic streetscape renewal that includes replacing surface elements and upgrading lighting ($5.3 million);
- Undertaking a streetscape renewal with the pedestrian first model in mind which would result in a design similar to the one originally proposed using lower quality materials ($7.9 million)
- Proceeding with a modified version of the original design ($6.5 million to $7.9 million)
The city’s portion of the streetscape improvements will be funded through the Economic Development Investment Fund (EDIF) and the roads resurfacing program.
A detailed breakdown of each of the options can be found at www.kitchener.ca. Construction is expected to be completed by 2010.
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For more information:
Michael May
Director of Corporate Communications and Marketing
City of Kitchener
519-741-2935
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Ongoing Momentum in Kitchener Core
For immediate release
June 18, 2008
Annual monitoring report highlights ongoing momentum in downtown Kitchener
KITCHENER – The 2007 Downtown Trends and Indicators report, released at Monday's meeting of the city's finance and corporate services committee, shows that continued momentum in development in the core is spurring residents to live, work, learn and play in downtown Kitchener.
The Downtown Trends and Indicators report, which outlines and analyzes the progress and performance of downtown Kitchener and surrounding neighbourhoods, summarizes the 2007-2010 Economic Development Strategy in action; the strategy builds on the Downtown Strategic Plan, but also addresses city-wide economic development.
"The statistics show we have a significant proportion of employees downtown, especially in daytime hours," said Silvia Wright, manager of downtown and community development for the City. "There are now indicators for increased residential development, which is the most significant need to provide balance for 24-7 vitality, and especially to provide a sustainable market for downtown businesses."
"People are choosing to live in the downtown and many of our citizens are spending their time downtown enjoying our special events, restaurants, live theatres and shops," said Councillor Chris Weylie (Ward 6). "We are thrilled that the new Centre Block development and the Provincial Courthouse will be built in the downtown in the near future. These and other recent developments will lead to more successes in the core.
Some highlights of the 2007
Downtown Trends and Indicators Report are:
* 18,862 residents or 8.7 per cent of total population in downtown neighbourhoods
* Nearly 12,000 people work in the downtown core
* Construction values in 2007 are nearly double 2001 values
* 245 new residential units approved for construction, which account for 14.2 per cent of new units city-wide, with 1,104 new units currently being proposed for future development
* 28 per cent increase in event attendance; since 2004, 1.3 million people have attended events in downtown Kitchener
* Net growth of 48 business in the past three years; many of the new businesses added in 2007 were small retail shops, reflecting the increasing demand for retail shops by the office workers added in prior years
* $36.3 million in construction values in 2007, representing 8.3 per cent of city-wide activity; there has been a 30 per cent increase in permits since 2005, and $254.1 million in construction since 2001
* Decrease in apartment vacancy rate to 3.6 per cent, a five-year low; decrease in commercial vacancy rate to 9.9 per cent
"In the new economy, with a competition for talent, and a focus on environmental interest, urban centres are the economic engine for the entire community," notes Wright.
The report will come to council on Monday, June 23.
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For more information:
Jana Miller
Manager, Corporate Communications
City of Kitchener
519.741.2458
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Our Newest Team Member Starting
It’s been a long time coming, but we’re finally here. Our newest team member will start tomorrow. Welcome aboard Mike!
Mike will focus on one thing and one thing only: marketing and selling memberships. Membership at Parmasters KW will offer incredible value, lots of game improvement and most importantly, fun.
We’ll soon start regular meetings – we call the “preview meetings” – where future members can learn the many benefits of membership. Mike will help book future members into these meetings and also run many of the meetings.
Preview meetings will run Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings, on a weekly basis.
I also wanted to congratulate friend and colleague Jim Estill on his recent blog accolades. Well done Jim!
For now, off to a breakfast meeting and then a full agenda of calls and tasks.
Mike will focus on one thing and one thing only: marketing and selling memberships. Membership at Parmasters KW will offer incredible value, lots of game improvement and most importantly, fun.
We’ll soon start regular meetings – we call the “preview meetings” – where future members can learn the many benefits of membership. Mike will help book future members into these meetings and also run many of the meetings.
Preview meetings will run Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings, on a weekly basis.
I also wanted to congratulate friend and colleague Jim Estill on his recent blog accolades. Well done Jim!
For now, off to a breakfast meeting and then a full agenda of calls and tasks.
Monday, June 16, 2008
A Dad’s Faith
Another Father’s Day has come and gone. Dads have received due, their day of recognition and appreciation. Now they’re back to doing what they do best, being dads.
So, as the leftover cake is consumed, and Dads thank their children again for their thoughtful gifts, here’s a poem that resonates.
A Dad’s Faith
Out of all the dads that God picked through,
I thank Him every day that He picked you.
You are always there to lend a hand,
to pick me up when I could not stand.
To guide me and love me and to show me the way,
I love you dad each and every day.
You always know when something is not quite right,
and you always find a way to fix it before the day turns to night.
Thank you dad for believing and having a strong faith in God,
and for allowing Him to show you the child He had so carefully picked out for you to raise.
I would not be the [man] I am today,
without the faith that God had sent your way.
© Kimberly C. Arbogast
So, as the leftover cake is consumed, and Dads thank their children again for their thoughtful gifts, here’s a poem that resonates.
A Dad’s Faith
Out of all the dads that God picked through,
I thank Him every day that He picked you.
You are always there to lend a hand,
to pick me up when I could not stand.
To guide me and love me and to show me the way,
I love you dad each and every day.
You always know when something is not quite right,
and you always find a way to fix it before the day turns to night.
Thank you dad for believing and having a strong faith in God,
and for allowing Him to show you the child He had so carefully picked out for you to raise.
I would not be the [man] I am today,
without the faith that God had sent your way.
© Kimberly C. Arbogast
Saturday, June 14, 2008
More Momentum for the Kitchener Core
We had two very positive announcements in Kitchener’s downtown core on Friday. Congratulations to the various driving forces behind these two great projects! This is more fantastic news and additional momentum for the City of Kitchener, core businesses and commerce, the Kitchener Downtown Business Association, and all residents!
The two announcements were covered in detail by the Waterloo Region Record. I’ve included below both the links to the articles, and the full text of the articles themselves.
A new courthouse: Kitchener facility will combine all regional courthouse operations
June 14, 2008
Frances Barrick
RECORD STAFF
WATERLOO REGION
Local politicians, judges and lawyers hailed the choice of downtown Kitchener as the site of a long-awaited new courthouse.
"I think it hits the mark," Justice Pat Flynn of Kitchener Superior Court said after the announcement yesterday by Kitchener Centre MPP John Milloy.
The multi-million-dollar courthouse will be built on a 3.3-acre site bounded by Weber, Frederick, Duke and Scott streets.
Except for a few businesses fronting Frederick Street, including a law office, the site is now a parking lot. The new address will be 59 Weber St.
The state-of-the-art courthouse will bring under one roof three existing courthouses -- two in Kitchener and one in Cambridge.
Construction is to begin in 2010, but officials yesterday did not know how long it will take or how much it will cost.
Cambridge Mayor Doug Craig was "very disappointed" the province didn't consider his city as a site for a consolidated courthouse. "We are trying to revitalize our core area like everybody else and this will hurt us."
Attempts to keep the courthouse at 99 Main St. open after the new one is built have failed, Craig said.
Court operations will also be moved out of the existing courthouses at 20 Weber St. and 200 Frederick St. in Kitchener.
Milloy announced plans for the consolidated courthouse almost three years ago to the day. People attending his announcement yesterday at Kitchener City Hall criticized the province for dragging its feet on a much-needed project.
"It is very frustrating that this has taken so long," said Flynn, whose Superior Courthouse is so crammed he and another judge have offices in former boiler rooms. "It is about time that politicians in Queen's Park recognize the depth and breadth of this region."
Flynn said the Superior Courthouse was built in 1959 to hold two courtrooms. Six courtrooms are now squeezed into the building, and security is inadequate.
"It is a very, very inadequate place for the operation and administration of justice."
The chosen site for the new courthouse is fitting, he said, since it is the site of the region's first county courthouse.
Kitchener Coun. Kelly Galloway said the project will be "another significant step" in the revitalization of the city's core. "We are extremely pleased."
Regional Chair Ken Seiling said the location fits with regional goals of infilling and developing city cores, although he's hoping for an earlier construction date. "Let's keep the pressure on the province and may be we can get the ball rolling faster."
The region owns the building housing Superior Court, and Seiling said there are plans to renovate it to house regional offices. The province owns the Kitchener courthouse and leases the Cambridge one.
Bill Moore of the Ontario Realty Corp. said the province will consider what to do with the Kitchener building once the court operations move out. He said the province's purchase of the Weber Street site should be completed in a few weeks after all environmental and soil tests are completed.
The next step will be the calling of proposals to build the courthouse from the private sector, Milloy said. The courthouse is part of the province's five-year plan to spend more than $30 billion in Ontario's infrastructure.
Centre Block proposal ready for council
June 14, 2008
Terry Pender
RECORD STAFF
KITCHENER
City council will be asked Monday to spend another $5.5 million on the redevelopment of a moribund block in the core.
After a year of negotiations with Andrin Investments Ltd., staff will ask council to select the Brampton-based developer for the long-awaited rebuilding of Centre Block.
It will be the latest chapter in the city's nine-year effort to assemble the land -- bounded by King, Young, Duke and Ontario streets -- and persuade someone to redevelop it.
"It continues with the huge momentum we have in the downtown core," said Mark Garner, head of the Kitchener Downtown Business Association and a member of the committee that evaluated the Andrin plan.
Included as part of the deal would be a cash infusion of $5.5 million by the city to pay for the cost of building 250 underground-parking spaces for the public, which Kitchener would own.
"There is a need for increased parking in the core," Garner said. "If we are going to get that growth, I think there is a huge need for that."
If councillors approve the deal, a detailed development agreement must be negotiated with Andrin, which could take up to five months. The company must also pre-sell 60 to 70 per cent of the 384 condominiums it plans for the site before construction begins. Work could start next spring.
It would take four years to finish the $90-million project, which includes two condo towers and shorter buildings that would wrap around Duke, Young and King streets. An underground parking garage with 750 spaces and a courtyard are also planned.
A committee of staff and citizens, formed in early 2007, has evaluated the plan and endorsed it.
"I think it is very important to get some high-quality housing in the Kitchener core," said committee member Rick Haldenby, the director of the University of Waterloo school of architecture.
Andrin wants to convert the historic Mayfair building into a boutique hotel and spa. Retail and live-work units are slated for the three-storey buildings fronting Duke, Young and King streets. The renovation of two other historic addresses on King is also part of the plan. "We need a social and cultural mix in the core, and I think this has the potential to draw people to live downtown," Haldenby said.
The city spent $9.1 million to assemble the land and buy out several businesses. The figure includes $7.65 million for the land and businesses and $1.45 million on legal fees, closing costs and consultants.
Under the proposed deal, Andrin will pay the city $3.1 million -- $2.3 million for the vacant land, $100,000 for a strip of land along King Street and $700,000 for the historic buildings at 11 Young St. and at 156-158 King St.
The 250 parking spaces would cost $35,000 each, for a total of $8.75 million, said Dan Chapman, acting city treasurer.
The city has $5.5 million earmarked for the parking from its economic development investment fund. That, coupled with the funds from the sale of land and buildings to Andrin, would be used to pay for the parking spaces.
"So our estimate right now is that we are about $400,000 short in funding, but we are still in negotiations with Andrin," Chapman said.
The city is on the hook to provide 175 parking spaces to Wilfrid Laurier University students and faculty for $20 a month per space. This was part of the deal negotiated to attract the school of social work to the downtown.
Andrin is no stranger to Kitchener. It partnered with Kimshaw Holdings to convert the former Kaufman factory into condominiums. That project cost more than $40 million.
When the city sought proposals for the redevelopment of Centre Block, three companies submitted plans by April 2007 -- Morguard Investments, the Windmill Development Group and Andrin. Within a few weeks Morguard and Windmill withdrew, leaving Andrin as the sole developer to negotiate with the city.
The two announcements were covered in detail by the Waterloo Region Record. I’ve included below both the links to the articles, and the full text of the articles themselves.
A new courthouse: Kitchener facility will combine all regional courthouse operations
June 14, 2008
Frances Barrick
RECORD STAFF
WATERLOO REGION
Local politicians, judges and lawyers hailed the choice of downtown Kitchener as the site of a long-awaited new courthouse.
"I think it hits the mark," Justice Pat Flynn of Kitchener Superior Court said after the announcement yesterday by Kitchener Centre MPP John Milloy.
The multi-million-dollar courthouse will be built on a 3.3-acre site bounded by Weber, Frederick, Duke and Scott streets.
Except for a few businesses fronting Frederick Street, including a law office, the site is now a parking lot. The new address will be 59 Weber St.
The state-of-the-art courthouse will bring under one roof three existing courthouses -- two in Kitchener and one in Cambridge.
Construction is to begin in 2010, but officials yesterday did not know how long it will take or how much it will cost.
Cambridge Mayor Doug Craig was "very disappointed" the province didn't consider his city as a site for a consolidated courthouse. "We are trying to revitalize our core area like everybody else and this will hurt us."
Attempts to keep the courthouse at 99 Main St. open after the new one is built have failed, Craig said.
Court operations will also be moved out of the existing courthouses at 20 Weber St. and 200 Frederick St. in Kitchener.
Milloy announced plans for the consolidated courthouse almost three years ago to the day. People attending his announcement yesterday at Kitchener City Hall criticized the province for dragging its feet on a much-needed project.
"It is very frustrating that this has taken so long," said Flynn, whose Superior Courthouse is so crammed he and another judge have offices in former boiler rooms. "It is about time that politicians in Queen's Park recognize the depth and breadth of this region."
Flynn said the Superior Courthouse was built in 1959 to hold two courtrooms. Six courtrooms are now squeezed into the building, and security is inadequate.
"It is a very, very inadequate place for the operation and administration of justice."
The chosen site for the new courthouse is fitting, he said, since it is the site of the region's first county courthouse.
Kitchener Coun. Kelly Galloway said the project will be "another significant step" in the revitalization of the city's core. "We are extremely pleased."
Regional Chair Ken Seiling said the location fits with regional goals of infilling and developing city cores, although he's hoping for an earlier construction date. "Let's keep the pressure on the province and may be we can get the ball rolling faster."
The region owns the building housing Superior Court, and Seiling said there are plans to renovate it to house regional offices. The province owns the Kitchener courthouse and leases the Cambridge one.
Bill Moore of the Ontario Realty Corp. said the province will consider what to do with the Kitchener building once the court operations move out. He said the province's purchase of the Weber Street site should be completed in a few weeks after all environmental and soil tests are completed.
The next step will be the calling of proposals to build the courthouse from the private sector, Milloy said. The courthouse is part of the province's five-year plan to spend more than $30 billion in Ontario's infrastructure.
Centre Block proposal ready for council
June 14, 2008
Terry Pender
RECORD STAFF
KITCHENER
City council will be asked Monday to spend another $5.5 million on the redevelopment of a moribund block in the core.
After a year of negotiations with Andrin Investments Ltd., staff will ask council to select the Brampton-based developer for the long-awaited rebuilding of Centre Block.
It will be the latest chapter in the city's nine-year effort to assemble the land -- bounded by King, Young, Duke and Ontario streets -- and persuade someone to redevelop it.
"It continues with the huge momentum we have in the downtown core," said Mark Garner, head of the Kitchener Downtown Business Association and a member of the committee that evaluated the Andrin plan.
Included as part of the deal would be a cash infusion of $5.5 million by the city to pay for the cost of building 250 underground-parking spaces for the public, which Kitchener would own.
"There is a need for increased parking in the core," Garner said. "If we are going to get that growth, I think there is a huge need for that."
If councillors approve the deal, a detailed development agreement must be negotiated with Andrin, which could take up to five months. The company must also pre-sell 60 to 70 per cent of the 384 condominiums it plans for the site before construction begins. Work could start next spring.
It would take four years to finish the $90-million project, which includes two condo towers and shorter buildings that would wrap around Duke, Young and King streets. An underground parking garage with 750 spaces and a courtyard are also planned.
A committee of staff and citizens, formed in early 2007, has evaluated the plan and endorsed it.
"I think it is very important to get some high-quality housing in the Kitchener core," said committee member Rick Haldenby, the director of the University of Waterloo school of architecture.
Andrin wants to convert the historic Mayfair building into a boutique hotel and spa. Retail and live-work units are slated for the three-storey buildings fronting Duke, Young and King streets. The renovation of two other historic addresses on King is also part of the plan. "We need a social and cultural mix in the core, and I think this has the potential to draw people to live downtown," Haldenby said.
The city spent $9.1 million to assemble the land and buy out several businesses. The figure includes $7.65 million for the land and businesses and $1.45 million on legal fees, closing costs and consultants.
Under the proposed deal, Andrin will pay the city $3.1 million -- $2.3 million for the vacant land, $100,000 for a strip of land along King Street and $700,000 for the historic buildings at 11 Young St. and at 156-158 King St.
The 250 parking spaces would cost $35,000 each, for a total of $8.75 million, said Dan Chapman, acting city treasurer.
The city has $5.5 million earmarked for the parking from its economic development investment fund. That, coupled with the funds from the sale of land and buildings to Andrin, would be used to pay for the parking spaces.
"So our estimate right now is that we are about $400,000 short in funding, but we are still in negotiations with Andrin," Chapman said.
The city is on the hook to provide 175 parking spaces to Wilfrid Laurier University students and faculty for $20 a month per space. This was part of the deal negotiated to attract the school of social work to the downtown.
Andrin is no stranger to Kitchener. It partnered with Kimshaw Holdings to convert the former Kaufman factory into condominiums. That project cost more than $40 million.
When the city sought proposals for the redevelopment of Centre Block, three companies submitted plans by April 2007 -- Morguard Investments, the Windmill Development Group and Andrin. Within a few weeks Morguard and Windmill withdrew, leaving Andrin as the sole developer to negotiate with the city.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Refocusing On Our Goals
I’ve been through an interesting exercise these past several days. I dedicated most of the weekend to refocusing on my personal and business goals. This journey included time re-establishing and reaffirming my goals, as well as ensuring I was dedicating time in my day toward reaching and attaining my goals.
This process eventually lead to an adjustment of the way I note and track the tasks that I must complete, and the way I determine priorities.
I converted a while back, as per this blog entry, to a time management system advocated by David Allen in Getting Things Done. Well, in fairness, as I believe many of us do, I took many bits and pieces of Allen’s suggested system, but did not adopt his process in its absolute entirety.
Allen’s system included the concept of Urgency and Importance. I’ve blogged about the use of Urgency and Importance in determining priorities here.
At any rate, I’ve now re-affirmed my personal definitions of Urgency and Importance, and will ensure I use these definitions whenever I categorize a task. Each particular task may be Urgent and/or Important. As noted above, I have blogged before about where one’s time should be spent.
This refocusing journey is not quite complete, but I’m almost there. Parmasters KW is poised for great things, and we shall achieve those great things a little faster, through focus, intentionality and determination!
This process eventually lead to an adjustment of the way I note and track the tasks that I must complete, and the way I determine priorities.
I converted a while back, as per this blog entry, to a time management system advocated by David Allen in Getting Things Done. Well, in fairness, as I believe many of us do, I took many bits and pieces of Allen’s suggested system, but did not adopt his process in its absolute entirety.
Allen’s system included the concept of Urgency and Importance. I’ve blogged about the use of Urgency and Importance in determining priorities here.
At any rate, I’ve now re-affirmed my personal definitions of Urgency and Importance, and will ensure I use these definitions whenever I categorize a task. Each particular task may be Urgent and/or Important. As noted above, I have blogged before about where one’s time should be spent.
This refocusing journey is not quite complete, but I’m almost there. Parmasters KW is poised for great things, and we shall achieve those great things a little faster, through focus, intentionality and determination!
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Second Anniversary
Congratulations to Parmasters Memphis! They’re celebrating their second anniversary this month! The Memphis team, including co-owners Mike and Mario, have made a massive contribution to the Parmasters franchise system and family. We owe them a lot.
We’re in the middle of another busy week within the development of Parmasters Kitchener-Waterloo. We continue to raise capital and lay plans for marketing and sales.
To say it’s been a challenging journey, opening our first center, would be a massive understatement. It’s an interesting life, being an entrepreneur. It can be both exhilarating and devastating in the same day. Often in the same hour! And of course, I wouldn’t trade it for anything! It’s a wild ride!
And someday soon, Parmasters Kitchener-Waterloo will celebrate its second anniversary. Someday soon! For now, it’s back to work, back to making it happen!
We’re in the middle of another busy week within the development of Parmasters Kitchener-Waterloo. We continue to raise capital and lay plans for marketing and sales.
To say it’s been a challenging journey, opening our first center, would be a massive understatement. It’s an interesting life, being an entrepreneur. It can be both exhilarating and devastating in the same day. Often in the same hour! And of course, I wouldn’t trade it for anything! It’s a wild ride!
And someday soon, Parmasters Kitchener-Waterloo will celebrate its second anniversary. Someday soon! For now, it’s back to work, back to making it happen!
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