[Cambridgite]

Correction...I won't be participating that night. I have late classes on Thursday night and I can't miss it :( . Nevertheless, the infrastructure thread is up and we can discuss things there. Maybe I can even e-mail my suggestions to them or some of you who are able to go could speak for me.

[Cambridgite]

A few things I noticed on the bus today.

1) Something is being dug up on the corner of King and Sheldon, southeast of downtown Kitchener. Doesn't look like it will be big. Most likely some kind of small infill.

2) A "for sale" sign is up for the lot bounded by King, Charles, Madison, and Cameron (if I remember correctly, it's where Gascho Automotive is/was). While this doesn't necessarily mean it's being bought anytime soon, at least the option is open. I would love to see that vision of the block come alive as it's shown in the "visualizing densities" report.

3) A run-down old house on Madison Ave, between King and Charles, is being gutted right now. There's a sign on the side of it that says "Karma Art Supplies and Gallery". Not a big project, but a hint at subtle change taking place in the area.

[kitchener-lrt]

The following is an e-mail I received from the Region of Waterloo. I think it is time we created this infrastructure thread and started talking about what we want to see changed, regarding transportation in the Region. Please be as specific as possible. I will be attending this presentation and participating. I'd kind of like to discuss these issues with you guys first. Maybe we could organize a meet for this thing on the night of. Until then, we can talk about it on the infrastructure thread. :)

Here it is...

Good Afternoon, The Region of Waterloo is embarking on a new Regional Transportation Master Plan that will plan our future transportation system up to the year 2031. This plan will look at all our modes of transportation from transit to automobile, walking to cycling. Please mark the evening of November 22, 2007 on your calendar. The Regional Transportation Master Plan Kickoff will be an event not to be missed. Keynote speaker Glen Murray will challenge the way you think about "community" and a panel of experts will help us start our communty conversation. Don't miss your chance to provide input on the future of our community! ***Stay tuned for more details on the event and RSVP information.*** The Moving Foward 2031 Team

I got the exact e-mail. Will it be like the rapid transit punlic consultation? And by the way, where will it take place?

[Cambridgite]

I got the exact e-mail. Will it be like the rapid transit punlic consultation? And by the way, where will it take place?

I'm not sure. But below is what they said, so I'm assuming we'll find out the details soon.

***Stay tuned for more details on the event and RSVP information.***

[WaterlooInvestor]

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[WaterlooInvestor]

Thanks for the meeting info on Moving Forward 2031.

I'll try to look up the King and Sheldon site later this weekend.

[Cambridgite]

Dude, you're going to have to make a projects discussion thread to group these in. The entire Ontario page is clogged up and it looks terrible. Be prepared for an anti-KW onslaught from the rest of the province.

[WaterlooInvestor]

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[WaterlooInvestor]

I agree it's ugly and should be seperated into a SSP:Local format but for now:

What you guys may want to do is start using SSP:L thread naming conventions and begin breaking up discussions into separate threads.

If you think about it you guys kinda do have the whole Ontario thread to yourself

You've been given the green light to separate your threads as if there was a local section for now, and should volumes warrant it you will probably get a local section later on. The only downside is you won't have an off topic discussion to yourselves, and you'll have to put up with the occasional thread about Thunder Bay opening a new Boston Pizza.

[Cambridgite]

"The only downside is you won't have an off topic discussion to yourselves, and you'll have to put up with the occasional thread about Thunder Bay opening a new Boston Pizza."

Oh dear god. :haha:

[Cambridgite]

Mike K, could you please move all of the project threads that WaterlooInvestor has created into this thread and sticky it? Thanks.

[jeremy_haak]

Well, let's just hope these all fall to the bottom very quickly. I don't suppose you can just live with the way the ball rolls? What's wrong with a single rendering thread for now?

[kitchener-lrt]

I saw in The Record Classified section some time ago that some units were up for sale still.

[the dude]

btw, i was in downtown k-w the other day for a movie and was quite impressed. it had been several years between visits and i could definitely see a difference. kudos. keep it up.

[Mister F]

Holy Waterloo spam, Batman! This forum is starting to look like the TalB Israeli economy thread.

[ikerrin]

"The only downside is you won't have an off topic discussion to yourselves, and you'll have to put up with the occasional thread about Thunder Bay opening a new Boston Pizza."

Oh dear god. :haha:

Hey, show a little respect for smaller centres. After all, if people in Toronto and Ottawa are encouraged and interested that K-W are growing proper downtowns then its only fair to recognize people in even smaller centres are excited to see money flow in and not out. We all want our province to grow.

[WaterlooInvestor]

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[Cambridgite]

Hey, show a little respect for smaller centres. After all, if people in Toronto and Ottawa are encouraged and interested that K-W are growing proper downtowns then its only fair to recognize people in even smaller centres are excited to see money flow in and not out. We all want our province to grow.

Haha, relax. I'm not knocking development in TBay. But to see a thread dedicated to Boston Pizza is funny to me, that's why I made that ":haha: ". Yes, there is some joking around between KW and TBay. Some people take it seriously (WaterlooInvestor and you) but for some (myself and Vid) we actually think this "rivalry" is kind of funny. Lighten up. I have no hard feelings for the north.

[Cambridgite]

What a rude remark. I guess if it was left up to you to post construction updates, then things would "fall to the bottom very quickly". You're clearly not appreciative of the work I've done posting Waterloo Region Construction news: whether it's posting projects like Icon or Centre Block, or photo updates of the UW Health Sciences Campus. If it pains you so much that my posts must be out of sight "very quickly" then just go ahead and block me.

I didn't interpret this as not caring about your work. I just figured he didn't want to see our development threads clogging up the ONTARIO (that's right, it's meant for the whole province) section. It would look much better in its own "Waterloo Region Project Discussions" Folder. At least that's how I interpret it. You'd have to ask Jeremy_Haak for yourself.

[kitchener-lrt]

And the 60's are back;)

[the dude]

Thanks for the nice comments. :) What movie did you go see?

It's been two years since I've been downtown Hamilton, so I'll have to try attending a meet this spring.

it was a vietnamese film...can't remember the name. saw it at the princess cinema. you've got a far superior indie film scene in k-w than we have here.

[Tri-City Guy]

The new extension looks like it belongs in Darwin, Australia. I'll wait for the final product as renders are one thing, reality another. Who knows ...maybe this "tropo-tin mix meets brick" could actually work. I'm scared though....just a little. LOL

[ikerrin]

Haha, relax. I'm not knocking development in TBay. But to see a thread dedicated to Boston Pizza is funny to me, that's why I made that ":haha: ". Yes, there is some joking around between KW and TBay. Some people take it seriously (WaterlooInvestor and you) but for some (myself and Vid) we actually think this "rivalry" is kind of funny. Lighten up. I have no hard feelings for the north.

Wow, you tease Vid about Thunder Bay? You're braver than I thought.:worship:

I pitty the politician who tries to hype a Walmart on the edge of town to him and call it smart growth:haha:

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[Cambridgite]

The renderings look pretty nice for the inside of the building.

[Cambridgite]

Bleh, another lowrise suburban office building :yuck: .

Hardly anything I'm going to get excited over.

[WaterlooInvestor]

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[Cambridgite]

So what do those demolition permits tell us? They must be getting demolished for a good reason.... I'm anxious now, lol.

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[kitchener-lrt]

I stopped by downtown yesterday (King, Victoria). Is it just me, or does the tower for the school of pharmacy look very skinny? And btw, there was some pretty bad accident there as well.

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[kitchener-lrt]

I drove by there the other day. Demolishion has already started. There's rubble everywhere:cheers: .

[Cambridgite]

Sweet. :D

[Cambridgite]

I stopped by downtown yesterday (King, Victoria). Is it just me, or does the tower for the school of pharmacy look very skinny? And btw, there was some pretty bad accident there as well.

Nope. I do too! However, isn't there supposed to be an extension west of the existing building? That hasn't started yet.

[kitchener-lrt]

Nope. I do too! However, isn't there supposed to be an extension west of the existing building? That hasn't started yet.

There is suppose to be an extension on the West side, aswell as behind the tower. It looks as though the total area on one of the floors of the tower are about as wide and long as a portable. I'm not sure what they're going to do with that tower. Cabinet storage possibly?:koko:

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[Cambridgite]

Yesterday when I was riding up King on the bus, I looked down College to the north-east and could see a pile of dirt and a tractor moving around. It looks as if at least one of those properties has been demolished. Today, I am driving, so I'll take a closer look. Maybe there's a sign with the name of the development on it :fingerscrossed: .

[Cambridgite]

And indeed both buildings have been demolished and dirt is being dug out of the ground. I say that it must be both because the next address over is 26 College, right on the corner with Duke. Therefore 16 and 22 College have already been demolished. So that shows how much Snark knows, lol. However, there's no sign up saying what will be replacing it. Pictures coming later tonight.

[kitchener-lrt]

And indeed both buildings have been demolished and dirt is being dug out of the ground. I say that it must be both because the next address over is 26 College, right on the corner with Duke. Therefore 16 and 22 College have already been demolished. So that shows how much Snark knows, lol. However, there's no sign up saying what will be replacing it. Pictures coming later tonight.

Hopefully, like someone mentioned earlier, I hope we'll get a nice, slim, glass tower (above 15 floors in the downtown district).:fingerscrossed:

[MolsonExport]

Hey Waterlooinvestor, what the heck is the deal? More than 20 separate threads posted in the same day in the same forum? Fer crissakes, can't you put them all into the Waterloo developments thread?

[kitchener-lrt]

More info on the event Cambridgite posted:

WATERLOO REGION: What Moves You?

Where : Delta Kitchener, 105 King St. E., Kitchener

When: Thursday, November 22, 2007

Who: Open Invitation, including Regional and Municipal Councilors, area residents, local
employees, and business owners (RSVP will be requested)

Evening Agenda:
6:00 p.m. Registration and Open House
6:45 p.m. Welcome and Multimedia Presentation
7:00 p.m. Keynote Speaker – Glen Murray (former Mayor of the City of Winnipeg and Chair of
the National Round Table on the Environment and Energy )
7:45 p.m. Panel Discussion
Jody Decker, WLU (Cultural Heritage)
Glenn Ferguson, Intrinsik (Human Health)
Graham Vincent, Region of Waterloo (Transportation)
8:15 p.m. Roundtable Discussions
8:45 p.m. Closing Remarks

Thanks for the update.

DATE: November 6, 2007

SUBJECT: BUS PURCHASES 2008 TO 2012

RECOMMENDATION:
THAT the Regional Municipality of Waterloo takes the following action regarding Grand River Transit’s 2008 to 2012 bus purchases:

a) accept the proposal from NovaBus, a Division of Prevost Car Inc., for the delivery of one hundred and twelve (112) transit buses between 2008 and 2012, based on a 2008 price per bus of $439,782.36 for diesel powered and $683,053.80 for Hybrid diesel/electric powered buses, including all applicable taxes, with the understanding the quantity and price will be determined annually and subject to final council approval in each of the five years;

b) grant pre-budget approval for the purchase of twenty-one (21) transit buses (6-Hybrid and 15-Diesel) prior to the approval of the 2008 budget at a price of $10,695,058.20, including all applicable taxes;

c) endorse the purchase of six (6) hybrid diesel/electric powered buses to evaluate the local application of this technology, specifically on low-speed and high-stop bus routes where they are expected to have the greatest impact both economically and environmentally

d) authorize the development of a unique paint scheme, using regional and GRT colours, to better identify the hybrid buses.

e) endorse the continued use of clean diesel engine technology, through the use of emission reducing Continuously Regenerating Technology (CRT) for the remaining fifteen (15) diesel buses in 2008;

f) authorize the issuance of debentures in an amount not to exceed $10,300,000 for a term not to exceed 10 years for this purchase.

SUMMARY:
A Request for Proposals was recently issued to the three Canadian bus manufacturers for the delivery of transit buses over the five year period 2008–2012. This procurement approach enhances the operational benefits of fleet standardization and provides a pricing advantage due to the longer term commitment.

The Request for Proposal included pricing for both diesel and diesel/electric hybrid powered buses. The analysis of hybrid buses along with a staging plan for their introduction is currently being developed as part of the GRT Business Plan, which is expected to be completed in early 2008.

This review will identify which GRT bus routes would benefit from the use of diesel/electric hybrid buses, since their environmental and economical benefits are only achieved in low speed, high-stop route applications when the electric propulsion option is activated. The benefits of this technology are
therefore most effective on bus routes with lower operating speeds. The business plan analysis on hybrid buses is expected to recommend their use on specific routes such as the Route 7 – Mainline which operates in the desired operating environment along King Street, however, to ensure the benefits of this hybrid technology can be implemented next year, staff is recommending the purchase of six diesel/electric buses in 2008.

The production and delivery schedule for transit buses requires a lengthy lead-time from order to delivery and staff is requesting pre-budget approval to ensure these twenty-one (21) buses are available when needed in 2008. Should Council decide, during the 2008 budget process, not to proceed with the planned 2008 transit service expansion then the ten (10) expansion buses can be deployed within the existing fleet to replace aging buses scheduled for replacement in 2009.

:banana: :banana: :banana: 120 Buses. I hope council accepts this proposal. When the rapid transit system is implemented, GRT will be awesome.

[ReginaGuy]

6m, I floor? Does this really need a thread?

[MolsonExport]

^It is terribly, terribly important, not just for Waterloo, but for the nation as a whole!

[Cambridgite]

Was there any need to stick these two posts in our development news? Why not just PM WaterlooInvestor?

[Cambridgite]

All of the squabbling and recent issues aside, I told you I was going to post up some pictures tonight. Most importantly, of the demolition of 16 and 22 College St. A couple other interesting shots as well.

Demolition of 16 and 22 College St. Tractors are digging up the ground. Hopefully we're in for something good! :fingerscrossed:

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb210/Cambridgite/City%20Centre%20District/Picture169.jpg

Looking down Gaukel Street towards Victoria Park where work is still being done on the new entranceway. In the distance, you can see the crane for 560 Queen Street South :) .

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb210/Cambridgite/City%20Centre%20District/Picture170.jpg

The leftist gentrifiers are already leaving their mark downtown!! :haha:

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb210/Cambridgite/City%20Centre%20District/Picture171.jpg

[kitchener-lrt]

All of the squabbling and recent issues aside, I told you I was going to post up some pictures tonight. Most importantly, of the demolition of 16 and 22 College St. A couple other interesting shots as well.

Demolition of 16 and 22 College St. Tractors are digging up the ground. Hopefully we're in for something good! :fingerscrossed:

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb210/Cambridgite/City%20Centre%20District/Picture169.jpg

Looking down Gaukel Street towards Victoria Park where work is still being done on the new entranceway. In the distance, you can see the crane for 560 Queen Street South :) .

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb210/Cambridgite/City%20Centre%20District/Picture170.jpg

The leftist gentrifiers are already leaving their mark downtown!! :haha:

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb210/Cambridgite/City%20Centre%20District/Picture171.jpg

Regarding the first picture: please let it be a tall glass building, please let it be a tall glass building, please let it be a tall glass building:haha:

Regarding the second picture: Looks good, can't wait to see it completed.

Regarding the third picture: I see you:haha: .

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[Tony]

Did you guys not follow the SSP:Local Waterloo thread? It was suggested by a mod and two other Ontario forumers to start using the Ontario section (which was dead) for individual project threads as a first-step towards building a ssp:local membership. That's worth repeating: It was suggested by a mod and two other Ontario forumers to start using the Ontario section (which was dead) for individual project threads as a first-step towards building a ssp:local membership.

Actually Mike said:

[QUOTE=Mike K.;3131850]For the respective Waterloo region development threads, for simplicities sake we would split them up into the three regions without separate suburb threads. I think they could manage with a thread each for now and if things got too busy in any of them we could create a suburb sub-forum within their respective development forums. Confusing enough? ;)

This will be a unique SSP:L where we have several cities combined into one so we'll have to experiment a little.

Which I think most people would take as "One thread for each municipality".

[WaterlooInvestor]

No, Mike said "What you guys may want to do is start using SSP:L thread naming conventions and begin breaking up discussions into separate threads."