Kitchener approves record-breaking high-rise development

It's a development leaving many wondering “how high will they go?”

The City of Kitchener's Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee has approved a record 44-storey residential tower development.

The vote was 8-2 in favour at Monday's meeting. It will still need to go to council for final approval.

The building will be constructed at 30 Francis Street South in Kitchener, currently a parking lot at the corner of Francis and Charles Street, and will have both commercial space on the ground floor and over 530 residential units.

But some raised issues including affordable housing, the abundance of one-bedroom units not being good for a population that will increasingly turn to working from home after the pandemic.

Darryl Firsten, the owner of IN8 Developments (the developer on the project), urged council to move ahead, noting there's no time to delay housing that is badly needed in the region.

He upped the ante on the subject, wanting to double his initial $300,000 donation to the affordable housing project for St. Peter's Lutheran Church.

That project will see 40 affordable housing units be built at 49 Queen Street North.

He also proposed in order to get that project up and running, he would create a dollar-for-dollar matching program to make up the remaining $550,000 needed.

“Much of the same as I think our building (on Francis) needs to be built right now, their building needs to be built right now,” Firsten said.

Councillor Sarah Marsh thanked Firsten for the gesture, but also felt Firsten shouldn't commit on the fly, and “wheel and deal” in the middle of a community forum.

— With files from Mark Pare