Kitchener City Council to vote on two high-rise development proposals
Posted Sep 25, 2023 07:55:03 AM.
Last Updated Sep 25, 2023 11:19:54 AM.
Two major housing development proposals could get the green light at a Kitchener City Council meeting on Monday.
A proposed zoning area at 130-142 Victoria St South would build a 25-storey building 249 units and four rental units on the ground floor. Another proposed building at 332 Charles St East would add 163 units with two ground floor commercial units. Altogether, it would bring 412 residential units to the downtown area.
Both buildings would have underground parking for cars and bicycles.
At the delegations for both buildings last week, Ward 4 Councillor Christine Michaud voiced concerns that while the city would be adding units, it would displace those who were already at those locations.
“So while we’re building more housing, we’re also trying to house people and we are displacing them,” she said.
Ward 10 Councillor Aislinn Clancy also asked city staff if they would be working with developers and improving bylaws when it came to rental replacement to curb displacement of residents.
“We’ve seen a tripling of homelessness,” she said. “It costs cities and regions millions of dollars. I just think there is just a downloading onto municipalities and it is costing people’s lives.”
Council will begin their meeting at 7 p.m.
