“We have talked them into putting a number of affordable units in that development.”
An open house for a newly renovated apartment building at 270 Spadina Rd. E. and the approval of a massive redevelopment of an entire block on King Street East are connected by the issue of affordable housing, said Coun. Frank Etherington.
The London-based developer Drewlo has agreed to include affordable units when it builds two apartment buildings and townhouses on the city block bounded by King Street East, Madison, Charles and Cameron streets. In all the plan calls for about 400 rental units on the block. City council is expected to give its final approval Monday night.
“We have talked them into putting a number of affordable units in that development,” said Etherington. “Those units will probably be managed by Kitchener Housing. So that’s a good sign.”
Several blocks away on Spadina Road East an open house is scheduled for Wednesday at an apartment building branded Woodside Terraces. Kitchener-based Vive Development Corporation invested more than $17 million on the complete renovation and restoration of the 1969 building that is being marketed to young professionals and older adults looking for an urban lifestyle.
Workers stripped the building down to bare concrete before installing floor-to-ceiling windows and new electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling systems. The 53 multiple-bedroom apartments were divided into 103 suites with quartz countertops, plank floors, contemporary bathrooms and kitchens. It is a short walk or bicycle ride to downtown Kitchener or Victoria Park, but is located in a quiet residential neighbourhood.
“The building has been rebuilt as a mid-century loft with exposed duct work, clean white finishes and an entirely new facade,” said Stephen Litt of Vive.
Workers had to remove mould from many units. There was extensive water damage in others.
“This is an excellent example of a way to add significant density to our community while saving a desperate, electrically-heated, tough apartment block,” said Litt.
The transformation of 270 Spadina Rd. E. mirrors the broader changes impacting downtown Kitchener as startups and tech workers slowly, but steadily transform the city core. Etherington knows all about it. His ward covers all of downtown Kitchener south of King Street, and he canvassed the tenants in 270 Spadina Rd. E. during two municipal elections.
“It was in pretty poor shape,” said Etherington. “From what I hear the building was greatly improved.”
It is the kind of gentrification Etherington expects to see in and around downtown. Etherington believes more affordable housing is key to helping people who are displaced by the renovations, upgrades and gentrification of old residential buildings in the central part of the city.
He wants to see the agreement with Drewlo used as a template.
“I think more developers, as this advances, will follow Drewlo’s lead and get into some kind of agreement with our planners to put in affordable units,” said Etherington.