ZEBuilder
Active Member
IN8 has submitted a ZBA/OPA to the City of Waterloo for a five tower development at the LRT tracks and Columbia St W in Waterloo. It's on the NE corner of the LRT/Columbia St, to the west is UW Optometry building, to the south is UWs EC buildings, to the SW is additional property owned by UW (currently parking a bit further to the south is Ring Rd). This project is the tallest proposed building in Waterloo, however there are similar heights being contemplated by other developers in Waterloo just not publicly yet.
The project itself is located at 170 and 180 Columbia St W. 170 Columbia and 180 Columbia currently contain a 4 floor office building and a 1 floor commercial building, the property is divided by a ROW which provides access to the FORD R&D building behind these two properties. 170 Columbia will encompass phase 1 and 2 of the site and contain 2 towers both at 41 floors. While 180 Columbia will represent phase 3-5 and have heights of 37-41 floors.
The project will include retail at grade fronting Columbia as well as internal to the site along access roads. They are all small units similar to most retail spaces in and around Northdale. Northdale is the area around Laurier/UW which is where the vast majority of the student housing is. IN8 originally started by building student residents (Sage buildings) before they decided to venture out to condos (Duke/TEK Tower).
There will be a POPS between phase 1 and 2 of the site. The site is fairly evenly split between 1bdrm/bachelors and 2bdrm units with 1256 2bdrm units and 1182 1bdrm/bachelor units.
There is very minimal parking (the obvious target is students, tenure is undetermined at this point but either way it will target students or investors renting to students). In total there will be 587 parking spaces for the 2438 units (including visitor). There will also be 1605 bicycle spaces including in the development.
One thing to note is that the existing traffic signal at the entrance to the site will be removed (this is already approved) as the Region will be installing a signalized pedestrian crossover at the LRT tracks (similar to the one at University). The development will however require a traffic signal to be installed slightly closer to Phillip St where there is another entrance to the development (where it says ROW on east side of the site plan).
Another thing to note is UW is intending to phase the redevelopment of their properties around this in the coming years. They have been working on a master plan update recently which contemplates various developments (V1 rebuild, EC redevelopment, E3/SCH/AL rebuild and a bunch of new buildings). It would not be surprising if UW intends for significantly higher heights if this were to be approved given the new precedent.
The documents can be found here: 170 to 180 Columbia St W | EngageWR
Site Plan:
Render:
The project itself is located at 170 and 180 Columbia St W. 170 Columbia and 180 Columbia currently contain a 4 floor office building and a 1 floor commercial building, the property is divided by a ROW which provides access to the FORD R&D building behind these two properties. 170 Columbia will encompass phase 1 and 2 of the site and contain 2 towers both at 41 floors. While 180 Columbia will represent phase 3-5 and have heights of 37-41 floors.
The project will include retail at grade fronting Columbia as well as internal to the site along access roads. They are all small units similar to most retail spaces in and around Northdale. Northdale is the area around Laurier/UW which is where the vast majority of the student housing is. IN8 originally started by building student residents (Sage buildings) before they decided to venture out to condos (Duke/TEK Tower).
There will be a POPS between phase 1 and 2 of the site. The site is fairly evenly split between 1bdrm/bachelors and 2bdrm units with 1256 2bdrm units and 1182 1bdrm/bachelor units.
There is very minimal parking (the obvious target is students, tenure is undetermined at this point but either way it will target students or investors renting to students). In total there will be 587 parking spaces for the 2438 units (including visitor). There will also be 1605 bicycle spaces including in the development.
One thing to note is that the existing traffic signal at the entrance to the site will be removed (this is already approved) as the Region will be installing a signalized pedestrian crossover at the LRT tracks (similar to the one at University). The development will however require a traffic signal to be installed slightly closer to Phillip St where there is another entrance to the development (where it says ROW on east side of the site plan).
Another thing to note is UW is intending to phase the redevelopment of their properties around this in the coming years. They have been working on a master plan update recently which contemplates various developments (V1 rebuild, EC redevelopment, E3/SCH/AL rebuild and a bunch of new buildings). It would not be surprising if UW intends for significantly higher heights if this were to be approved given the new precedent.
The documents can be found here: 170 to 180 Columbia St W | EngageWR
Site Plan:
Render:
