The company developing a block of Waterloo’s Northdale neighbourhood says it’s willing to move its planned surface parking lot underground, and providing leasable space in one building out of which a non-profit group could operate.

The Block Inc. also says it’s willing to spend $25,000 on public art, add car-charging and car-share parking spaces, and include a bike storage facility in the project to boot.

On top of all that, it will make a donation of up to $250,000 over five years to Supportive Housing of Waterloo (SHOW).

There’s only one catch – none of that will happen unless councillors allow some of The Block Inc.’s planned four-storey buildings to increase to six storeys.

The project in question is the entirety of the block surrounded by Hemlock, Balsam, Larch and Hickory streets.

Eight buildings have been approved for the block, some of which are already under construction.

At the time of the approval, four storeys was the maximum height allowed in Northdale.

The rules have since changed, and the developer wants the remaining buildings to be six storeys high.

Bill Green of The GSP Group – hired by The Block Inc. as planning consultant on the project – says the change would increase the project’s total number of bedrooms from 348 to 472.

“The developer has looked at the marketplace and looked at the opportunity that’s available … and decided to make a request for the increased density,” he said in an interview.

Coun. Mark Whaley says he won’t vote in favour of the request, just as he was the lone vote against the project when it was first proposed.

“I believe a six-storey building made of wood is not appropriate. I believe we need a higher standard of both materials and design,” he said.

“Northdale is supposed to be a visionary place for our future. We’re not going to get there with poor design.”

While admitting that the incentives offered by The Block Inc. are “enticing,” Whaley says they aren’t enough to sway his vote.

“I’d rather have that money spent on better design and better quality,” he said.

Councillors are expected to make their decision before the end of the year.

The units inside the buildings in question will contain two or three bedrooms.

While Northdale is a neighbourhood heavily saturated with students, Green said the new buildings would not be student-exclusive as a rule.