Green light given for development on former Schneiders meat plant in Kitchener
There's plenty of optimism surrounding the site of the former Schneiders meat plant in Kitchener.
City council unanimously passed approval for a development Monday night that will see 13 towers, residential units, retail, office, and restaurants go up.
"I really believe it's going to be one of the crown jewels of our city and of that area," said Ward 3 councillor Jason Deneault.
The former plant stood on Courtland Avenue for more than 90 years before moving out of Kitchener in 2015.
Auburn Developments will now build more than 3,300 rental units, with one, two, and three bedroom options.
"This is a win-win from council perspective, from a developer perspective, from staff perspective, and more important a win for our community," said Ward 6 councillor Paul Singh. "Thank you."
The original development proposal included 135 affordable housing units, which would cost 20 per cent less than the market average.
Staff had asked for those numbers to be increased.
The developer propose an additional 10 affordable housing units during the Monday night meeting and says he will build more in the first stage as long as construction can start in July.
The developer also promised to donate $1 million to the Working Centre.
"We go from around 9.5 per cent of our 35,000 unit target by 2031 to 11.5 per cent in just this one project," said Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic.
The development will be named The Mets after the original owner John Metz Schneider.
The build is expected to cost roughly $1 billion and create hundreds of construction jobs in the coming years.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6945600.1719608806!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
'We need new leadership': Liberal MP writes to caucus, says Justin Trudeau should resign
A sitting Liberal MP has written to the federal caucus to say he thinks Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should resign. 'For the future of our party and for the good of our country we need new leadership and a new direction,' said New Brunswick MP Wayne Long in the brief note.
WestJet warns of travel disruption as mechanics union opts to 'continue with strike action'
WestJet says it is 'outraged' after its airline maintenance engineers went ahead with their previously threatened strike on Friday evening.
Minivan slams into a Long Island nail salon, killing 4 and injuring 9, fire official says
A minivan slammed into a Long Island nail salon Friday, killing four people and injuring 9, a Suffolk County fire official said.
Ontario MPP removed from PC caucus over 'serious lapses in judgment'
Premier Doug Ford has removed a member of his caucus due to what he’s describing as 'serious lapses in judgment.' In a statement released Friday morning, the premier’s office said MPP Goldie Ghamari had been removed from the Progressive Conservative caucus 'effective immediately.'
Martin Mull, hip comic and actor from 'Fernwood Tonight' and 'Roseanne,' dies at 80
Martin Mull, whose droll, esoteric comedy and acting made him a hip sensation in the 1970s and later a beloved guest star on sitcoms including 'Roseanne' and 'Arrested Development,' has died, his daughter said Friday.
Lt.-Gen. Jennie Carignan to become first woman to lead Canadian Armed Forces
Lt.-Gen. Jennie Carignan will be named Canada's new Chief of the Defence Staff, CTV News has learned, making her the first woman to lead the Canadian Armed Forces.
Multivitamins don't help you live longer, study suggests
Millions of people who take multivitamins everyday may not be reaping the perceived health benefits, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Is marriage harder than it was 10 years ago? Why one psychologist thinks so
Marriage might be the oldest institution in the world, but it's struggling to adapt to the pressures of modern life. Registered psychologist Adisa Azubuike explains why it's more difficult today.
Five survivors from Sudbury, Ont., rescued in human trafficking investigation
Six people have been charged in a provincial human trafficking investigation that identified five survivors from Greater Sudbury.