Waterloo councillors get first look at four proposed high-rise towers
Four new high-rise towers could go up in Waterloo – if the developer gets their way.
Waterloo city council got its first look at the proposals at Monday night’s council meeting.
The developer, Prica Global Enterprises, already has several high-rise towers in Waterloo.
The developer is asking for zoning by-law amendments for the four towers – which, if approved, would each stand 25 storeys.
Three towers are proposed at a lot on 143 Columbia Street West. The developer wants to include 591 bedrooms and 118 square metres of commercial space.
Included in the application is an ask to reduce the minimum required tower separation distance from 11.0 metres to 8.2 metres, vary bicycle parking space requirements to allow for stacked bicycle parking and to permit geothermal wells.
"We've consulted early and extensively with city staff and really look forward to collaborate with staff as we move these applications forward," said Brandon Simon, an associate with The Planning Partnership.
The developer is also proposing a tower at 20 University Avenue with 260 bedrooms with 647 Square Metres of commercial space.
An artist rendering of the proposal at 20 University Avenue. (Youtube/PG Design Studio)
There’s already some opposition. The owner of the condo towers next door to the proposed Columbia Street site hired a lawyer who wrote a letter to the city discussing their concerns.
In a letter, lawyer Ira Kagan cited concerns about access to sunlight, privacy and wind conditions.
The letter posted in the city’s agenda that the proposal on Columbia Street would “result in increasingly unacceptable impacts of the above mentioned matters.”
The City of Waterloo said it is too early to comment on the proposals and confirmed no decision will be made at Monday’s meeting. The city also confirmed it will be looking to get public feedback before anything is approved.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Two-month GST holiday bill expected to pass the House today, Conservatives to vote against
The federal government's five-page piece of legislation to enact Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's promised two-month tax break on a range of consumer goods over the holidays, is expected to pass in the House of Commons by the end of the day.
Canada Post temporarily laying off striking workers, union says
The union representing Canada Post workers says the Crown corporation has been laying off striking employees as the labour action by more than 55,000 workers approaches the two-week mark.
Montreal shopping mall playing 'Baby Shark' song to prevent unhoused from loitering
A shopping mall and office complex in downtown Montreal is being criticized for using the popular children's song 'Baby Shark' to discourage unhoused people from loitering in its emergency exit stairwells.
B.C. man lied about cancer diagnosis while dodging $330K debt, court hears
A construction contractor from B.C.’s Lower Mainland has been ordered to repay a $330,000 loan from a friend who gave him leeway for years, despite her own financial suffering – all because she was under the false impression he had brain cancer.
Good Samaritan killed in tragic accident while helping stranded Calgary driver
Calgary police say a Good Samaritan who stopped to help another motorist was killed in an accident on Wednesday night.
Man jumps out of moving roller-coaster after safety belt fails
Terrifying video shows a man jumping out of a moving roller-coaster in Arizona after he says his safety belt failed.
The Vienna sausage stand is more than just a snack stall. Now it has a UNESCO heritage recognition
The Vienna sausage stand is a place where the street sweeper, the manager, the tourist and the celebrity converge for the same tasty snack. Now it also has the official stamp of approval as part of Austria’s heritage.
W5 Investigates 'Let me rot in Canada,' pleads Canadian ISIS suspect from secret Syrian prison
W5's Avery Haines tells the story of Jack Letts, a Canadian Muslim convert in a Syrian jail, accused of being a member of ISIS. In part two of a three-part investigation, Haines speaks with Letts, who issues a plea to return to Canada to face justice.
Competition Bureau suing Google, wants company to sell off two advertising services
The Competition Bureau is suing Google over alleged anticompetitive conduct in the tech giant's online advertising business and wants the company to sell off two of its services and pay a penalty.