KITCHENER — Vive Development(King Weber Kitchener Holdings Inc.) received approval in May 2023 for a significant mixed-use development project on the lands at 815 and 825 Weber Street East and 1770 King Street East in the City of Kitchener.
The ambitious project will transform the 0.6384-hectare (1.58 acres) site with the construction of two high-rise residential towers and an integrated eight-storey podium.
The approved development includes Building A, a 27-storey tower with 288 residential units, reaching approximately 87.5 metres in height.
Building B will be a 17-storey tower with 161 residential units, reaching approximately 52.5 metres in height.
The development also features an eight-storey podium, known as Podium C, with 54 residential units and a rooftop outdoor amenity space.
At the Planning meeting in May 2023, the councillors approved the development with an added requirement of commercial units.
Vive Development has promised to convert 11 ground-floor residential units into designated commercial units to meet the requirement.
In total, the project will offer 503 residential units distributed across the high-rise structures and podium, providing a blend of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units.
Collectively, the buildings will provide a gross floor area of 37,965 square metres, with a Floor Space Ratio (FSR) of 6.0, which significantly exceeds the previous limit of 4.0 FSR in the area.
The development promises several key amenities, including an indoor amenity room on the ground floor and another on the eighth level.
Additionally, a large at-grade outdoor amenity area of approximately 1,000 square metres will be situated along the King Street East frontage.
Secure bicycle storage facilities will be available, along with indoor bicycle storage rooms located in the underground parking levels.
The design also includes designated garbage rooms and loading areas for each tower.
Strategically located along existing and planned transit corridors, the development ensures easy access to public transportation.
It will be served by Grand River Transit Routes 7 (King) and 8 (Weber) and is in proximity to Borden Station, a major transit station area (MTSA).
The approved development includes a total of 291 parking spaces, comprising 15 visitor and barrier-free surface spaces.
The parking ratio will be 0.58 spaces per unit, which deviates from standard requirements.
The parking structure will be accessible via Weber Street East and King Street East, with specific movement restrictions for ingress and egress on King Street East.
Amendments to the existing zoning and official plan were required to facilitate the development.
The Official Plan Amendment (OPA) introduced a special policy area in the King Street East Neighbourhood Secondary Plan to permit an FSR of 6.0.
The Zoning By-law Amendment involved adjustments to the High-Intensity Mixed Use Corridor Zone (MU-3) to allow the increased FSR and modifications in parking requirements.
Specifically, the amendments permit a maximum FSR of 6.0, reduce parking requirements to 0.58 spaces per unit for larger units, and set visitor parking at 5% of the total parking provided.
The subject lands are part of a larger urban corridor designated for high-intensity mixed-use development.
Previously underutilized and used for single-storey commercial purposes, the site presents an opportunity for significant urban transformation.
The project aligns with the region’s strategic goals for urban densification and efficient use of transit-oriented locations.
This development marks a substantial investment in Kitchener’s urban landscape, promising modern residential options and enhanced urban amenities.
The approved project will significantly contribute to the city’s ongoing efforts to create vibrant, transit-oriented communities.
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