KITCHENER – At a council meeting in 2022, Kitchener councillors found themselves embroiled in a debate balancing heritage preservation with modern development plans, as Momentum Developments proposed a towering addition to the city skyline at 16-20 Queen Street North.
The site in question, an early 19th-century building boasting Classic Revival architecture, sits on a 0.23-acre plot nestled between King Street and Duke Street in the City Commercial Core Planning Community of Kitchener, within the Region of Waterloo.
The principal heritage value of the property lies in its commercial building, with a particularly notable façade.
The development received approval for a 34-storey condominium tower named ‘Q Condos.’
The development will see 239 units within the tower, with a commitment to allocate 21 units meeting the criteria for affordable housing while also promising to integrate heritage elements into the design and create a community hub.
One of the pivotal points of contention arose over the designation of the existing building under the Heritage Act.
Momentum Developments lobbied against such a designation, advocating for flexibility in their design plans, contrary to the recommendation put forth by Heritage Kitchener.
After extensive deliberation, councillors reached a compromise, electing to designate only the exterior of the building as heritage, leaving room for collaboration with the developer on preserving interior elements.
At the heart of the matter lies the preservation of a 106-year-old Beaux-Arts-style building currently occupying the approved development site.
Momentum Developments’ plan seeks to transform this historic locale into a contemporary residential hub, catering to diverse housing needs with 1, 2, and 3-bedroom suites.
The site is also zoned Retail Core Zone (D-1), with special regulation provisions 95R and 98R.
Additionally, the site is designated as City Centre District and is in an Urban Growth Centre. Highlights of the development include 244 bicycle spaces, and 261.6 square metres of ground floor shared amenity area.
The site will include zero spaces for residential and visitor parking. Notably, four municipally operated parking structures are within 400 metres of the site.
While the council’s decision reflects a delicate compromise between preserving heritage and fostering urban development, the outcome underscores the ongoing tension between honouring the past and embracing the future in Kitchener’s evolving cityscape.
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