KITCHENER — On January 22, 2024, Kitchener City Council approved a proposal by Real Property Management Hestia for a 27-storey mixed-use building at 149-151 Ontario Street North and 21 Weber Street West in Downtown Kitchener.
The front facade and a portion of the south facade of the existing two-storey structure will be preserved and incorporated into the new building’s podium, while the damaged roof, affected by a 2022 fire, will be replaced with a glass structure.
The retained portions of this historic building are designated under the Ontario Heritage Act.
The development will feature four commercial units and a total of 206 residential units and 4 commercial units, enhancing the area’s mix of residential and commercial spaces.
In 2022, the development was granted approval to reduce parking requirements to zero spaces per unit at the Committee of Adjustments meeting.
The development will have 0.165 spaces allocated for units under 51 square metres, and the new building will provide 238 Class A and 2 Class B bicycle parking spaces.
Additional parking is available nearby at the Duke and Ontario parking garage, 100 metres from the site, with convenient access to the Kitchener City Hall LRT Ion Station located 175 metres away.
The subject property at 149-151 Ontario Street North is currently zoned as ‘Office District Zone (D-4)’ under Zoning By-law 85-1, permitting the approved development and not requiring a zone change.
Heritage Permit Application HPA-2023-IV-030 was approved to allow partial demolition of the building while retaining its front and south facades.
The proposal’s approval is contingent on the submission of a final Heritage Impact Assessment and Conservation Plan, as well as a Temporary Protection Plan and Documentation and Salvage Plan, before relevant permits are issued.
The permits will also undergo heritage clearance by the City’s Heritage Planning staff to ensure compliance with conservation standards.
The development aligns with Kitchener’s vision for urban intensification, balancing heritage conservation with the city’s goals for a pedestrian-oriented, transit-connected environment in the City Centre District of the Urban Growth Centre.
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