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Weekly ‘Roundup’ of real estate news from Waterloo Region and Guelph

Posted by: Carmel Colby | Posted on: May 17th, 2013 | 0 Comments

Ten articles from the week of May 11th to the 17th

City aims to make Kitchener a musical destination

This city’s push to leverage live music for economic development puts it ahead of larger and smaller municipalities across southern Ontario, the head of Music Canada said. The Record

City buys into Hespeler core

The city’s 68km off-road trail system is about to get a little bit longer in Hespeler. Cambridge Times

Eateries lead the charge in downtown revitalization

A couple of women are sitting in the shade under the awning at Holy Guacamole on Duke Street — a small block hailed as big success for downtown revitalization. The Record

Privatization of city parking an option, Guelph committee hears

Officials working on a parking master plan for the downtown core have considered all options, including privatization, a city committee heard Monday. Guelph Mercury

Leap of faith gives convent new life in Guelph

The Sisters of Loretto Convent was never the architectural superstar of Catholic Hill, a collection of 19th century limestone religious and educational buildings perched high above the city of Guelph, Ont. Globe and Mail

MacNeil Consumer Healthcare expanding in Guelph

Major expansion work is underway at the McNeil Consumer Heathcare facility on Woodlawn Road in the city. The plant manufactures over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol, Benadryl, Imodium and Sudafed. McNeil is a division of Johnson & Johnson Inc. Guelph Mercury

City politicians have identified eight key priorities for the continued growth and success of uptown Waterloo. Waterloo Chronicle

City hall wants Guelph to grow faster

City staff is recommending council approve more residential units than usual this year, after building the last few years has come in under target. Guelph Mercury

Delta in downtown Kitchener to become a Crowne Plaza hotel

The Delta Hotel in downtown Kitchener is being turned into a Crowne Plaza hotel and is undergoing an extensive multi-million dollar renovation. Guelph Mercury

Waterloo falls short on development charge targets

The City of Waterloo failed to meet its development charge targets in 2012, mostly due to the changing landscape of residential development. The Record

Weekly ‘Roundup’ of real estate news from Waterloo Region and Guelph

Posted by: Carmel Colby | Posted on: May 10th, 2013 | 0 Comments

Eight articles from the week of May 4th to the 10th

Downtown BIA to ask council for expansion of its boundaries

City councillors will be asked Monday to approve a significant expansion of the Downtown Business Improvement Association that markets, promotes and represents core-area merchants. The Record

Local digital media cluster gathering momentum

Marcel O’Gorman’s voice echoes in the old post office as he walks through the latest cutting-edge addition to the downtown’s growing digital media cluster. The Record

Waterloo approves putting St. Louis lands up for sale

The City of Waterloo is putting a lot of weight on dollar signs to decide the winning bidder for the former St. Louis school lands. The Record

Cambridge shirt company resurrected … sort of

Forty former employees of the John Forsyth Shirt Co. are back on the job in the same factory on Savage Drive, now operating under a different name. Cambridge Times

Flowers no more: Construction firm takes over iconic Gmelins building in Cambridge

Despite the fact of no longer existing, loyal Gmelins people continue to come into the iconic building asking for a dozen roses or a pot of petunias. The Record

Saying goodbye to Waterloo Lanes: city’s only bowling alley closing after 64 years

A Waterloo bowling alley where golfing legend Moe Norman once worked as a pin boy is turning off the lights after more than six decades. The Record

Waterloo council balks at spending for planning around LRT stations

Waterloo councillors aren’t sure they want to spend city cash to prepare for the Region of Waterloo’s $818-million rapid transit project. The Record

Weekly ‘Roundup’ of real estate news from Waterloo Region and Guelph

Posted by: Carmel Colby | Posted on: May 8th, 2013 | 0 Comments

Nine articles from the week of April 27th to May 3rd

Waterloo, developers working things out on Northdale appeals

The City of Waterloo is hoping it can settle appeals of its plan for the Northdale neighbourhood without a long battle at the Ontario Municipal Board. The Record

Controversial Guelph student housing proposal gets municipal board approval

A big hurdle seems to have been cleared over a controversial proposal to develop a student housing highrise across from the University of Guelph campus. Guelph Mercury

Property owners take city to municipal board over driveway

Controversy over a driveway has landed the City of Waterloo at the Ontario Municipal Board. The Record

Nothing plain about Jane’s Walk

Hot on the heels of Doors Open Guelph is another opportunity to see places and learn the stories of city you can’t find in a history book. Guelph Mercury

Taxpayers take hit for industrial and multi-residential properties

Homeowners will have to shoulder a bigger share of the property tax burden this year after city council decided Monday to shift some of the burden off of industrial and multi-residential properties. Guelph Tribune

City chiefs pitch joint economic development plan for all of region

In the next two months, city officials will consider an unprecedented move — working together on economic development and a strategy for industrial land. The Record

Value Village store proposed for St. Jacobs power centre

The power centre in St. Jacobs would see the addition of a Value Village location and a rearrangement of the Walmart store to allow for more grocery items under a plan introduced this week at Woolwich council. Observer Xtra

Office comforts without ties to the office

If you are running a small business, you may already be making regular trips to Staples for office supplies but thanks to a new project launched this week you can virtually operate your business from there as well. Guelph Mercury

Knape & Vogt to close Kitchener plant; 200 workers affected

U.S.-based manufacturer Knape & Vogt says its Kitchener plant will soon shut down, putting more than 200 people out of work. CTV News

 

Weekly ‘Roundup’ of real estate news from Waterloo Region and Guelph

Posted by: Carmel Colby | Posted on: May 1st, 2013 | 0 Comments

Five articles from the week of April 20th to the 26th

Waterloo Region housing starts dip in annual analysis
A new Conference Board of Canada report suggests housing growth rates in Waterloo Region are slower than those in most major Canadian cities. CTV News

BGI Retail opens “flagship” of Brant 403 Business Park
BGI Retail opened the Brant 403 Business Park in a big way when it welcomed visitors on Friday for tours of its new home. Brantford Expositor

Kitchener backs digital media centre
The intersection of Charles and Gaukel streets will soon be an important crossroads for art, design and technology following city councillors’ unanimous support Monday for a digital media centre. The Record

Stratford Accelerator Centre aims to foster ecosystem of tech startups
In the modern, brightly lit offices, meeting rooms and common spaces of the recently launched Stratford Accelerator Centre, fledgling technology-based businesses are learning to fly. Stratford Beacon Herald

Doors open, Guelph
Residents and visitors alike will have an opportunity to view several of Guelph’s finest buildings ­– many not normally open to the public – at the 12th annual Doors Open Guelph on Saturday April 27. Guelph Tribune

Weekly ‘Roundup’ of real estate news from Waterloo Region and Guelph

Posted by: Carmel Colby | Posted on: April 22nd, 2013 | 0 Comments

15 articles from the week of April 6th to the 19th

Breaking ground on new home

The Elmira business now known as Premier Equipment has seen many changes in its history. With a groundbreaking ceremony this week, the company’s embarked on yet another: setting the foundation for a new home in the community. Observer Xtra

Servicing only one of the limits on growth in Breslau

Facing a demand for growth in Breslau that far outstrips capacity, Woolwich eased the situation somewhat in a cross-border agreement with Kitchener approved last week. Observer Xtra

Citizens and politicians sound alarms over OMB ruling

Waterloo Regional councillors and residents say the Region’s future hangs in the balance following a recent ruling by the Ontario Municipal Board. CTV News Kitchener

Developer agrees to changes on Waterloo residential project on Churchill Street

 Krissons Holding Limited has made peace with the neighbourhood on a three-storey residential development project that will proceed after Waterloo city council approved a zoning change Monday. The Record

Bingemans president wants city to OK casino

 A leading entertainment entrepreneur wants city councillors to say “yes” to a casino here so everyone can find out exactly what impact a gambling operation would have on the community. The Record

Brantford marked its fourth-highest year in 2012 when it came to the value of building permits in the city. Brantford Expositor

Timeline urged for CIHC lease

City council will be asked to put a timeline on any lease negotiated with the Canadian Industrial Heritage Centre for the timekeeper’s building, Cockshutt Plow Co. office portico and surrounding lands. Brantford Expositor

Official plan review spurs many ideas

A smorgasbord of ideas came forward this week as the city kicked off a review of its official plan. Brantford Expositor

Ontario will apply to side with region in court case over urban sprawl

The Region of Waterloo now has a powerful ally in its bid to have the courts reverse a tribunal decision in January that opened much more land to suburban development than the region wanted. The Record

Historic train station store gets a new wing

One of the oldest buildings in Waterloo now has a new look. The Paul Puncher menswear shop, which sells high-end clothing, has added a new wing to the 103-year-old Waterloo Train Station where it is housed. CBC News

Members of the economic development advisory committee (EDAC) are about begin work on a new tool to assist people better understand the city’s planning process. Cambridge Times

New art and design hub proposed for downtown Kitchener 

City of Kitchener staff are recommending that council facilitate the creation of a new space in the downtown for artists, designers, and technology professionals to collaborate. CBC News

Cambridge’s dwindling housing starts are causing concern for the city’s economic development advisory committee. Cambridge Times

Land clearing begins for new Lowes in Cambridge

Ground has been broken on the new Lowes store being built at the corner of Pinebush Road and Conestoga Boulevard behind the new Canadian Tire store. Cambridge Times

Grocer eyes former Price Chopper store

A city council task force on Wednesday heard about some promising developments for two vacant properties on Colborne Street East. Brantford Expositor