Andrin's Proposal

* The information contained on this page was created by Andrin Limited and its team, as conceptual illustrations of their proposal.

• Andrin’s proposal, June 2008
• Andrin’s Proposal and Vision for Kitchener’s Downtown Centre Block
• Andrin’s Development Team
• Andrin’s Previous Experience
• How does Andrin’s proposal meet the Community’s Vision For Centre Block?
• What was Andrin’s response to the public’s feedback?
• What is Andrin’s Proposal for the Two Existing Buildings on the Property?
• How Does Andrin’s Proposal Contribute the City’s Green Agenda?
• Andrin’s Proposal for Parking

Andrin’s Proposal and Vision for Kitchener’s Downtown Centre Block

Andrin envisions a dynamic, inspiring, sustainable and engaging redevelopment
concept for the Centre Block, consisting of a mixed-use complex, combining:

• A total of up to 401 residential units, offering a range of residential suite types, including lofts, affordable condominiums, larger family oriented dwellings, live/work units and penthouses.
• Vibrant new retail spaces along King Street.
• A multi-level underground parking structure for up to 714 spaces, with public parking and parking for the retail users at the first level and secure residential parking on the lower level(s).
• A boutique hotel and spa in the restored and renovated heritage structures at the corner of Duke and Young Streets.
• A public/private courtyard with linkages from Duke Street, Young Street and the underground public parking structure. A linkage from King Street to the courtyard will be provided through a public galleria.
• A design that will strive for architectural excellence and be:
• Compatible with the existing physical, heritage and social context of the site, including restoration and redevelopment of the existing heritage structures into a boutique hotel and spa;
• Responsive to angular planes to minimize shadow impacts;
• Address positively the existing City Hall to the west;
• Enhance the main street qualities of the three street frontages;
• Provide opportunities for outdoor animated uses such as cafés on King Street West; and
• Overall safety and security within the site will be an important element of design considerations.

Andrin’s Development Team

For the redevelopment of the Centre Block, Andrin has assembled a team of talented and experienced professionals to work with the City of Kitchener on this collaborative venture. These include; Kimshaw Holdings (A partner in Kaufman Lofts), Quadrangle Architects (The architect for Kaufman Lofts), GSP Planning Group of Kitchener, PMA Sales and Marketing (who sold-out both Kaufman and Bauer Lofts simultaneously). As a developer, Andrin has worked previously with all of the above and we pride ourselves on the effective teamwork of our approach.

Andrin’s Previous Experience

Andrin has extensive experience in downtown redevelopment projects, including: Wellington Terrace in downtown Burlington; Carter Square in Hamilton, Union Village in old downtown Brampton; Neeve Street Housing Development on the banks of the Speed River in downtown Guelph; South Side on Lamar in Dallas, Texas and Kitchener’s Kaufman Lofts. The Kaufman Lofts alone have won several awards including: the Canadian Urban Institute’s prestigious “Brownie” award for “Best Project” (2005) and the Waterloo Regional Home Builders’ Association awards for “Best Re-urbanization Project” and “Project of the Year” (2006).

How does Andrin’s proposal meet the Community’s Vision For Centre Block?

Andrin’s redevelopment of Centre Block will create a main street destination that will create a vibrant people place for all of Kitchener to experience. The landscape courtyard, with pedestrian linkages, will offer a safe and enjoyable environment for a mid-day break, an evening stroll or early morning exercise. Industrial artifacts recalling Kitchener’s past will be placed in the courtyard and gallery to contribute a public art element to the project. A café will spill out onto the new tree-lined promenade on this stretch of King Street, and also into the adjacent sky-lit gallery and will make the perfect meeting place for friends and business colleagues.

What was Andrin’s response to the public feedback?

During the summer of 2007, an extensive public consultation process was conducted on Andrin’s redevelopment proposal for the Centre Block. The results of the consultations, which included about 1,000 citizens, were released in August 2007.

In total, the city received 247 written formal responses as part of the consultations. Additionally, city staff estimated that approximately 700 poeople provided informal verbal feedback at public meetings and during the tour of the conceptual model. Overall, the feedback provided by citizens was overwhelmingly positive.

The full results of the public consultations were shared with Andrin who took the comments into consideration and later prepared a formal response to this information.

• Andrin’s response

What is Andrin’s Proposal for the Two Existing Buildings on the Property?

Andrin proposes to renovate the existing Mayfair Hotel and adjacent building to create an upscale boutique hotel and spa. Andrin has an excellent working relationship with Heritage Kitchener from their experience at Kaufman Lofts and will work closely with the committee to ensure the buildings are revitalized in a manner consistent with heritage by-laws and policies.

How Does Andrin’s Proposal Contribute the City’s Green Agenda?

The buildings will be designed to incorporate the highest levels of environmental measures and sustainable development features that are feasible, and be eligible for LEED certification. Some of these features will include a green roof, upgraded building envelopes, enhanced building systems, the use of local building materials and trades, the remediation of the existing site and maximizing the use of local transit systems.

Andrin’s Proposal for Parking

Three levels of parking are incorporated under the landscaped courtyard at the centre of the site. The uppermost level will be dedicated to public parking, with the second and third levels designated for the condominium residents and visitors. Pedestrian access to the public parking level is provided from Young Street, King Street and Duke Street. Vehicles using the public parking area will enter from Duke Street while residents will have a separate entrance off Young Street.

The City will fund the cost of up to 250 new public parking spaces to be located in the underground garage at a cost of $35,000 each – to a maximum cost of $8.75 million. The funding for the parking will come from a combination of land sales ($3.1 million) and cash ($5.5 million) which has always been allocated, in the Economic Development Investment Fund, for parking.