Provide feedback on design concepts for the Charles Street Terminal Site

The Region of Waterloo in collaboration with the City of Kitchener, are working with Brook McIlroy consultants to explore redevelopment opportunities for the Charles Street Terminal (CST) lands in downtown Kitchener. We’re in Phase 4 of the project, focusing on preliminary design concepts that incorporate important technical considerations, city policies and guidelines, financial analysis and community input.

These design concepts showcase the potential for a vibrant and sustainable site that strives to balance the project's financial viability with community’s needs and aspirations. It is important to note that these designs are not final; they serve as aspirational ideas to guide redevelopment planning in 2025.

Here’s what you need to know before sharing your feedback:
This redevelopment aims to transform the Charles Street Terminal area into a vibrant, mixed-use space that serves community needs, with considerations for green space, connectivity, and sustainable design. Feedback from the community has shaped guiding principles that inform these concepts. For all project information visit https://www.engagewr.ca/charles-street-terminal-redevelopment where you can view a a full preliminary research report created Brook McIlroy.

Community engagement timeline:

Phase 1: Broad Community Survey on Values (establishing the four guiding priorities to guide redevelopment planning. These include: 1. Affordable housing options, 2. Climate action, 3. Equity, diversity and inclusion and 4. A thriving economy)

Phase 2: Identifying Community Need and Aspirations in Downtown Kitchener

Phase 3: Interest Holder Visioning Labs, Expansion of the Working Group and Indigenous Community Engagement

Phase 4 (current): Developing and refining design concepts through site analysis, financial modelling and engagement activities.

What’s included in the design concepts?
The designs consider key elements such as:

Built form and height (striking a balance between density, livability, and enhancing the downtown neighborhood)
Green spaces and sustainability (incorporating plants and eco-friendly elements to create a liveable space, with less impact on the environment).
Circulation and connections (how pedestrians will access the site, making it welcoming and easy to get around) Include reference to the broader connections to existing networks like bike lanes, LRT.
Mixed uses and programming (a site that includes different kinds of uses, identified through community engagement, such as housing, community and public space and retail space).

In addition to the above strategies, Brook McIlroy continues to further develop development phasing and site grading strategies to ensure the potential design concept strongly considers grading challenges on the site and future phasing for the potential development.

Why your feedback matters:
This is an opportunity to create an inspiring and practical vision for the Charles Street Terminal lands to ensure preliminary design concepts align with community priorities. Your input will help refine these design concepts as we move toward redevelopment planning in 2025.

For more details on earlier project phases and reports, visit the project page at www.engagewr.ca/charles-street-terminal-redevelopment.

Thank you for helping us shape the future of this important downtown space!

The graphic below brings to life exciting possibilities for the Charles Street Terminal site, showcasing how community-identified priorities could shape the future redevelopment. As you explore the survey, you'll discover more details about the principles and strategies behind this vision.

What inspires you most about this design concept? What ideas or elements (such as height, design, green spaces, connections and a mix of uses) do you feel should be added or refined?

The five draft design principles build on community's guiding priorities from earlier phases of the Charles Street Terminal Visioning Project, shaping the foundation for the concepts shared in this survey. These principles emphasize sustainability, equity, diversity, inclusion, and the creation of flexible, community spaces.

Do these principles resonate with the community aspirations shared so far, and/or your own ideas for the site? What do you feel works well, and where could they be strengthened or expanded?

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The design strategies for the Charles Street Terminal site explore key opportunities and challenges, including site uses, accessibility, circulation for pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles, landscaping, height, and density. Central to these strategies is the concept of mixed-use spaces, which aims to create a site that offers a mix of features like housing, retail and community space.

What are your thoughts on the design strategy below, which illustrates potential site uses as identified by the community throughout this project? What stands out to you, what feels missing, and what aspects do you think work particularly well?

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The site is located in the heart of downtown Kitchener. The design strategy below highlights potential pedestrian and cyclist access points and connections along the four street frontages—Charles Street, Gaukel Street, Ontario Street, and Joseph Street. It envisions creating a well-connected, pedestrian-friendly urban block that integrates seamlessly with the surrounding streetscape and nearby destinations like Victoria Park.

What are your thoughts on these proposed access points and connections? Do they effectively enhance connectivity to the surrounding areas in this vibrant downtown location? What might be missing or need improvement?

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The design strategy below envisions a green network, which refers to a system of interconnected green spaces, pathways, and outdoor areas that promote accessibility, sustainability, and well-being. This network creates a balanced, human-scaled environment where people can easily access and enjoy nature, improving the overall livability of the city block.

What are your thoughts on this approach to green connections and open spaces? What elements stand out to you, and what might be missing to enhance the usability and enjoyment of these spaces?

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The graphic below shows how all the design strategies come together to create a holistic vision for the site, including access points, building design, layout, and open spaces. This vision aims to create a vibrant, human-scale site with a strong focus on sustainability and green spaces.

What are your thoughts on this overall site plan? What aspects are working well, and what might be missing? Are there any other important considerations that should be explored further?

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Here are two design concept options that present a different approach to building form and height.

Why does density and the number of units matter?
The density of a development (i.e., the number of units or buildings) plays a key role in balancing the financial feasibility of the project with community needs and aspirations. Higher density can help make the project more economically viable by ensuring there is enough demand for housing, businesses, and services to support the investment in infrastructure and development. At the same time, it’s important to ensure that this density doesn’t compromise the quality of life in the neighborhood, by balancing the number of units with adequate green spaces, accessibility, and amenities for residents and the surrounding community.

Each option presents a slightly different approach to building form and height. Of the two options which do you prefer (Option 1- top, Option 2- bottom)?

Option 1 - Lower Density

1.Mid-rise and tall building form

2.GFA: 67,166sqm - 722,969 sqft

3.Curved/irregular shaped podiums

4.Greater height transition to Victoria/Willow River Park

5.Potential housing unit count of 800-1000

6.Less opportunities for community amenities/ affordable housing

Option 2- Higher Density

1.Mid-rise and tall building form

2.GFA: 85,063sqm - 915,611 sqft

3.More regular shaped podiums

4.Slightly lesser height transition to Victoria/Willow River Park

5.Potential housing unit count of 1200-1400.

6.Increased opportunities for community amenities/ affordable housing

* required

Select option

Please indicate which design option you prefer (Option 1 or Option 2) and share your thoughts. Consider aspects such as height, built form, green space, connections, and overall site functionality. What do you like or dislike about your chosen option? What elements do you feel are missing, and/or what improvements would you suggest?

Option 1

Mid-rise and tall building form

GFA: 67,166sqm - 722,969 sqft

Approx. 800-1000 units

Option 2

Mid-rise and tall building form

GFA: 85,063sqm - 915,611 sqft

Approx. 1200-1400 units

* required