Tiny apartments on King Street East designed for people who walk, cycle and ride transit
A new building with retail, tiny apartments, no parking and indoor bicycle storage is slated for a long-empty lot at 293 King St. E.
With walking, cycling and transit options nearby, each unit will have secure, indoor bicycle storage instead of a parking space. The city’s committee of adjustment, which reviews requests for minor changes in development rules, quickly approved the plans Tuesday morning with no discussion.
“I am just very glad to see something happening there,” said Ward 9 Coun. Debbie Chapman, who represents the area.
Fire destroyed the building that used to occupy the lot about 20 years ago, and the litter-strewn property has been hidden by a large wooden fence covered in a mural.
The property is next to a take-out pizza joint and across the street from the Kitchener Market. It is one block from the nearest LRT station at Charles and Cedar streets.
The plans call for three floors. The main floor will be retail, the second and third floors will each have four small apartments with 250 to 300 square feet each. The small size of the units will make them more affordable.
“It will fill a gap that needs to be filled,” said Chapman. “It is a positive thing, especially in the east end.”
The new building is not an affordable housing development, though. The units are too small to qualify for affordable housing subsidies, which only apply to rentals with more than 550 square feet.
The Architect, who designed the building for the developer ELEV8 Properties, said the developer will apply for a building permit as soon as the 20-day appeal period is over and construction could begin this December.
“It is really meant for people who are living downtown, shopping at the market, using their bikes, using the LRT — it is really intended for that.”
The proposal has the clear support of city planning staff.
“The redevelopment of the site is highly encouraged, and the development will fit into the existing neighbourhood,” said city planner Tim Seyler in a report to the committee.
Development plans for this part of the city encourage walking, cycling and transit instead of driving.
Several multi-unit developments are under construction nearby as the building boom in the city core slowly moves to include long-neglected properties along King Street East between the farmers’ market and Highway 8.
But with its tiny rentals, the building planned for 293 King St. E. is vastly different from the two multi-residential developments underway nearby, which are marketed to young professionals, downsizing boomers and working couples.
Vive Developments is building a seven-storey multi-residential building with 73 units at 388 King St. E., and a little further east Drewlo Holdings of London, Ont., is building 423 rental units on the block bordered by King, Madison, Charles and Cameron streets.
Source: The Record – Read the Story