Affordable Housing in Beechwood
This project supports the Region of Waterloo's strategic focus area(s):
Welcome to the 555 Beechwood EngageWR page. The Region is starting to plan for an innovative housing project in this community that will provide affordable homes to individuals and families. Visit this page for updates, information, and virtual opportunities to provide feedback on the project as it moves forward. You can also subscribe to this page and will then receive updates by email.
There is a growing need for affordable housing across our region. In Waterloo, more than 11,000 families with low incomes may find it difficult to obtain safe, adequate, and affordable housing. Of these families, two-thirds spend 30% or more of their household income on shelter, which means they have limited means to meet their other basic needs.
We have an opportunity to make a difference! 555 Beechwood is the first parcel of surplus land owned by the Region of Waterloo being planned for affordable housing. Creating affordable homes is a priority identified by the community and formalized in the 10 Year Housing and Homelessness Plan, the Region of Waterloo Strategic Plan, and the City of Waterloo Strategic Plan.
Our intention is that this project will fit within the current official plan and zoning permissions for 555 Beechwood. The property is designated as Mixed-use Medium Density Residential in the City’s Official Plan. The maximum that the current zoning allows for is a building height 20 metres or six storeys.
As of August 2020 , we plan to seek proposals from the private and non-profit housing sectors for a welcoming and innovative mixed-residential development. To help make this project a success, the Region and the builder will engage the Beechwood community in the design process. We will look to you for feedback on things like green space, green building features and design features and will keep you informed through key steps in the development.
Thanks for your interest, and we look forward to engaging with you in this exciting new development!
This project supports the Region of Waterloo's strategic focus area(s):
Welcome to the 555 Beechwood EngageWR page. The Region is starting to plan for an innovative housing project in this community that will provide affordable homes to individuals and families. Visit this page for updates, information, and virtual opportunities to provide feedback on the project as it moves forward. You can also subscribe to this page and will then receive updates by email.
There is a growing need for affordable housing across our region. In Waterloo, more than 11,000 families with low incomes may find it difficult to obtain safe, adequate, and affordable housing. Of these families, two-thirds spend 30% or more of their household income on shelter, which means they have limited means to meet their other basic needs.
We have an opportunity to make a difference! 555 Beechwood is the first parcel of surplus land owned by the Region of Waterloo being planned for affordable housing. Creating affordable homes is a priority identified by the community and formalized in the 10 Year Housing and Homelessness Plan, the Region of Waterloo Strategic Plan, and the City of Waterloo Strategic Plan.
Our intention is that this project will fit within the current official plan and zoning permissions for 555 Beechwood. The property is designated as Mixed-use Medium Density Residential in the City’s Official Plan. The maximum that the current zoning allows for is a building height 20 metres or six storeys.
As of August 2020 , we plan to seek proposals from the private and non-profit housing sectors for a welcoming and innovative mixed-residential development. To help make this project a success, the Region and the builder will engage the Beechwood community in the design process. We will look to you for feedback on things like green space, green building features and design features and will keep you informed through key steps in the development.
Thanks for your interest, and we look forward to engaging with you in this exciting new development!
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Response to Community Engagement feedback
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkLate last summer the developer for the 555 Beechwood site, Southside Group, held two virtual community engagement sessions. Following these, a survey was posted on Engage to allow for more feedback on the design of the site. During these winter months Southside Group has been working with their architectural and engineering consultants on a site plan application to have the plan for 555 Beechwood approved by City of Waterloo staff. Southside Group and their consultants have considered all of the comments and survey responses received and have provided their responses. If you have any questions – please feel free to contact us through the Beechwood phone line (519-575-4400 x3442) or the Beechwood email (Beechwood@regionofwaterloo.ca). We will pass on your questions to Southside. Project completion is now anticipated for early 2024.
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Survey Still Open
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkThe survey for providing input into the design of 555 Beechwood Drive will remain open until this Friday, September 17. You still have time to submit any last minute feedback you may have.
The notes from the Beechwood Community Outreach Meetings held in August have been posted in the Documents to Download section of the webpage.
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Community Outreach Meeting Presentation Video and Survey
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkThe developer team for 555 Beechwood Drive held two community outreach meetings on August 19th and received helpful feedback on their proposed design.
To hear the information shared at the meeting, you can watch the video of their presentation.
There's still time to provide your feedback on the design. To provide your input, you can complete the survey.
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Site work and parking request meeting
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkMTE consultants have been and will continue to be on site to do some geotechnical investigations to assess the impact that the soil and rocks below the surface might have on a construction project. This is required for any development.
On June 28th the City of Waterloo Council will consider a request from the Region of Waterloo to reduce parking requirements for the affordable units at 555 Beechwood. The Agenda is on the City of Waterloo’s webpage.
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Upcoming Neighbourhood Meetings
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkThe development of 555 Beechwood continues and we would like to invite you to hear about the work that has taken place so far to design these new homes in your community. We are hosting two virtual neighbourhood meetings where Nicholson Sheffield (the architect) and Southside Construction Ltd. (the developer) will showcase their draft designs for the property. During these meetings, there will be an opportunity for you to provide feedback on building design and site features.
The meetings will be held on the following date and times:
Thursday, August 19, 2:30pm (afternoon session)
Thursday, August 19, 6:00pm (evening session)
If you would like to attend one of the virtual neighborhood meetings, please email: info@nicholsonsheffield.ca
In your email include include the following:
- your name
- your postal code
- your email address
- the session you wish to attend - afternoon or evening
After receiving your email, Nicholson Sheffield will send you a Zoom link to the meeting.
We are arranging to record the meeting and will post that on Engage for those who may not be able to attend the virtual meetings. We are also creating a survey to allow those who cannot attend the meeting to provide their feedback. The link to the survey will be sent out through Engage in August.
If you have questions about the meeting, do not have a computer, or need other accommodation to attend the meeting(s) please connect through the following email or phone number:
Beechwood@regionofwaterloo.ca
519-575-4400 x3442
Leave a message and someone will call you back.
We look forward to hearing your feedback and questions!
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A Clean Site and a Developer
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link- The Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks has accepted the Record of Site Condition (RSC) for the 555 Beechwood Site. No environmental contaminants exist that would prevent the site from being used for homes. If you are interested in looking at the specifics of the RSC, please send an email to the Beechwood address (Beechwood@regionofwaterloo.ca) and we will forward a link.
- The Request for Proposal evaluation team is ready to recommend a developer. The report to recommend the developer will go to Regional Council on March 24, 2021. The report will be public on the Council Agenda one week before the meeting at the following link:https://calendar.regionofwaterloo.ca/council
- After the developer is approved, they will begin to gather feedback from the community on the specific site design options. Stay tuned to this site for more details.
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Site design options are being created
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkThe Region of Waterloo project team has an affordable housing developer they are planning to recommend for 555 Beechwood Drive. However, proposed site designs are being revised so that they more fully incorporate input previously provided by the Beechwood community. This is expected to take a few weeks to complete. The report with the recommended developer will go to Committee of the Whole and Regional Council for final approval in early 2021. After this time, the community will have an opportunity for feedback on the specific site design.
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Proposals are being reviewed
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkThe Region of Waterloo received three proposals for developing affordable housing at 555 Beechwood Drive. They are currently being evaluated. More time is required to review the proposals. The report with the recommended developer will go to Committee of the Whole December 8th and Regional Council December 16th for final approval. After that time, design options from the approved developer will be shared on this page to obtain feedback from the community.
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Deadline for Proposals has been extended
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkBased on requests from many of the teams submitting proposals, the deadline for submissions has been extended until October 14th. A team of staff from relevant departments, including housing and finance, will then evaluate the proposals according to the design guidelines approved by Council. The guidelines were informed by community input and include considerations around where the building(s) will be located, how the building will be oriented, how it will blend with the existing buildings, and how landscaping and amenity areas will be included.
Because the deadline has been extended, the dates for Committee and Council approval have changed. The recommended proposal will go to Committee of the Whole on November 17th and Regional Council on November 25th for final approval.
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Environmental Assessment Timeline
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkAs part of the environmental assessment, all soil and water samples have been collected from the site and the results of their analysis will be sent to the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks for review this week. The review will take four to six weeks. Once it is complete, and if no additional samples are needed, the Ministry will deem the property safe for housing development and a notice of this will be made public. The blue barrels on the site are the storage containers for the samples. They will be removed from the site as soon as the Ministry finishes its review.
Timeline
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Initial communication with community June 17, 2020
Affordable Housing in Beechwood has finished this stage -
Town Hall Meetings June 25 and 26, 2020
Affordable Housing in Beechwood has finished this stage -
Report to Regional Council July 15, 2020
Affordable Housing in Beechwood has finished this stage -
Design Guidelines and Communication Strategy August 11 and 20, 2020
Affordable Housing in Beechwood has finished this stage -
Release of Request for Proposals August 24, 2020
Affordable Housing in Beechwood has finished this stage -
Request for Proposals closes October 14, 2020
Affordable Housing in Beechwood has finished this stage -
Developer team recommended to Regional Council for final approval on March 24, 2021
Affordable Housing in Beechwood has finished this stage -
City of Waterloo Council Meeting - June 28, 2021
Affordable Housing in Beechwood has finished this stageCity of Waterloo Council will consider a request from the Region of Waterloo to negotiate an agreement regarding reduced parking requirements for 555 Beechwood.
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Neighbourhood Meetings on August 19th
Affordable Housing in Beechwood has finished this stageAttend the virtual sessions, listen to the recording of the sessions, or participate in a survey to give your feedback on building design and site features
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Survey closes Monday October 18th
Affordable Housing in Beechwood is currently at this stage
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FAQs
- 1. I received a flyer about this from a neighbour and I live close to the proposed development. Why were the flyers not more widely distributed?
- 2. The flyer seems to indicate that this housing is coming and so we have no say in the development process. How can the plan have been established without having engaged the community?
- 3. When and how was the Residential Mixed-Use Zone 20 (RMU20) applied to this property?
- 4. We were told that this land would never be developed. How can this be happening?
- 5. I believe that this affordable housing development will negatively affect my property values and the aesthetic of the neighbourhood. Is this correct?
- 6. Will this community become less safe?
- 7. Are there rules limiting the amount of affordable housing in a community?
- 8. The traffic on Beechwood Dr. is already a problem – people drive too fast, don’t stop, and use the road as a thoroughfare. I am worried this development will make it worse.
- 9. There is not enough greenspace in our neighbourhood and building on this piece of land will make it worse. Why are you taking away our greenspace?
- 10. Why is this development not along the LRT? Inclusionary zoning mandates affordable housing only around transit stations. This is not around a major transit station.
- 11. What other sites were considered and how was the selection made?
- 12. Who will own the land and manage the property?
- 13. How do I get on the list to be able to live in this housing? I have been on the waiting list for 5 years. I am a senior with mobility issues.
- 14. Why is there a construction trailer on site?
- 15. How much land does the Region have that could be used for projects like this? And is there other land in this area that could be used in this way?
- 16. How does this project contribute to our target to reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions if we are increasing vehicle exhaust and removing trees?
- 17. This project (as well as the one at 508 Beechwood) will bring many more people into the neighbourhood. Do we have the infrastructure needed to support this density?
Documents for download
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Request for Proposals (1.87 MB) (pdf)
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Regional Council report with Design Guidelines.pdf (464 KB) (pdf)
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Summary_of_Design_Suggestions_-_555_Beechwood.pdf (425 KB) (pdf)
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Town Hall Presentation June 25 and 26.pdf (416 KB) (pdf)
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Region of Waterloo 10 year Housing and Homelessness Plan
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City of Waterloo Strategic Plan
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Beechwood flyer.pdf (517 KB) (pdf)
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P2020-14_Region_of_Waterloo_Surplus_Land_For_Affordable_Housing.DOCX (4.03 MB) (DOCX)
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Notes_from_Beechwood_Community_Outreach_meetings_-_April_29th.pdf (143 KB) (pdf)
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Response to Community Engagement and Survey Comments.pdf (874 KB) (pdf)
Who's Listening
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Phone 519-575-4400 x3442 Email Beechwood@regionofwaterloo.ca -
Phone 519-575-4400 x3442 Email Beechwood@regionofwaterloo.ca -
Phone 519-575-4400 x3442 Email Beechwood@regionofwaterloo.ca