Charles Street Terminal Visioning

The Region of Waterloo and City of Kitchener are working towards a vision for a mixed-use development on the former Charles Street Terminal site, in the heart of downtown Kitchener. This vision will be informed by environmental and technical findings, financial modeling and community engagement.

Located at 15 Charles Street West, the property occupies a key location in downtown Kitchener. With a footprint of 10,470 square meters (1.047 hectare / 2.59 acres in size), the size and location of the property make the future use of this site an important discussion point for the community.

Based on the strategic direction of the Region of Waterloo and the City of Kitchener, and determined by the community, the site's four guiding priorities include:

Technical studies to date include completion of a property boundary survey to understand current physical infrastructure on the site, as well as Environmental and geotechnical work to understand the make-up of the soil, and the presence of any contaminants in the ground or groundwater as a result of previous and/or surrounding uses.

Technical Considerations

MTE Consultants Inc. were engaged to complete both Environmental and Geotechnical analysis of the site in the summer of 2022. The work program commenced on site in September 2022, with final on site sampling and analysis completed in November 2022. Draft reports issued have identified environmental concerns in both soil and groundwater at the site. These results are not considered dissimilar to other urban infill sites with former industrial uses either on, or in proximity, but do verify the complexity of the redevelopment program, and the need for a Remediation Action Plan. A Modified Generic Risk Assessment (MGRA) was submitted to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) in spring 2024. The MECP will review the MGRA submission and provide feedback regarding analysis of the on-site environmental conditions and future mitigation measures to be incorporated in the redevelopment of the site.

Environmental & Geotechnical Findings to date include:

Geotechnical Considerations

The MTE report provided recommendations related to site preparation, excavations, dewatering, foundation design, site servicing, and pavement structure. These recommendations will inform future design analysis. The final report will be provided through the formal RFP process, to inform submissions.

Technical Study Work Plan

Technical design and landscape studies, along with financial modelling, disposition strategy, and market analysis will commence in the spring to help guide the path toward re-development. This work will occur concurrent to the ongoing multi-stakeholder and community engagement work over the course of the spring and summer. Regional staff will bring back recommendations to Council at key milestones including the approach to environmental remediation, and disposition to the market.

Visioning the future use of Charles Street Terminal

Community engagement beginning in 2021, including community-inspired feedback led by Land Back Camp, included aligned support for the project’s guiding priorities, emphasized community needs and ambitions across downtown Kitchener, and provided site-specific features to be reflected in preliminary design concepts.

Engagement phases to date include:

Phase 1: Project Priorities - Public Engagement

Phase 2: Identifying Needs - Community Engagement

Phase 3: Identifying Site-Specific Features - Equity-focused Engagement, Community and Interest Holder Consultation

Engagement activities to date include:

Phase 4 - Designing the Vision

Phase 4 focuses on creating preliminary design concepts for the Terminal Lands, guided by community input, that reveals the potential for a sustainable, human-scale redevelopment vision around Charles Street and downtown Kitchener.

The established preliminary design concepts will guide future decision-making and redevelopment plans in early 2025.

Design Firm

Brook McIlroy (BMc), an award-winning and interdisciplinary design firm, is leading Phase 4 of the Charles Street Terminal Visioning Project. For more information on Brook McIlroy, please visit their website https://brookmcilroy.com/

Leveraging the diverse building fabric surrounding Charles Street and downtown Kitchener, the project will ensure that future buildings and open spaces promote a memorable, people-focused, sustainable, and human scale community environment. The Charles Street Terminal Lands offers an extraordinary contemporary growth opportunity, that will have a positive regenerative effect on the surrounding mixed-use neighbourhood within downtown Kitchener.

Design Process

BMc has thoroughly reviewed existing policies, frameworks and community feedback from earlier engagement phases, ensuring the designs are informed by the extensive efforts from community and City and Regional staff. The developed design concepts will ensure to reflect community input and the local context. In addition, BMc will conduct engagement for Phase 4 of the project, which will continue to inform the visioning for the project.

Incorporating Indigenous Cultural Knowledge and Placekeeping

A key part of this project is the involvement of Brook McIlroy’s Indigenous Design Studio. BMc and its Indigenous Design Studio is committed to embedding Indigenous feedback, honoring the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action. This work includes:

Community Engagement and Public Feedback – Upcoming Activities

The public will have several opportunities to provide comments and feedback on the draft design concepts for the Terminal Lands in the upcoming months. Phase 4 will include the following opportunities for public feedback:

More information on dates for these sessions will be provided as they become available.