The big reveal

Scenario icons

Take a look at the answers you recorded

Which shape did you choose most often for yourself? What about for your Avatar? The shapes correspond to one of the approaches to growth we developed.

Click on the shapes below to learn more.

⏺️ Circle

Graphic version of New Urban Centres information

New Urban Centres

What if you could spend time on a new main street in Stanley Park? And another in Country Hills? And one in Forest Heights? This approach brings new urban centres to different areas of the city. It is similar to the ‘Nodes and Corridors’ approach but would concentrate more growth within a smaller number of locations.

It means adding more housing and jobs around important existing amenities, so that more people have more equitable access to parks, libraries and community centres. It would focus investment in these areas, benefiting everyone who uses them.


This approach focuses on growth within new urban centres. The following areas were chosen based partially on the predominance of large surface parking lots and underutilized sites that can be redeveloped, as well as their proximity to important community features such as parks, trails, frequent transit (e.g., iXpress routes), schools, community centers and libraries.

  • Ottawa Street North and River Road East
  • Strasburg Road and Block Line Road
  • Highland Road West and Fischer-Hallman Road

This approach also examines growth in transit-supportive neighborhoods generally within Kitchener’s central neighbourhoods north and west of the expressway, and in growing main streets already seeing new mixed-use development, such as near Weber St. E. and Franklin St. N.


  • More change in a small number of neighbourhoods
  • A smaller number of large, more active community and public spaces
  • Higher frequency, better service of public transit and active transportation infrastructure serving a smaller geographic area
  • More neighbourhood retail in specific locations

⏹️ Square

Graphic version of Nodes and Corridors information

Nodes and Corridors

What if your local retail strip plaza could be transformed into a neighbourhood hub? This approach focuses new homes, businesses and community amenities along major bus routes like Ottawa Street, Fischer-Hallman Rd. and Homer Watson Blvd. (corridor). Key intersections are also focuses for growth (nodes). Commercial plazas in these nodes and corridors will evolve over time to provide housing opportunities in addition to remaining a central location for shopping and community gathering.

This would mean new buildings with more housing and jobs, new restaurants and shops, and more of the things you need and want, closer to where you live. Adding more homes is critical, because without it, shops, services and better transit just aren’t viable. It also means new public spaces for you to spend your time outside of your home or job, connect with your neighbours, and attend local events and celebrations. And better access to frequent and reliable public transit that connects you to other neighbourhood hubs, downtown Kitchener, and beyond, alongside a network of bike routes and trails, for all ages and abilities.


  • Emphasizes growth generally within the City’s existing Mixed-Use Nodes & Corridors structure from the 2014 Official Plan.
  • Updates development permissions within these Nodes & Corridors to promote more housing supply and choice, support a greater variety of uses, and better match what is being built today.
  • Low-density commercial properties evolve over time into higher-density neighbourhood focal points.


  • Some change in several neighbourhoods
  • A larger number of small, less active community and public spaces
  • Moderate public transit and active transportatoin options serving several neighbourhoods
  • More neighbourhood retail a key intersections and along corridors

🔼 Triangle

Graphic version of Evolving Neighbourhoods information

Evolving Neighbourhoods

What if a diversity of homes, shops and services were found more evenly throughout Kitchener’s neighbourhoods? This approach adds different types of homes, as well as jobs, shops and services to all areas of Kitchener, rather than focusing growth in specific Centres or Nodes.

It means that all of Kitchener’s neighbourhoods will have more housing options that are sutiable for all stages of life. This will provide future generations with more equitable access to neighbourhoods across Kitchener where they can enjoy parks, schools, and community resources. Inviting more residents into neighourhoods will also help support the gradual addition of community services, shops and business within these areas which will benefit all.


This approach enables more homes and small scale businesses on properties within neighbourhoods where it can fit comfortably from a built-form perspective and without the need to assemble too many lots to make a new buildings happen.

Examples include:

  • Large parking lots that can offer opportunities to more business and homes, including affordable or supportive housing.
  • Commercial plazas, (but at a smaller scale than under approach #1 -Supporting Transit) .
  • Development opportunities in wider and/or deeper residential lots.


  • Less change, but spread across all neighbourhoods
  • Community and public spaces largely depend on evolution of sites with existing community infrastructure (e.g. places of worship)
  • Lower public transit and active transportation service levels spread across all neighbourhoods
  • Some change to neighbourhood retail across all neighbourhoods

Thanks for exploring approaches to growth with us!

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