Region of Waterloo
COMMUNITY BUILDING STRATEGY An Investment Plan for Today and Tomorrow
CBS The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) campus in Waterloo
Welcome to our Waterloo Region! Big Shifts are happening now in the new Waterloo Region!
ION (rapid transit) under construction More compact growth Greater focus on urban design excellence Higher densities of development More transit ridership More natural area and groundwater protection
Farmland protected Strategic road investment Affordable housing a priority Greater focus on arts and culture More co-ordinated help for people in need More focus on being a globally competitive country
the Investment
Plan Waterloo Region has a well-defined vision for its future, a vision that was forged almost 40 years ago. Today, that vision is becoming a reality.
In 1975, the Region of Waterloo completed its first official plan, a legal document to guide future growth in our community. The Plan was very forward thinking for its time, considering our future in ways that have become standards for sustainable living today. In addition to protecting our urban and rural communities, farmland and environmental areas, the vision included a central transportation spine and a greater focus on transit.
Today Today, Waterloo Region is already the fourth largest community in Ontario and the tenth largest in Canada. What is new, however, is the construction of ION, our rapid transit system. The corner of Cedar and Eby Streets in Kitchener
Set to open in 2017, ION will join Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo. Regional Council has entered into a formal agreement with GrandLinq to build the ION system over the next four years. With a total budget of $818 million, ION represents the biggest capital investment in the history of the Region of Waterloo.
Longer-term
Today Moving people with ION, however, is only part of the story. Building a new rapid transit system creates major opportunities for development and redevelopment in station areas and elsewhere along the transit corridor. In short, the ION investment opens the door to further
The Region of Waterloo Transit Hub site at King and Victoria Streets in Kitchener
shaping the community in new and exciting ways.
That’s where the Community Building Strategy comes in.
Concept only
Potentially tomorrow
So what is the
Community Building Strategy?
The Region of Waterloo, together with the Cities of Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo, spent three years developing one of the most important investment plans in their history: the Community Building Strategy. The success of this Strategy was the incredible community and expert input. The Community Building Strategy (or CBS) identifies opportunities for new development, and for associated public and private investment in the ION rapid transit corridor. It also identifies how we need to protect and promote some of our most valuable community assets, like stable neighbourhoods, heritage buildings and world-class institutions.
The CBS is an investment plan that shows not only what is, but what could be, and has already received national awards from the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects, and the Canadian Institute of Planners.
A Market-Based Strategy
define and identify market areas and investment
The CBS is also founded on real economic
potential. It’s important information for investors,
considerations. Our consultants, led by nationally-
and we recognize the need to understand market
renowned Urban Strategies, also engaged the
dynamics in shaping our community.
experts from Colliers International to help both
Investment is not just about dollars and cents. It’s about our community assets too. The CBS is truly an investment strategy, but not just in the traditional accounting sense. Our community investments have included the protection of heritage neighbourhoods, vibrant downtowns, cultural events and attractions, cycling routes and diverse choices for business location. These are all assets we need to protect. At the same time, we need to attract new investment that will build on these great community assets.
The CBS is a Rural Strategy too!
At first glance, you may not see the CBS as a rural strategy, but it is. With over 220,000 acres of prime farmland and over 35,000 acres of sensitive environmental areas, the CBS directs growth away from these features.
Given our reliance on groundwater to supply most of our local needs and a strong rural economy, it only makes sense that we continue to plan our growth by protecting these assets too.
We’re not just planning for change. It’s already happening. In recent years, over 50 per cent of new residential development has been constructed within already built areas of Waterloo Region. From 2011 to 2013, over $1 billion in residential units and non-residential square footage was constructed along the Central Transit Corridor where the ION route is located. What’s more, the density of development is much more than it was a decade ago. With new developments often offering more choices. In many cases, this has meant a much better mix of land uses and support systems for walking, biking, taking transit and driving. Waterloo Region is also home to Community Car Share, one of the largest car co-operatives in Ontario.
What are the economic prospects for tomorrow? A 40-year vision must be grown. Today, the realization of our vision is being viewed by many as a sign of continued prosperity. The Provincial Government, for example, recognizes Waterloo Region as one of Ontario’s most significant economies. The Province has also committed to increase daily GO train service to and from Toronto, recognizing very important economic relationships. The Conference Board of Canada continues to forecast positive economic prospects for our community, consistently citing ION rapid transit investment as a major catalyst for growth. Furthermore, the Region of Waterloo continues to enjoy
School of Pharmacy – University of Waterloo
a triple “A” rating from Moody’s credit rating agency. All of this makes the CBS a key investment tool to further support our prosperity.
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version of the complete document.
The RiverFront condominiums on Water Street in Cambridge
A Nationally Award Winning Strategy Chair Ken Seiling (right) and Councillor Jim Wideman (left) accept a 2014 National Urban Design Award for the Region of Waterloo’s Community Building Strategy from the Royal Architecture Institute of Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Institute of Planners and the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects.
School of Architecture – University of Waterloo Photo by Robert McNair
For more information about the Region of Waterloo’s Community Building Strategy, please contact: Rob Horne, MA, MCIP, RPP Commissioner of Planning, Development and Legislative Services 150 Frederick Street, 8th Floor, Kitchener ON N2G 4J3 519-575-4001 rhorne@regionofwaterloo.ca www.regionofwaterloo.ca/cbs