Kingston’s West End is rapidly becoming the fastest-growing neighborhood in the city. This is due to a housing development proposal that could result in hundreds of new apartments being built.
If approved, the large development proposed at the corner of Cataraqui Woods Drive and Centennial Drive would see two six-story mixed-use buildings built, bringing a total of 430 new units to Kingston’s housing market.
Coun. Vincent Cinanni is the chair of the city’s Planning Committee. He says that he prefers to see developers build upwards rather than outwards.
He told Global News that we are too sprawled out.
It’s important to change things up in certain areas, particularly in the West End.
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A report on city affairs recommends the approval of the Cataraqui Woods Drive Development by the city planning committee at its meeting on Thursday.
The west end is undergoing a lot more than just the development proposed.
The area is experiencing a boom in development, with a new high-rise apartment building and single-family homes being constructed, as well as a school in the Woodhaven subdivision.
Tim Park, the head of planning for the city, said, “You’ll see more building activity on the ground than anywhere else you will probably find in the city.”
Park says that there are many reasons for the rapid growth of the West End. It offers the opportunity to own a home in the city near a variety of amenities. But most importantly, there is plenty of room to expand.
Park explained that the approvals are in place and are now coming to fruition.
“But, definitely, when it comes to available land, compared with the rest of the City, the West End probably has more of that than any other place.”
Park believes the west end will become the most densely populated area in the city within the next few decades.
With all the space that is ready for development, the city hopes to become a major player in the fight against the housing crisis.
Engineers, politicians, and city staff are enticed by concept art, architectural renderings, and promises, but they can’t walk away when they see the final bill.
He said that “all of those features which were crucial to selling the project to the public and getting it approved by council, then become extremely expensive and difficult to build when they move from the drawing board onto the construction site.”
The council voted unanimously in favor of the concept of a review board. However, it is unclear when and who will be appointed to this body.