Shirt Tales

1. " CIRCA Development’s period of ownership of the property provided an 8 month opportunity from July 2000 through February 2001 to develop a comprehensive understanding of construction methods and building conditions as part of the design process simultaneously underway.. In the following 4 months ending in June 2001, we were able to test our understanding and the resulting design assumptions by actually executing the design of (constructing) a specific unit as a model suite (rather than simply staging a model.
2. " [CIRCA was]able to finance purchase of the property and in the subsequent 12 month period to finance work to: secure the buildings against water penetration on an interim basis; reinstall a roof drainage system; stabilize minor deterioration caused by water penetration in fall/winter of 1999/2000; secure the building against unauthorized entry; clean up the conditions left by an abandoned process of interior demolition; demolish the 1 story portion of the buildings not required for redevelopment; construct a sales area (reception area and gallery); and construct a model suite.
   
   During this period, Circa Development was also able to assemble and fund a development team to assess the construction and condition of the property, evaluate design options culminating in the production of a comprehensive architectural design, obtain site plan approval and prepare a business plan including a market analysis and marketing plan. An inability to extend the partnership with the City of Kitchener precluded the late 2001 – early 2002 pre-sale of 30 of 50 condominium units and the continued capitalization of the development. The City acquired ownership of the property by virtue of its rights as mortgage guarantor. "
   
3. 03 proposal to City's RFP process re Centre Block Redevelopment: adaptive re-use to arts, culture, and heritage. Accordingly, Circa Development* has formed a partnership representing the Waterloo Regional Arts Council, Globe Studios and the Kitchener Downtown Business Association for the purpose of incorporating live/work uses into the business plan, subsequently marketing the units and more generally promoting the live-work concept and the project. Downtown Kitchener offers the most urban setting available in Waterloo Region, including the greatest number and density of entertainment venues and cultural attractions

• 50 loft condominum with related commerical uses
• minimum of one-third of the live/work condominium units purchased for or by cultural producers (visual and performing artists, writers or designers)
• residential loft lifestyle marketed to entrepreneurs, sole practitioner professionals, high tech producers and consultants** with these features: a loft style openness to sleeping, living and dining and kitchen areas; eastern, southern or western exposures, oversized operable windows; 12 foot tongue and groove pine ceilings; custom made clear pine millwork and interior doors; sandblasted posts and beams;
• studio condominium units
• the Duke/Young Urban Park intensely landscaped area featuring an amphitheatre-like stepping of the grade down from Young Street to a hard surfaced space leading to the public entrance
• Smyth residence would be restored to its original brick finish with the addition of a veranda rebuilt according to period photographs (circa 1920).
• for four private and one common rooftop terrace
• included a total of 85 parking spaces. 22 of these were situated in the basement of the building complex and a total of 63 were outdoors
• interesting and architecturally diverse perspective on industrial economic development in Berlin/Kitchener in the period 1900 to 1937"

*experienced residential developer, having completed 27 projects incorporating 1,520 multiple residential units valued at approximately 180 million dollars; two projects entailed the conversion of historic non-residential properties – St. Basil in Brantford and Bread Roses in Kitchener. The latter received an inaugural Mike Wagner Award for heritage preservation from the City of Kitchener. Circa Development is incorporated on a not-for-profit basis in the Province of Ontario. Although its residential development experience is focussed in the publicly assisted not-for-profit and co-op sectors, Circa Development has broadened its scope of development activity to focus on underserved market segments and broadly defined community interests.

**" This group is attracted to an inner city location because of their lifestyle; they like to be closer to culture and entertainment. In some cases, they are attracted to the inner city because it is where their preferred housing type is located - heritage homes, lofts, or live/work units. In other cases they are attracted to an inner city location because they work Downtown…..As long as the Downtown is the entertainment and arts and culture centre for the region, young professionals will be attracted to live in the inner city. More lofts and live/work units would increase the attraction of the inner city as would the addition of more white-collar and professional employment centres."

Photos courtesy CIRCA of model loft suite constructed in the oldest Phase I 1900 factory portion already demolished.

# posted by ramblingrose @ 5:14 PM