HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-09-28 DAAC Minutes
Downtown Action & Advisory Committee
Minutes
Thursday, September 28, 2023—4:00 p.m.
Location: In Person, City Hall (Schmalz room)
In Attendance
Brandon Van Dam, Sandra Castle, Jeannette Makad, William Turman, Izabela Wyllie, Darren
Becks, Linda Jutzi, Debbie Chapman, Aislinn Clancy, Thea Mistry, Jay Brown, Brian Bennett
Meeting Called to Order: 4:02pm
Disclosure of Pecuniary Interests: Nothing to declare
Agenda Items
1. Welcome, Land Acknowledgment (Will Turman)
How does today’s agenda fit into our workplan?
2. Downtown Data Presentation and Retail Attraction Strategy – Jay Brown and Darren Becks (40
minutes)
D. Becks introduced Jay Brown and the DTK retail strategy
o Started taking an inventory of Downtown vacancies
o Talked to experts in the retail environment. The retail landscape is still precarious.
o Consulted some Downtown stakeholders. They suggested that a retail pursuit
document including key Downtown data would be helpful. Economic Development
is actioning this.
Question: will the data set be available publicly?
o Yes. We plan to pull out the most meaningful information to share.
J. Brown, Economic Development Analyst: DTK Trade Area Statistics
o Through My Main Street program we were provided with data from Environics
Analytics.
o See Appendix below for presentation slides.
o Stakeholder group suggested that comparables (other downtowns) would be helpful
to include for context.
o A Downtown with similar demographics might have a business that could work well
in Downtown Kitchener (e.g. SOI Thaifoon has a London location and opened a
second location in Kitchener)
o Diversity is a driving factor for what types of businesses there is demand for
o Opportunity: we have more people in Kitchener that are working and looking for
work (an available workforce)
Question: What types of jobs?
We know what the top 5 types of jobs are, but we don’t have access
to information about what types of jobs underemployed people are
looking for because of privacy.
o Opportunity: Downtown has a good percentage of people who live Downtown and
walk to work Downtown (3x the provincial average)
Question: Does the data reflect the post-pandemic trend of working from
home?
Don’t have that information yet. We need a survey to find out the
actual occupancy rates of offices Downtown, and what days people
are working from the office.
o We need to understand what DTK is and who is here in order to market effectively.
o We need businesses that fit this demographic of people. 25% of people have an
average household income of 20k-40k. A high end brand isn’t going to work in
Downtown Kitchener.
o Top 5 sectors of employment. Opportunity: 7.6% of our working population is
working in Trades. Come build your building here, do construction, we can help and
keep your buildings operating because we have trades people here.
o Gross annual household expenditures information is helpful information to
determine a market for a particular type of business.
o Part of the Downtown issue is affordability of apartments. There is almost no vacant
apartment inventory available.
o External Visitations: it is rebounding back since pre-pandemic (still room to grow),
and we can see where they are coming from (to inform where to put my marketing
efforts)
o Second highest ranked municipality for local business conditions. You can look at
the Stats Canada website and see these numbers change week to week.
o Retail Trends: omnichannel consumers, socially/environmentally conscious
consumers
L. Jutzi: There is some granular data about spending available (through
Shopify or similar vendor platforms.) Will pass along the information about
this potential data set.
3. Bramm Yards Master Plan Engagement – Jay Brown, Economic Development Analyst and Brian
Bennett Manager, Business Development, City of Kitchener (55 minutes)
J. Brown presented about the Bramm Yards (presentation slides in appendix below)
They are in Phase 2 of this project.
Engagement with stakeholders, advisory committees, focus groups, residents, community
groups, an open house and online. All feedback is welcome.
o Will distill and seek common themes.
o Will refine proposed development principles and determine best way to achieve
those principles.
o Bramm Yards is an eight acre plot of land, currently a parking lot.
o Potential to continue to develop health innovation sector.
o Question about proposed Vision:
W. Turman: Define urban, mixed-use business park?
Not just employment land, not just residential, not just commercial,
all three together; building an industry (health); a dense style of
development to make good use of limited space. A mixed-use urban
community? Example of a mixed use urban: The Well in Toronto is
7.7 acres. (Used to be the Globe and Mail). Office, residence, retail.
A. Clancy: Is Health Innovation a saturated sector? Are we putting all our
eggs in that basket? Are there other emerging sectors that could be
included there? Does local growth create deeper roots?
S. Castle: Flexibility/adaptability will contribute to longevity of the space.
How has WFH changed the needs of a space?
Thinking more organically – companies coming out of Velocity need
somewhere to grow into.
L. Jutzi: Is the purpose for the Health Innovation focus that the building will
drive revenue for the City?
It will depend on how it is decided to be developed. There will be
tax revenue generation. Or if the City decided to go with a master
developer and put it up for sale, that would generate significant
revenue to apply toward other things.
I see an opportunity and a trend coming out of the pandemic for joy
and gathering – what if there was a new art gallery for KWAG in this
development? (blue sky visioning)
W. Turman: As a business sector, Health Innovation makes sense to have
that type of industry’s needs fit Downtown. There is a strength to this focus,
but it has to be part of an ecosystem.
We have an aging population that will demand more and more
services and technology.
An innovation can spur multiple companies.
o Principles:
Vibrant, mixed-use community:
D. Chapman: No mention of parkland as a component (green space)
o We used a broad word and then based on the feedback will
narrow it.
Is this employment driven or residential land, or a balanced piece?
o B. Van Dam: What about the current vacant space in the
area?
It will be developed in a 5-7 year period, so the
current vacancies will change
o B. Van Dam: We’re in a housing crisis. If I was answering for
today, primarily housing. Future focused – it will be
important to have a mixed use. Concept of a 15-minute City.
Building around a human focus.
o W. Turman: The mix is important, but there should be more
of a focus on the employment aspect. A cohesive vision and
strategy around a specific sector does not usually happen
unless there is a cohesive project like this.
o A. Clancy: Leaning towards housing. Example, how Regent
Park was redeveloped. And accessible for families. We are
known as a daycare desert. The green space piece is
important. And affordable.
Could money of sale be applied toward building
affordable space?
How important is it to you that commercial uses are prioritized?
o Very important
Sustainably Designed (not just heating and cooling, also
transportation, capturing of rainwater, reusing of materials):
o W. Turman: Another opportunity here is to ask developers
to innovate and create new technologies. Example from
France: Each parcel having the goal of Net Zero, and each
developer did it in a different way.)
o Very important
o I. Wyllie: Important enough that it doesn’t impact how
much it costs to live there and engage with the space
Community spaces:
o D. Chapman: What considerations are there for the people
that already live and work in that area?
Common spaces will be open to anyone.
o Will they be inclusive?
Different types of spaces. Intentionally vague to
capture lots of feedback about types of community
spaces.
o Specific types?
W. Turman: What about a pedestrian mall? (where
cars aren’t a part of it)
Recently heard the term pedestrianized concourse
B. Van Dam: Space for community groups, not for
profit
D. Chapman: Park
I. Wyllie: Noticed in Europe how much families and
children gather around water fountains. Visually
appealing. Kids want to put their hands in it, and
people sit around it.
A. Clancy: In Seattle, their play structures are like
art. Incorporate music. Can we do something novel?
A creative playscape that is exciting.
o W. Turman: 5:27pm Motion to extend the meeting until 6pm. Unanimously
approved.
Design expectations (what is the most important piece?):
o What do you mean by well-designed public space?
A pedestrian, open space. Sometimes when
developing a building, little thought/budget goes to
the landscaping.
Not only a space you go to work at, but somewhere
you stay.
I. Wyllie: A well-designed public space would
include access to bike lanes and landscaping/natural
spaces
Parking is a hot topic in Downtown Kitchener. Do
we reduce auto parking and visibility?
Hear complaints about parking daily, but
really there shouldn’t be any parking. It’s a
downtown. There should be green space.
People should take public transit.
Reduced visibility. But realistically we are a
large country with a lot of sprawl. Could we
put it underground? People will be driving
in for work, and they will need somewhere
to park.
Want to highlight that across the tracks
there is a new 5-story parking garage.
o It’s private parking for Google.
Perhaps an arrangement could be
made for out of hours public use.
o What haven’t we addressed?
Have heard that many of the condos are 1-bed,
bachelors. It would be neat to have more family
sized units (if we do want people to move here and
stay here, we need spaces they can grow into)
Data about who lives here only shows what
currently exists. We are influencing what exists. We
could affect the demographics if we build the right
spots.
Indigenous community space – built in partnership
WITH and not for those communities
With the health innovation focus,
inclusivity/equity/Indigenous/2SLGBTQ+ voices
should be centred. These groups often have far
worse health outcomes. They should be seen in
health innovation.
Demographics kept in mind – continuously hear
that we don’t have enough stuff for families. We
originally focused on that young audience moving
here for tech jobs. They stayed and grew up. When
we talk about parks and water features and things
that create a gathering place, we need to keep
those demographics in mind.
Intentional design for the street level businesses. If
you imagine a restaurant might move in, build it so
that it’s possible to install a commercial kitchen. No
empty shells that no independent businesses can
afford to fit out and rent, and sit there empty, like
these other vacant commercial spaces at the main
street level of nearby new developments.
o If you would like to provide further feedback, please email Jay Brown:
jay.brown@kitchener.ca or check out (and share) the Engage page:
www.engagewr.ca/brammyards
4. DAAC Business:
Terms of Reference update – the plan for the October meeting.
o L. Jutzi will present about the BIA new strategic plan
What’s new in DTK?
o Consultation regarding the statue of the Queen in the park in starting
o Don Julio is open
o Casa Toro 88 opens today!
o New Indian restaurants: Rangeela, Oh Bombay, Dwarkesh
o SOI Thaifoon is open
o IMPACT festival is this week
o Oktoberfest is next week, with some new evolutions.
o The 220 space has been returned to Economic Development!
Adjournment - 5:57pm
Appendix 1: DTK Trade Area Data
Downtown Kitchener
Trade Area (TA)
Statistical Overview-Economic Development
September 28, 2023
Statistical Overview
1.DTK Trade Area Data–Environics Analytics
2.Price Waterhouse–2023 Retail Trends
3.Simply Analytics
MAP OF DTK
TRADE AREA (TA)
DTK Boundary
DTK Trade Area
(15 Mins. Walking)
Population
Total Population:31,518
Number of Households:15,704
Household Size:Population By Age:
1,136
80+
4%
8%
1,922
70 to…
1 Person
3,372
60 to…
11%3,836
2 Persons
50 to…
44%
3,717
40 to…
3 Persons
6,319
30 to…
4 Persons
6,182
20 to…
2,225
5+ Persons 10 to…
33%
2,809
0 to 9
-2,0004,0006,0008,000
Population
•Kitchener’s population has a similar age structure to
Hamilton ON and London ON. Uptown Waterloo and
Burlington have a larger near retirement or retiring
population (60 to 80+ age group).
47%
46%
50%
40%
45%
38%
40%
34%
35%
26%
24%
30%
24%
21%22%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
HamitonLondonUptown WaterlooBurlingtonKitchener
0 to 1920 to 3940 to 5960 to 80+
Diversity
4.3%
4.5%
3.6%
4.0%
3.5%
2.6%
2.5%
3.0%
2.2%
1.9%
2.5%
2.0%
1.5%
1.0%
0.5%
0.0%
BlackSouth AsianChineseIndigenousSouth East Asian
•19.4% of TA population are a member of a visible minority
•85.0% of TA population speak English as their first
language at home
Diversity
19.4%
Kitchener
15.1%
Burlington
28.3%
Uptown Waterloo
18.5%
London
33.3%
Hamiton
0.0%5.0%10.0%15.0%20.0%25.0%30.0%35.0%
•Uptown Waterloo’s diversity is driven by a large Chinese
population at 12.4%, significantly higher than the Southern
Ontario average of 5.4%.
Employment
Participation & Unemployment Rates (June 2023)
5.4%
Canada
65.6%
5.7%
Ontario
65.9%
6.1%
Toronto ON
65.3%
4.5%
London ON
65.2%
6.2%
Kitchener ON
70.5%
0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%60.0%70.0%80.0%
Unemployment Rate
•7.0% of the labour force in the DTK Trade Area walk to
their place of work
Education
•59.4% of adults in the DTK Trade Area have completed post-secondary
education resulting in the attainment of a diploma and/or degree.
•34.2% of the adult population has a university degree
•Average Household Income: $77,296 (67% of the Southern Ont. Avg.)
25%
25%
20%
18%
15%
14%
10%11%
9%
7%
5%
6%
5%
3%
2%
0%
$0 to$20,000 to$40,000 to$60,000 to$80,000 to$100,000 to$125,000 to$150,000 to$200,000 to$300,000+
$19,999$39,999$59,999$79,999$99,999$124,999$149,999$199,999$299,999
Household Income
DOWNTOWN TRADE AREAAVERAGE HOUSEHOLD INCOME
Hamilton$ 65,486
London$ 77,281
Uptown Waterloo$ 90,511
Burlington$110,845
Kitchener$ 77,296
50.0%
6.3%
7.6%
5.6%
5.4%
6.6%
6.3%
7.9%
40.0%8.1%
8.2%
6.3%
8.6%
8.5%9.6%9.5%
7.7%
30.0%
11.9%
8.6%8.3%
9.3%
11.4%
20.0%
15.1%15.1%15.2%
14.0%
10.0%
12.3%
0.0%
HamitonLondonUptown WaterlooBurlingtonKitchener
Sales & Service& GovtBusiness & FinanceSciencesManagementHealthTrades
Annual Household Expenditures
AVERAGE HOUSEHOLDTOTAL ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD
EXPENDITUREEXPENDITURES
Shelter$16,359$256,901,736
$3,996$62,753,184
Tobacco and Alcohol$3,042$47,771,568
Food (Grocery)$6,007$94,333,928
Food (Restaurants)$3,165$49,703,160
Health Care$3,832$60,177,728
Clothing$2,311$36,291,944
$8,201$128,788,504
$3,071$48,226,984
Household Furnishings$2,289$35,946,456
Housing
DTK (TA) Housing by TenureDTK (TA) Housing By Structure
Houses35.4%
Owned38.7%
Apartments64.6%
Rented61.3%
When compared to Southern Ontario, DTK Trade Area’s housing inventory
is significantly older (60+ years) with a larger percentage of apartments.
Annual average rents have increased by 7.3% between October 2021
and October 2022.Source: CMHC Starts and Completion Survey 2023
Housing
Private Apartment Vacancy Rates (2019-2022)
Kitchener Waterloo Cambridge CMA
3.5%
3.0%
2.1%
2.5%
1.6%
2.0%
1.2%
1.2%
1.1%
1.5%
1.0%
0.5%
0.0%
Bachelor1 Bedroom2 Bedroom3+ BedroomTotal
Oct-19Oct-20Oct-21Oct-22
Housing
Primary Rental Market Summary (Kitchener Waterloo Cambridge CMA)
OCTOBER 2021OCTOBER 2022
VACANCY RATE (%)2.0%1.1%
AVERAGE RENT ($)$1,307$1,398
TOTAL INVENTORY36,52837,045
Secondary Rental Market Summary(Kitchener Waterloo Cambridge CMA)
OCTOBER 2021OCTOBER 2022
VACANCY RATE (%)–CONDO APT.0.8%1.1%
RENTAL CONDO APARTMENTS4,3725,025
AVERAGE RENT ($)$1,799$2,086
TOTAL CONDO INVENTORY13,31915,316
Annual External Visitations
Annual External VisitationsExternal Visitations by Location
10,382
10,229
11,209
13,134
478,146
2021
20,940
143,773
32,844
415,750
2020
43,842
65,820
600,888
2019
Kitchener, ONWaterloo, ONCambridge, ON
Toronto, ONGuelph, ONMississauga, ON
Brampton, ONLondon, ONWoolwich, ON
Hamilton, ON
-200,000400,000600,000800,000
Local Business Conditions
Local Business Conditions Index (August 21, 2023)
435.74
Windsor
272.77
Toronto
306.00
Oshawa
359.22
Milton
292.85
London
368.86
Kitchener
225.26
Hamilton
327.42
Guelph
314.29
Barrie
0.0050.00100.00150.00200.00250.00300.00350.00400.00450.00
Population Growth Estimate
Urban Growth Centre (UGC)
Current UGC Population9,300
Approved Developments2,100
Proposed (Not Approved)3,800
Projected UGC Pop.15,200
An expanded population
projection to include all of the
DTK will be available in the
fall of 2023.
PWC Canada–2023 Retail Trends
Omnichannel consumers use their phone monthly to make purchases (42%
in Canada, 62% Globally). 19% of consumers will reduce their spending with
a company if they are concerned about data privacy.
Canadian consumers will pay a premium for the following products:
72%-Locally produced or sourced
64%-Made from recycled, sustainable or eco-friendly materials
64%-Made avoiding testing/cruelty to animals
63%-Produced by a company with a reputation for ethical practices
57%-Bespoke or custom-made
56%-Traceable and/or transparent origin
Simply
Analytics
Appendix 2: Bramm Yards Community Engagement Project
Bramm Yards Community
Engagement Project
EDAC/DAAC Consultation
September 2023
Background
Bramm Yards presents a unique
opportunity for the City of Kitchener
to develop a leading edge mixed-use
urban business park.
Through an engagement process,
the City is seeking the input of
residents and stakeholders on the
Proposed Vision and Development
Principles for the Bramm Yards site.
Background
•COK invested $30M in UW
School of Pharmacy,
•RMOW invested in the
McMaster School of Medicine,
•COK invested in Communitech
Hub and wet labs at UW
Velocity, and
•COK invested $8.5M in UW
Innovation Arena.
Proposed Vision
To develop a leading-edge, mixed-use urban business park
that will include:
•Health-innovation focused employment,
•New housing,
•A vibrant streetscape with high-quality
public spaces, and
•Built using leading sustainability practices.
Questions
#1What do you like about the Proposed Vision for
the Bramm Yards Master Plan?
#2What changes and/or improvements would you
make to the Proposed Vision for the Bramm Yards
Master Plan?
#1 Development Principle
The first proposed development principle will ensure that
the Bramm Yards will become a vibrant mixed-use
community by including the following:
•Develop a minimum of 750,000 square feet of employment
space with ‘Health Innovation and ‘Medical Technology’
employment as a primary use;
•Maximize the integration of residential development where
possible; and
•Include ground floor commercial uses.
Questions
#3How important is it to you that the City maximizes
the amount of employment density on the Bramm
Yards site?
VerySomewhat NotNo
ImportantImportantImportantOpinion
#4How important is it to you that the City maximizes
the amount of housing density on the Bramm
Yards site?
VerySomewhat NotNo
ImportantImportantImportantOpinion
Questions
#5How important is it to you that the City ensures
commercial uses are included on the Bramm
Yards site?
VerySomewhat NotNo
ImportantImportantImportantOpinion
#6What changes and/or improvements would you
make to the #1 Development Principle for the
Bramm Yards Master Plan?
#2 Development Principle
The second development principle will ensure that the Bramm
Yards is sustainably designed by integrating the following
practices:
Strive for the integration of leading-edge technology which
reduce the carbon impacts of heating and cooling systems,
for examplethe potential for a district energy plant on site
with geothermal heating and cooling; and,
Strive for emerging industry standards such as net-zero
carbon emissions.
Questions
#7How important is it to you that leading
sustainability practices are utilized on the Bramm
Yards site?
VerySomewhat NotNo
ImportantImportantImportantOpinion
#8What sustainability measures would you like to
see incorporated in the development?
#3 Development Principle
The third development principle will ensure that the
Bramm Yards site integrates community spaces through
the following:
Develop a vibrant streetscape.
Provide high quality, community space, and,
Introduce all ages and abilitiesofactive transportation
modes and connections through the site.
Questions
#9How important is it to you that the following
community spaces are included in the Bramm Yards
Master Plan?
VerySomewhatNotNo
Important Important Important Opinion
Outdoor Patios
Community Space
Bike Lanes
Walking Paths
Questions
#10What changes and/or improvements would you make
to the #3 Development Principle for the Bramm Yards
Master Plan?
#4 Development Principle
The fourth development principle will ensure that the
Bramm Yards are designed on the following expectations:
Leading-edge, high-quality architecture and finishes,
A well-designed public realm,
High quality landscaping, and
Integration of active transportation,for examplesecure
bicycle parking spaces.
Questions
#11How important is it to you that the following
design expectations are utilized on the Bramm
Yards site?
VerySomewhat NotNo
Important Important Important Opinion
High-Quality Architecture
High-Quality Building Finishes
Well-Designed Public Space
Landscape & Natural Space
Bike Lanes & Parking
Reduced Auto Parking & Visibility
Questions
#12What changes and/or improvements would you
make to the #4 Development Principle for the
Bramm Yards Master Plan?
#13Do you have other ideas on the Proposed Vision
and Development Principles for the Bramm Yards
Master Plan?
Stay Engaged
For more information and updates on the Bramm Yards
Community Engagement project:
•Please go to the project page on the Engage Kitchener
website and subscribe:engagewr.ca/brammyards
•To answer questions and/or listen to feedback, please
contact Jay Brown, Economic Development Analyst.
Email:jay.brown@kitchener.ca
Cell:519-502-8573
TTY:1-866-969-9994