Everything is about to change on Weber Street West through central Kitchener.The Region of Waterloo plans to tear down 34 homes and four business properties. Demolitions could start in October. It’s part of a $51-million plan to widen Weber to four lanes and build an underpass beneath the CN railway tracks at the Via Rail station.
Road construction begins next year.
Kitchener councillors got a look at demolition plans Monday.
“There will be impacts on the streetscape but over the course of time we expect that there will be redevelopment,” said Garett Stevenson, a planner with the City of Kitchener.
Weber is being widened between College and Guelph streets. Most doomed homes are on the west (or south) side of Weber. A few are on the other side of the street, east of Victoria Street North.
In total, 52 dwellings will disappear when homes and apartments are demolished. The Station Plaza at Victoria and Weber streets will disappear along with three other business properties. Council has acquired or is expropriating the properties.
Council is widening Weber in part to handle traffic displaced from King Street when street-level trains are installed there by 2017.
Homes facing demolition range from poor to good condition. None are heritage properties. Some materials may be salvaged for possible reuse.
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