Considering the future of the former Charles Street Terminal in Kitchener

CTV’s Alexandra Holyk explores the most recent idea to redevelop a former transit terminal in Kitchener.

After years of sitting empty, a landmark in downtown Kitchener could find new life.

Over the years, the Charles Street Terminal has been used as a Grand River Transit hub and a testing centre during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. But now it sits empty, awaiting a new opportunity.

The Region of Waterloo has considered some options through several community consultations. But now, staff are looking at a multi-phased approach that would consider the current state of the local development market and any potential financial risks.

That option would include working with local non-profit organizations to create community spaces.

“Bringing different partners together will make it more viable for each individual partner potentially to see their dream and vision for their portion of the project to come to fruition,” said Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic.

The nearly three-acre property takes up an entire city block in the heart of downtown Kitchener. It’s mostly owned by the Region of Waterloo, though the City of Kitchener looks after its own parking lot on the grounds.

“It’s very rare that a municipality, or in this case, two municipalities — the city and the region — have an entire city block in their ownership and an oppportunity to really look at what an exciting piece of land this is,” Vrbanovic added.

“We really want to see that space downtown remain a civic space and become a community hub for a number of nonprofits that are constantly displaced,” Bangishimo, co-director of the Willow River Centre, said.

Bangishimo said the region needs an Indigenous cultural centre.

“There are thousands of us here in the region and we need a place to call home,” they said. “We’re still here. We don’t plan on giving up.”

While the future of the site is still being parsed out, regional staff said they hope to take steps to ease water capacity concerns by extending the timeline to develop the three-acre site. They hope a solution to the problem will be found by the time construction begins.

A report about the former terminal is scheduled to go to the region’s Sustainability, Infrastructure and Development Committee at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. If the recommendations are approved, it will then go before regional council.