One of the best ways to increase housing is to encourage the redevelopment of underutilized properties in the city’s core that are in need of revitalization. A perfect example at the Frontenac Mall. Over the coming years, this property will be slowly transformed through multiple phases of development into new housing that Kingston desperately needs. City Council has already approved the first phase of the development that will allow for the construction of a new six-storey, 338-unit residential building at the northeast corner behind the Food Basics. Next month, City Council will be looking to approve the next two phases of development, which when complete, will transform the look and feel of this part of the city.
Phase two of the development proposes a podium that connects three 12-storey apartment towers in the southwest corner of the property near the intersection of Bath Road and Centennial Drive. Phase three is set to be constructed further up Centennial Drive and it also envisions a podium that would connect four apartment towers of up to 20 storeys each. The design and style of the buildings will be finalized closer to the construction date, but the vision for this site is for a greener, more pedestrian-friendly space with trees, walkways and ground-floor commercial space. When completed, this project will add 2,000 new housing units to the city’s housing supply. For a vibrant and growing Kingston, it’s transformational projects like this that will help set the course for the future.