Opportunities endless for Charles Street terminal site

The property would likely be sold off to a developer in spring 2023, but a plethora of things need to happen first

Extra greenspace in concert with Victoria Park.

How about a grocery store?

Perhaps the future home rink of the Kitchener Rangers?

Maybe future affordable homes and/or tiny homes.

Those are just a few of the ideas floating around on what to do with the old Charles Street bus terminal in downtown Kitchener, as the community and officials look ahead to forging a path for what it could look like.

Debbie Chapman, the councillor for Ward 9 in Kitchener, told The Mike Farwell Show on 570 NEWS Monday morning she would like to see the property be used in an interactive way.

"It could change," she suggested, mentioning the laying of ice in the winter for curling rinks and a skateboard park in the summer.

And those ideas could even come in after the infrastructure in place is torn down, but before a more permanent solution is agreed upon.

The property itself, while filled with opportunity, also comes with a bit of concern.

Chapman said there's fear among residents near Victoria Park, that the property (and around the park) could potentially see high rise building development.

The region is spending $800,000 for the necessary study work, before the property can be redeveloped.

That's likely to take a couple years, and ultimately, it looks like spring 2023 is the time frame we could see any selling of the property to a developer, all things considered.

If you have an idea for the future of the property, public consultations will be held this fall.