Discover Kitchener's EDGE

Discover Kitchener’s EDGE Encouraging Development for Growth Efficiency Discover Kitchener’s EDGE As part of Canada’s Technology Triangle and part of Waterloo Region, Kitchener is a major contributor to one of the most diverse and dynamic economies in North America. And, through a number of economic development initiatives, the City is taking a hands-on approach to ensuring its continued prosperity. In planning effectively for its future, Kitchener is a community that is increasingly strategic and innovative in its efforts to provide business with the tools they need to succeed. To that end, the City of Kitchener has created a comprehensive package of incentives - the Kitchener EDGE (Encouraging Development for Growth Efficiency). These programs - Kitchener’s answer to smart growth - are intended to facilitate the reurbanization of developed areas of the city, including the downtown and inner city areas, by stimulating private sector investment in the re-use of vacant and underutilized lands. Key functional areas for investment and renewal include: • Continued investment in Kitchener’s downtown • The restoration and re-use of the city’s heritage resources • Increased affordable, multiple unit housing • Remediation and redevelopment of Kitchener’s brownfield lands • More intensive use of underused inner city lands Table of Contents Discover Kitchener’s EDGE . .1 Downtown Incentives Program . .2-5 Downtown Kitchener Community Improvement Plan Map . .3 Façade/Interior Loan Incentive Program . .4 Upper Storey Renovation Program . .5 City of Kitchener Tax Rebate . .6 Grants for Planning and Building Permit Fees . .6 Elimination of City and Regional Development Charges . .6 Elimination of Park Dedication Fees . .6 Application Procedures . .6 City-Wide Incentives . .7-14 Brownfield Remediation Program . .8-9 Heritage Tax Refund Program . .10 Adaptive Reuse Community Improvement Plan . .11-13 Adaptive Reuse Community Improvement Plan Map . .13 Property Class for New Multi-Residential Development . .14 1 Downtown Incentives Program The City of Kitchener’s Downtown Incentives Program offers • Elimination of City and Regional Development Charges several opportunities for grants, loans and other assistance to • Elimination of Park Dedication Fees downtown property owners, investors, developers and business owners including: Eligibility • Façade/Interior Loan Incentive Program Any owner of a property within the Downtown Community • Upper Storey Renovation Program Improvement Plan area may apply. Tax and utility accounts must be current and the applicant cannot be in debt to, or involved in • City of Kitchener Tax Rebate Program litigation with the City. Other eligibility criteria are specific to the • Grants for Planning and Building Permit fees individual incentive. Discover Kitchener’sEncouraging Development for GrEDGEowth Efficiency 2 Schedule 'A' Downtown Kitchener Community Improvement Plan Project Area W RE W B A Boundary of CI Project Area H R E N S S T W Q T T S M UP y HA wa IT ail M E EH R l R M B na atio L n N dia a N an T N C S T IA S OR T R IC E V T A NE W O LA T IT T HE O K S IN T T G S ST N AH W ST E R S EN CI G S AN E ST R L E F L O C W E B B EL E L L R AN E ST W T S N T S IO R J A O G T S N S E D P P HA N O H LL UK E S S L U E N T T AN Z E W O S S KI Y T T T N W S W G S E T W N B E ER E S S U T T Q E S A S R I M TH C A U C H S R A SE P N R L L L P A ES L R S T T F W H AL S LS LA S NE GO W UD K B T IE R JO T S C S O S LA I A A S N M A K E E R I E PH S M ST E R V S L T T D P S O A L T T E N E N O IC E R T V E K K F IL D U IN W N A G I S L G E T N M M A E T AY L S IC S P H R D L P AE E T E T U L V S N T M K A S A G O A E R T IO IE C R S KE S K R S T T A LA E S T NE T N O T N H T S Y B E CH AR LE S N S T T S T E H S AL R S LS A D D I T LA E V S NE C A N E D E E U Q S T S Y E B N A E C L O S T U N S R E T M LA E N N L O C D C T A N V E E B E Development & Technical Services May 15, 2004 Sources: Parcel Fabric: Teranet (up to Aug 1998), Strategic Services - I.T. - GIS (1998 - current); Railways: Strategic Services - I.T. (Nov. 2002); Street Network: Strategic Services - I.T. - GIS (Current to date of printing) 3 Façade/Interior Loan Incentive Program Interest rates will be Bank of Canada prime plus 0.5 percent, subject to staff review and Council approval. Since 1989, the Façade/Interior Loan Incentive Program has provided financial assistance to the owners of downtown The loan and grant portion of the funding will be advanced in three commercial properties who want to make improvements either to stages - 10 per cent on approval of the application, 80 per cent at the exterior or interior of their buildings. The incentives help to substantial completion, and the final 10 per cent after the 45-day stimulate redevelopment and renovation of downtown buildings, lien period has expired. creating pleasant surroundings. Copies of actual invoices and proof of payment must be submitted What Can I Do With the Money? by the applicant prior to final payment. The loan will have a maximum 5-year repayment period. Any owner of a property within the downtown's designated Community Improvement Plan can apply to the program for a loan Successful applicants will be required to enter into an agreement to cover the costs of materials, labour and equipment necessary to with the City and loans will be secured through the registration of complete improvements to the interior and exterior of their building. a lien on title for the total amount of the loan. To ensure repayment of the loan, the City reserves the right to evaluate the applicant's Professional fees are also eligible. The fees will not cover chattels, equity and ability to repay the loan. furniture, appliances or landscaping. Applicants must also address any outstanding work orders relating to fire safety, property The loan and grant portion of the funding can be paid off in full at standards or unsafe conditions. Loans are secured by a lien placed any time during the term of the loan. The forgivable loan will on the title of the property. continue to remain on the books and be written off during the first five years of the agreement. If the owner of the property were to Eligible improvements include: sell the property prior to this time, the portion of the forgivable Exterior: loan not yet written off, must be repaid to the City - due and payable in full upon closing. • Façade restoration of brickwork, masonry, wood etc.; replacement or repair of entablature, eaves, parapets and other As well, a “Feasibility Study Grant” is available to assist property architectural design elements; window and door repair or owners with identifying major structural issues, enabling them to replacement; signage in accordance with the City of Kitchener decide whether to proceed with renovations, to a maximum of sign bylaw; painting or cleaning of the façade exterior; exterior $5,000 or half of study costs. lighting; repair, replacement or addition of awnings, marquees Applications for the Façade/Interior Loan Incentive Program will and canopies; replacement of façade elements originally in place be reviewed for consistency with the City of Kitchener's Urban when the building was constructed; entrance way modification Design Guidelines and policies. including provisions to improve accessibility; redesigned shop fronts; roofing work where there is structural or flood damage; other improvements to the building exterior as may be approved For more information: by the Director of Building or his designate. Silvia Wright Interior: Manager, Downtown Community Development, • Fire safety related work; improvements to electrical, plumbing, City of Kitchener heating and ventilation systems; wheelchair access; finishes 200 King St. W., PO Box 1118 including painting, decorating, flooring and ceilings. Kitchener, Ontario N2G 4G7 How Much Money Can I Get? (519) 741-2392 Under the Façade/Interior Improvement Program, the maximum [email protected] loan is $15,000 for any individual municipal address - $7,500 for exterior and $7,500 for interior work. Larger buildings with more than one tenant are assessed on an individual basis. The maximum loan for any one owner is $45,000. The minimum loan is $2,000. Fifteen per cent of the loan is a grant. Eligible costs will be cost of materials, equipment and contracted labour based on two quotations. Labour provided by the applicant will not be considered an eligible expense. Discover Kitchener’sEncouraging Development for GrEDGEowth Efficiency 4 Upper Storey Renovation Program municipal address based on 50 per cent of project renovation cost.

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