The Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments to facilitate the development of the BarrelYards neighbourhood have been approved by Waterloo City Council and this exciting project is now moving forward.

Announced in March 2006, the former Canbar site in the City of Waterloo was purchased by Auburn Developments Inc. Located at the corner of Erb Street and Father David Bauer Drive, the site had remained vacant for a number of years despite its prominent location at the edge of Uptown Waterloo.

Auburn Developments Inc. has retained GSP Group Inc. to assist in the planning, urban design and landscape considerations for the development of the site. The BarrelYards is intended to be developed as a mixed use project with office and hotel buildings proposed along Erb Street, and apartments, townhouse and live/work space located over the balance of the site.

The BarrelYards will continue the urban character of Uptown Waterloo with buildings oriented to the street, and a scale similar to other buildings in the Uptown area. The building orientation and streetscape will create a strong pedestrian realm, and building design, colours and details will be used to create visual interest. Overall, the project will have a high quality of urban design, and will serve to enhance the Uptown as a desirable place to live, work and play.

The BarrelYards project is currently in the site plan approvals process. It is anticipated that construction will begin in 2009.