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| "How did we get here?" |
I am in a double-bind, trying to understand Alberta as well as Kitchener-Waterloo. Everything seems to be on the tipping point, like the train-wreck photograph. The Alberta issue is one of possible separation from Canada, due to its enormous petroleum potential. In contrast, Kitchener-Waterloo is gutting its own churches and converting them to something else.
"The St. Peter's project is an innovative and important increase in affordable housing for our community," said Chair Redman.
"Thank you to our partners, including St. Peter's Church, Indwell, the Ontario Government and the City of Kitchener for ensuring that we can deliver shovel-ready projects as part of Regional Council's affordable housing plan," she said.
The project will see the church's under used classrooms and programming space turned into one bedroom and studio apartments.
'Sledgehammers are now swinging'
Pastor Mark Ehlebracht says the upgrades to the inside of the church building have already started.
"The sledgehammers are now swinging. We're essentially carving the church building proper out like an apple," said Ehlebracht.
"The sanctuary and other parts of the church building are getting retooled to be optimized and used as multi-use community gathering spaces. So of course we're still have a place to worship, but we'll also have a place for community groups to gather."
Pastor Ehlebracht says along with the Region's funding, the church has collected up to $2 million in donations from local contributions. He says the total project cost is estimated to be around $18 and $20 million.
People should be able to move in for Spring or Summer 2024.
St. Mark Place (nota bene) Waterloo is the sister church of St. Peter. St. Mark turned its church into the same thing being finished at St. Peter.
Using existing church structure and building an additional floor onto the church hall. Sanctuary to be preserved as multi-use/community space.
