Location
The Civic Centre in downtown Kitchener is a small, triangular neighbourhood bordered by King, Victoria, and Lancaster streets. This area is the administrative hub for the City of Kitchener and the Waterloo Region. It offers easy access to GO and Via Rail services, located directly across Victoria Street. The expressway is just a couple of minutes to the east, and the LRT runs right through the Civic Centre. This downtown location offers an abundance of activities and attractions. Residents can explore the Museum and Symphony, enjoy performances at Centre in the Square, relax in Victoria Park, play golf at the nearby Rockway course, or visit the Auditorium complex.
Amenities
King Street is lined with a variety of bars, shops, and restaurants to choose from. For groceries, residents have a wide selection, including three Zehrs, the Farmers Market, a Sobeys, and two Valu-marts. Schools in the area are mostly within walking distance, except for St. Mary’s on Homer Watson. Students in the upper part of the neighbourhood attend public schools to the north, while those in the lower part go to schools in the south.
Housing in the Civic Centre consists primarily of detached homes built between the early 1900s and the 1930s. These two-story homes typically feature three or four bedrooms and lack garages, a common trait in downtown areas. Newer accommodations are mainly condominiums, with some buildings dating back 20 to 30 years. The Kaufman Lofts is a notable development on the northwest corner, and numerous new projects are underway, including one next to 85 Duke, which was completed a few years ago.
The area around King, Weber, and Frederick streets is predominantly composed of high-rise and low-rise commercial spaces and government services. This includes several courts of law, Revenue Canada, the Region of Waterloo, Kitchener City Hall, Service Ontario, and a police station. The Civic Centre neighbourhood is an excellent choice for those working in government services or other downtown roles. It's walkable, offers plenty to see and do, and boasts excellent public transit options. The urban lifestyle is thriving in the Civic Centre, with positive developments happening throughout the area.
