At the other end of the area is the former SW&A Car Barns (1200-1220 University Avenue) property which contains important built heritage on the property. The buildings are currently vacant. In between these two properties are a mix of commercial/office buildings with some vacant units. The property at 1201 University (southwest corner of University Avenue West and Wellington Avenue) went through a recent Planning Act application to permit ground floor residential on the building. The building adjacent to the west is similar in that it was built in traditional commercial built form, and the ground floor units have been vacant for some time.
In addition to the cluster of vacant properties described above, there are also two smaller vacant properties along the University Avenue West corridor at Curry Avenue, as shown below.
Placemaking and Improving the Public Realm - University Avenue West offers a wide right-of-way with opportunity for placemaking. The opportunity along the University Avenue West is important at this time due to the University Avenue West and Victoria Avenue Environmental Assessment being undertaken at the same time. The EA will provide opportunity for a new cross sections of roadway providing more opportunity for active transportation and more boulevard space to create enhanced streetscaping. The enhanced streetscaping will create a sense of place, especially in the redevelopment areas identified above.
Transitioning Areas - As mentioned above, there are vacant commercial buildings along both corridors. As seen in the example above, owners may want to transition these buildings to other uses. The overall character of the buildings should be retained. This may require urban design policies to ensure the character of these buildings is retained and that they can remain flexible for future uses.