Arena, concert venue, college envisioned for ‘another downtown’ in Burlington
Published February 29, 2024 at 11:05 pm
A hockey arena that can be converted into a concert venue, a college campus and a hotel are just a few of the concepts envisioned for a new development on an underutilized chunk of land in Burlington.
The proposal calls for a joint venture between the City of Burlington and a developer on the property nestled between Hwy. 403 and train tracks adjacent to the Aldershot GO Station.
Of course, as with any new development, housing will also be a major component of the venture as will a shopping district. If it comes to fruition, the ambitious project, referred to now as 1200 King Road, is meant to become a new destination point for Burlington residents to live, work and play.
“This is a big one, it could change the face of Burlington and potentially become another downtown,” a source familiar with the concept told inhalton.com. “It’s a dream for planners because it can be what everybody wants it to be; a self-contained community with most everything you need located nearby but with enough attractions to draw in visitors.”
The City is considering joining with Alinea Land Corporation to move the project along with the expectation that multiple towers on the site will go a long way in meeting future housing targets while at the same time providing the type of amenities that a growing population expects.
A public presentation of the concept will be revealed at a City committee meeting on Monday (March 4).
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According to information contained in the report that will be presented at the meeting, discussions have been underway to bring a post-secondary institution to the site and also a hotel.
As for the arena, 5,000 fixed seats would be suitable for events such as hockey (large enough to accommodate an Ontario Hockey League team), monster truck rallies or wrestling. When converted into an event centre, the site could be filled with 7,000 patrons to attend a concert. A community centre, park and nature trails are also planned.
But before shovels start digging into the ground the project still has to clear several hurdles. These include land ownership negotiations and a working agreement on how the partnership between the City and the developer will proceed. As a result, the timeline for the project is still very much up in the air and could take several years if not decades before the project becomes a reality.
Still, the same source said those at City Hall are very excited about the project and believe it’s a bold but necessary step in the evolution of Burlington.
“A City has to not be afraid to take these kinds of steps and the time is right to at least start thinking about it considering the push to create more housing,” the source said. “It all fits together. There is something for everyone in this plan.”
Early plans show where everything will be placed at the site.
An overview of the area showing where 1200 King Road is located.