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Civic District Vision
Adapted from Downtown Strategic Plan Volume II – The Framework, City of Kitchener
Click here for a PDF of the complete document.
Kitchener’s Downtown Districts 
Over the past 40 years, downtown Kitchener has evolved into four physically defined districts:
- Civic District (blue area, at right)
- Market District
- City Centre District
- Warehouse District
Each district has its own characteristics, opportunities and challenges and interfaces differently with its surrounding communities.
Examining these differences will provide valuable lessons for moving forward.
About the Civic District
The Civic District provides Kitchener with an excellent model for successful downtown revitalization for its three other districts. Once struggling, the Civic District today is self-sufficient and interfaces well with its surrounding communities.
With the presence of both federal and regional government offices, regional and provincial courts, a police detachment and the Kitchener Main Library, the Civic District boasts a stable office population. It also boasts a rich arts and culture environment with the presence of art galleries, historical preservation projects and two performing arts centres. These uses have created a healthy balance of people activity that extends beyond the traditional nine to five work day.
As a result of the stability created by these public investments, a large number of residents now live and work in this area, property values have increased and new developments continue.
About the Civic District Vision
With the endorsement of City Council, the Centre in the Square, Kitchener Public Library, the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery and the Registry Theatre – collectively known as The Civic District Visioning Team -- undertook a public visioning process for their shared area in September and October 2007.
The vision acknowledges that the Civic District -- the area bordered by Queen, Ellen, Frederick and Weber streets -- has the ingredients to become a focal point for arts and culture in Waterloo Region.
Through surveys, focus groups, public meetings, and a design charette, the public was invited to identify new opportunities for programming and land use in the Civic District.
In early 2008 the visioning team prepared a draft vision and design principles for the Civic District based on the public consultation and design charette.
To further refine the vision and identify potential opportunities for collaboration and new projects, an extensive series of stakeholder consultations was conducted throughout 2008 -- including meetings with stakeholders in the arts, education, business, and government, as well as citizens and neighbourhood association representatives.
The vision and master plan have also been endorsed by a number of community stakeholders, who look forward to seeing the district evolve.
Part of that evolution will include the planned expansion of the Kitchener Public Library main library; as well as the city's approved plan to build a 412-space underground parking structure beneath the KPL's expansion area - a project that will be funded via a partnership with the Province of Ontario, the Region of Waterloo and the KPL.
''From the very beginning of this visioning process, we've asked the community to imagine the possibilities,'' said Sonia Lewis, the KPL's chief executive officer and a member of the Civic District visioning team. ''And now, with the committee's support, we're excited to move toward realizing the possibilities.''
Click here for a PDF of the complete Civic District Vision and Master Plan document
Proposed Urban Square
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If you have any questions about the Civic District Vision, or would like to leave us a comment, please email: kitchenerpubliclibrary@kpl.org