ICYMI: King Road housing development could include OHL-arena, hotel, Commonwealth venues, more

EDITOR'S NOTE: This article orginally appeared March 6, 2024.

Alinea’s vision for development at 1200 King Road seeks to foster community in all it does.

That’s the message Louis Frapporti, representing Alinea Land Corporation, shared at council’s committee of the whole on Monday during a presentation.

They have not submitted a development application to the city, but have provided its vision for the 50 hectare property. And it’s substantial, including housing, retail, recreation, entertainment, mobility and the natural environment.

Alinea would like to see the mixed residential development include a hotel-arena complex with twin-rink ice pad, one community arena and another an arena that could seat some 5,000, with more for concerts, as much as 7,000. That would be big enough for an Ontario Hockey League team, and the possible eventual location of the Hamilton Bulldogs (now the Brantford Bulldogs), when they had to vacate their Hamilton home for renovation.

It includes the possibility of an 80,000 sq.ft. community centre, multi-unit residential housing, retail, green space and trails.

Burlington and Alinea have signed a letter of intent that it’s hoped will lead to the development of the site soon. The Burlington Lands Partnership has been tasked with examining and developing potential public-private partnerships and options.

The massive property runs westerly from King Road, between Highway 403 to the north and the CN’s GO/Train railway tracks in Aldershot. 

Burlington Economic Development and Alinea have signed a letter of intent to work together to create proposals for the economic development of the property. It is hoped this will lead to the development of high-level future development concepts.

It could also mean the extension of the South Service Road to the Aldershot GO station.

The Burlington Lands Partnership is involved in the project with a mandate to examine and develop potential future public private partnership investment opportunities and options for the site. 

With a range of housing options and being close to transit, it promotes active transportation; Frapporti also said it will generate employment opportunities, during construction as well as through the retail, entertainment and potential post-secondary campus.

Although Monday was Alinea’s first public presentation, they’ve been engaged for years with partners and the city. At Alinea’s corporate launch event, CEO Paul Paletta, made the following commitment: ‘Moving beyond transactions, premised first on listening to you and the vision for your community.”

Frapporti said that “nothing less than the best will be required of us,” he said, calling it a massive blank canvas of land, at the geographic heart of the city. “It’s a future city on a hill on its own right.”

He added that “the sobering reality we collectively face, we really have just one shot to advance so many of the city’s priorities in the  development in what is arguably one of the city’s most significant greenfield sites.

“You, this council and staff and Mr. Paletta, who is here today, have it in your power to materially transform this community in almost unimaginable ways at an unprecedented pace with the remarkable and growing list of aligned stakeholders,” he said, noting “almost all of them are in (council chambers) the room today.”

He said that both Paul and Michael Paletta are deeply invested in the success of the community.

“Bold action entails risk but in the end the greatest risk we face is not the risk of action, it is the risk of inaction; of missed opportunity, of not being worthy of the moment, of our not seizing the opportunity.”

Burlington Chamber of Commerce president Terry Caddo advocated on behalf of the chamber in his delegation. 

“When speaking to our nearly 800 members of the chamber, the leading issue our members are facing is a shortage of workers,” he said. “There are two major issues that contribute to the shortage of workers in Burlington and this project will help ease both of them: attainable housing and transportation.”

This development will add thousands of units, many of them rental. This supply is desperately needed; this development is in a transportation hub, he said.

“When speaking with our land development members, they express a concern over the delays and red tape with the application process and the confusion with fees for projects for individual buildings.

“There is no higher-impact file the city will have in the next 20 years,” he said. “Timely approval at the beginning of construction on this project will go a long way toward building a reputation for Burlington as a business development efficient city and would encourage other development to look at our community for projects.”

Further, Caddo said the developer has been proactive in consultation with the Chamber of Commerce and the business community and what jobs are required to get it completed.

He said the development will create a 30-minute liveable community,

“Their proposal will create an expanded tax base, grow the Burlington economy, create jobs, and create new unique educational opportunities.”

In addition, he noted that the world-class sports and entertainment facilities will be scaled to a community the size of Burlington.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to remind council that Burlington does not have a sports tourism strategy, due to a shortage of facilities,” he said. “As this moves forward, a portion of the sports and recreation facilities created should be allocated to this use, as sports tourism can be a significant economic and employment driver for the city.”

Caddo said he’s optimistic that in 20 years when Burlington is still the number one-ranked community in Ontario to live, this project, and the community building strategy of working with developers is a major reason why.

Jim Young, representing Partnering Aldershot, said they welcome the proposal in an area that they feel has been overlooked for too long. It offers all the opportunities the west end has wanted over the years, with minimal impact.

He jokingly called the arena and recreation facility the “Taj Mahal, Maple Leaf Gardens and Disney World,” but, "where’s the grocery store? That’s the number one issue of Aldershot residents.”

The city manager has been directed to work with Burlington Economic Development to report back next quarter with an update on future investment opportunities on 1200 King Rd. site in conjunction with: a public presentation on the proposed land use development concept from Alinea and a letter of intent outlining next steps and timing for moving forward.

1200 King Road is also a potential site for one or more facilities of the 2030 Commonwealth Games; gymnastics and an athletic housing complex have been talked about.

Alinea is also working on another massive development in Burlington: Bronte Creek Meadows, located across the street from Bronte Creek Provincial Park – the largest parcel of vacant land within the urban boundary of Burlington.

While it is currently being farmed, the 312 acres of property has immense potential, similar to 1200 King Rd.