The St James United Church redevelopment is planned to be a lively and sustainable place for community. Located in Waterdown, a community within Hamilton, the project will add 44 new rental homes surrounding the retained place of worship. The retained place of worship will be updated to provide new daycare space and improved public outdoor space.

Considerate design, quality of life and accessibility are at the heart of the project’s vision. A third of the new rental homes will be available at below-market-rate. Public gathering space is also a keystone of this development with multiple outdoor spaces including a new community garden, and the use of trees and native species to create additional green space.

The design of the low-rise development, which includes a series of six blocks that house a mixture of two-storey townhouse units and three-storey walk-up apartment units, embraces responsible building practices and is sympathetic to the landscape of the surrounding neighbourhood and its current community.

Accessibility and safety have been considered across the development, with barrier-free entrances to townhouses and the church, and a one-way road that reduces vehicle speeds and creates a pedestrian-friendly space.

As with all Kindred Works projects, sustainability is core from the outset. The project targets an 80 per cent reduction in embodied carbon against industry standard, and the design uses Passive House principles to enable low energy use throughout the buildings’ life. This approach extends to residents, too – the apartments will make the most of passive ventilation and daylight to create a healthy living environment.

With a considerate, people-focused design, a commitment to responsibility across every action, and a location with both a vibrant history and a bright future, the St James development will be a place that enables everyone – new residents, the existing community, and the wider neighbourhood – to unlock new opportunities.