80 Alice Street, Waterford

Every downtown has a building that people drive past without noticing anymore. For years, 80 Alice Street had become one of those buildings.

Located in the centre of downtown Waterford, the property had sat vacant as redevelopment plans came and went. Time had taken its toll. The brick façade showed visible deterioration, sections of the sidewalk had been closed for public safety, and an important part of the downtown streetscape had quietly faded into the background.

While many saw a building that had reached the end of its life, the opportunity extended far beyond the structure itself.

Positioned within walking distance of local shops, restaurants, parks, and community amenities, the property occupied one of the most valuable locations in downtown Waterford. Restoring it had the potential to create far more than additional housing. It could help reconnect people with the downtown while supporting the broader revitalization of downtown Waterford.

Previous redevelopment concepts focused on maximizing residential density by removing the commercial storefronts. While practical, that approach overlooked the role active businesses play in creating vibrant communities.

Successful downtowns need places where people naturally gather: coffee shops. Local businesses. Sidewalk conversations. Everyday experiences.

The question was no longer how to renovate an aging building. It was how to create a place that people would once again be proud to call part of their community.