Part 1
Growing Together
The area around Northfield Station is already home to the ION Light Rail, which opened in 2019. With the station now in place, big changes are being planned that build on this investment, transforming what is today largely commercial and industrial employment lands into a mixed-use neighbourhood. This means more people, more homes, more services, and new ways of getting around.
Planners at the City of Waterloo see the area along Northfield Drive West between Weber Street North and Conestoga Parkway as a major opportunity to grow differently.
By transforming employment lands into a diverse, multicultural, mixed-use neighbourhood; by making it easier to walk, bike, or take transit; and by ensuring homes, jobs, shops, and services are all close by.
As this change happens, it's important that no one is left out.
Through the experience, share what you love about your neighbourhood.
Tell us what you want to see transformed!
Let's plan for growth together
Help us understand your neighbourhood
Part 2
Places to Call Home
Our neighbourhood is where we build our lives. But with housing costs rising and options shrinking, more and more people are finding it hard to stay close to what they know and love.
Today, there is no housing at all around Northfield Station, only commercial and industrial buildings.
But major development has been proposed, including thousands of new residents and significant new housing.
We need more options for different stages of life, for multigenerational families and single newcomers alike. Homes that fit a range of budgets, needs, and lifestyles. When housing is more flexible and affordable, people can grow with their neighbourhood instead of having to leave it.
The goal is to give people options...
Part 3
Daily Life Around the Corner
The Northfield area isn’t just a place for people to live; it’s where daily life could unfold. From grocery stores and schools to community centres and local jobs, we all need access to more than just housing. But the way our cities have been built makes that harder than it should be.
For decades, homes, jobs, and services were separated into different parts of town, connected by long commutes and busy roads.
Across Canada, people are having more conversations about how neighbourhoods can better support daily life.
Complete communities happen where more of what we need is close by and easy to access, whether you drive, walk, roll, or take transit.
The area around Northfield Station already has many businesses and some public amenities, like access to a bike trail, but today these are spread out and largely car-oriented, with limited walkability. The next step is pulling it all together in a way that supports cultural richness while making it easier to live, work, and connect in the same neighbourhood.
The cities are rethinking
how they use land...
Part 4
Building Connections
As the future neighbourhood around Northfield Station grows, so does the need to move around safely and easily, and to stay connected to neighbours, services, and green spaces. That means creating walkable, welcoming streets, building more parks and gathering places, and planning ahead for changes like new transit and construction.
Some people call this kind of approach “transit-oriented development”
Designing neighbourhoods so more of what we need is close by and easy to access, whether you drive, walk, or take transit.
To make this work, streets need to support more than just drivers; they should work for everyone, however they get around.
That includes wide sidewalks, safe bike lanes, and reliable public transit. With more ways to get around, people of all ages and abilities can access what they need, without relying on a car.
Greener travel also means cleaner air, less traffic, and healthier habits.
Public parks and community spaces play a big role too.
They give people places to relax, gather, and enjoy nature. But as more people move in, we’ll need to grow these spaces too, and make sure they’re safe, inclusive, and built for everyone.
Northfield will also need to
plan ahead...
Part 5
Feeling Safe & Welcome
As Northfield grows and changes, it’s important that everyone feels safe and included, no matter who they are or what they’re going through. In busy neighbourhoods, safety can mean many things: lighting, open spaces, support services, and well-designed places to gather. But it can also mean simply feeling at ease in your own community.
Some people have raised concerns about things like drug use, theft, or feeling unsafe in public spaces.
These issues don’t have easy answers, but they are part of the conversation.
Safety strategies that rely solely on policing often have limited and uneven outcomes.
Many communities are exploring different approaches, like thoughtful urban design, harm reduction, and outreach services, to build trust, reduce harm, and create spaces that feel active and welcoming.
Strong communities
focus on...
Part 6
Trade-Offs and Tough Choices
Every neighbourhood has to make choices. Sometimes we can’t have everything we want all at once. A great park might need to take space from a parking lot. More neighbours might bring new shops and services, but also more activity. A more walkable community might mean taller buildings or fewer private yards.
These kinds of trade-offs are part of shaping a neighbourhood that works for everyone.
Because Northfield today is almost entirely employment land, adding new homes, parks, and services will mean balancing them with existing businesses, roads, and parking. What matters most to you? And where might you be open to change if it meant building a stronger, more connected Northfield?
Further Opportunities
Congrats on finishing!
Change doesn’t stop when the planning ends, and neither does
your voice.
The Northfield area is evolving, and there are many ways to stay
involved in shaping what comes next. Below are some key
projects, plans, and resources that offer opportunities to
follow progress, share your input, or simply stay informed.
Community poll
The Voice of Waterloo
See what your neighbours are saying in response to the prompt and add your own perspective. Click agree, disagree, or pass to see and vote on the next response.
Have a new idea or different perspective? Add it below.
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