The charming Auditorium Neighbourhood is one of Kitchener’s oldest neighbourhoods. Fondly known as the East Ward, the East Village, or just ‘the Hood’ among residents, it’s a place where neighbours not only know each other but also become close friends, known to have impromptu porch gatherings and the occasional game of road hockey.
Location
Weber, Krug, Ottawa and the Conestoga Parkway border the Auditorium Neighbourhood. When looking at a map of both Kitchener and Waterloo combined, the Auditorium Neighbourhood sits pretty close to the middle, making it easy to get across both cities.
A bit of neighbourhood history: several streets are named after Brubacher family descendents, early settlers in the region: Samuel, Lydia, Simeon, and Edna.
Homes
Mature trees form a canopy along the neighbourhood streets filled with character houses, mid-century bungalows, and a sprinkling of new builds. Schnarr & Sons Ltd. built many of the homes in the area in the 1920s and 1930s, with quality features like solid gumwood trim and etched glass doors. Many homes have been lovingly maintained and renovated over the years with additions, attic renovations, finished basements, etc.
House prices in the area range from $350,000 to $750,000, ideal for both first-time homeowners and those looking to upgrade to a larger home.
Amenities
The Auditorium Neighbourhood, as its name implies, is home to the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium (The Aud & Arenas), with quick access to Rangers games, Titans games, concerts, and events. The neighbourhood has two schools, St. Anne Catholic Elementary School and Sheppard Public School, and two churches, Holy Cross Lutheran and St. Anne Catholic Church.
The biggest park in the neighbourhood is Knollwood Park, an extension of the Sheppard School yard. The park was revitalized in 2013 with new trees and trees, and upgrades to the sports fields and playground.
The neighbourhood has an active neighbourhood association that organizes events like an annual porch party, home tours (with profits going to charity), and family events at Knollwood Park. Recently a new dog park was added too!
Transit
The neighbourhood is close enough to downtown Kitchener to walk to cafes, shops, restaurants, and the Kitchener Market. You can also easily walk to Centre in the Square, the Central Branch of the Kitchener Public Library and the Museum. Walkability scores are high in the neighbourhood.
The Auditorium Neighbourhood is also close to a number of new LRT stops on Charles Street (The Kitchener Market stop and the Bordon stop), plus bus routes on Krug, Weber and Ottawa streets.
If you work outside of Kitchener, the neighbourhood offers easy access to the Conestoga Parkway and Highway 7. Plus the GO Station on Weber Street is at most a five-minute drive away.
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This highly sought after neighbourhood definitely checks all the boxes! Keep your eyes peeled for listings in this neighbourhood and check back here for more KW neighbourhood spotlights.
