Meeting Summary: 38 Cowdy Street Next Steps

On June 23, the City invited nearby residents of 38 Cowdy Street to the St. Vincent de Paul Society on Bagot Street to review and provide feedback on four proposed housing concepts for the site. This session followed a commitment made at a December 2025 meeting, where the City agreed to engage with neighbours early in the redevelopment process and offer opportunities for feedback on the proposed housing concepts. Feedback gathered at this meeting will be taken into consideration when a report is brought forward to City Council in Fall 2026.

A total of 10 individuals attended and shared feedback on the concepts. A copy of the project timeline and the proposed housing concepts are available below.

The City is offering the opportunity for any neighbours who have not yet had an opportunity to provide feedback on the housing concepts to do so. Feedback on the 4 mapping concepts below is being accepted until July 30, 2026. Please submit feedback through the Feedback on Concept Map Options Survey or by emailing GetInvolvedKingston@CityofKingston.ca

Feedback from the June 23, 2026 meeting is summarized below. Responses to questions will be posted in the coming week. Additional questions and responses will be added to the FAQ page as they are received.

Updates on the project will continue to be posted on this page and emailed to subscribers.

Timeline: https://getinvolved.cityofkingston.ca/48292/widgets/203372/documents/170997

Map of Options: https://getinvolved.cityofkingston.ca/48292/widgets/203372/documents/170996

In-person Comments:

  • Consideration of what type of housing is going in (not for rich, more like habitat for humanity)

  • Do not need more “ritzy” condos in this neighbourhood

  • Need to deal with speed concerns along Cowdy St. & Adelaide St.

  • Please leave the park at least as big as it was

    • Staff noted that all proposed options involve making a larger park

  • Concern that with Concept A & B (where there is a straight Cherry St. Extension) the “Road becomes a Raceway”

  • Concern the street is not wide enough and a child will be hurt

  • Cowdy is not busy enough for speed bumps

  • Allow for alleyways from Cowdy to Cherry

  • Need for a four-way-stop on Pine Street

  • Concerns about building height and how close the frontage is to Adelaide St. It should not block the sun from homes on Adelaide St.

  • Ensure there are trees along the housing development on Cowdy and Adelaide There is not enough tree coverage. Important for cooling

  • Current grass cutting garbage is not being picked up

  • Keep the site 100% park land

  • Community does not want housing – zoned existing residential

  • Build a sense of community.

  • Not concrete paths

  • Use waste bins and dog poop stations.

  • Scale to compare against McBurney Park/Skeleton Park (4.1 acres)

  • Mirror McBurney Park/Skeleton Park

  • Focus on green spaces such as gardens. Partner with Little Forests Kingston.

  • Start as open space

  • The park needs to suit the neighbourhood

  • Concern that park land would be for the new houses only

  • A full park would do great things for the community

  • Like the options that provide park access points (multiple) from Cowdy. Don’t like concept that completely blocks off Cowdy

  • Looking for the city to communicate around demolition

  • Asking for schedule (30 days or 60 days in advance). Schedule posted and updates on GIK

  • Looking for the City and Council to be honest with the neighbourhood.