11 | W aterloo C hronicle | T hursday,S eptem ber 26,2019 w aterloochronicle.ca 519-746-7900 www.kwhonda.com 465 CONESTOGO RD., WAT. Family Owned & Operatedy Owned & Opera Save Now SNOWBLOWERS FROM $799 HS720C • MSRP $949 • PLUS FREIGHT & P.D.I. SAVE $150 SAVE $200 HS720CHSS928ACT Actual model may differ. S plus freight & tax plus freight & tax 611 Kumpf Drive, Waterloo, ON The Link offers a variety of amenities for its tenants of the park to enjoy. The modern amenities centre is a place where tenants can relax with colleagues and enjoy being outside of the office. The Link is decorated in a modern, upscale decor and contains a catering counter with various seating options to eat lunch, three comfortable sitting areas to unwind and decompress from everyday tasks, a fireplace, football and shuffle board tables to enjoy. • Daily Food Vendors • Board Games & Book Library • Boardroom/Event Space • Rotating Art Gallery • Massage Therapy Annual Event at The Link • Artist Opening Reception • Charity BBQ's • Food Truck Tuesday's (Summer Months) • Wine & Beer Nights • Winterfest • Oktoberfest Features at The Link Contact with us waterlooinnovationpark.com @innopark_kw thelink@waterlooinnovationpark.com innopark_kw For Leasing Information please call: M.J. LAWSON REAL ESTATE LTD., Brokerage 1-888-668-9901 Kids 10 & Under 1/2 Price Champagne and sushi boats helped celebrate the continued development of Phillip Square on Friday where there was a little pomp, but a much bigger promise. The Fergus House, which boasts 120 luxury apartments at 254 Phillip St., was the second build- ing completed in the square - a signature four- building project of the City of Waterloo that provides off-campus housing for the international student com- munity. Fergus House opened back in 2017, with the third- phase Hespeler House well underway and expected to be completed and ready for occupancy by next Septem- ber. "This developer has al- ways had the residences available on time for stu- dents, and that's key," said Waterloo Mayor Dave Ja- worsky, who highlighted the building's architectur- al beauty under the watch of local firm Melloul-Bla- mey, and new amenities in- cluding pristine study and conference rooms, recre- ational lounges and work- out facilities. "You can't look any- where and say that's not quality," he said of the pro- ject. "For many of us, this is better than our houses." While construction de- lays and management of off-campus student resi- dences in other areas of the community have fallen un- der some intense scrutiny recently, Julia Zhang, pres- ident and CEO of the JD De- velopment Group and Rez- One Property Manage- ment Corp., said the safety and well-being of students in Fergus House and Phil- lip Square is something she takes extremely seriously. Fergus House is the first building in Phillip Square falling under the Rez-One Management Corporation that Zhang is developing along with the JD Develop- ment Group across Onta- rio. Rez-One is touted as a premier student living property management company with approxi- mately 2,500 beds across the province. "Rez-One not only serves the international student," said Zhang -- par- ents also have a special in- terest in the safety of their kids who are a long way overseas. According to a news re- lease, Rez-One will ensure its properties are managed and student programming is developed to the highest standard. "I think this promise is not only a promise - it start- ed 10 years ago when we started planning of this building," Zhang said. Back in 2011, the initial plan for Phillip Square was for five buildings com- prised of 2,250 bedrooms. The decision to remove one building of 450 stu- dents wasn't considered a smart move from a devel- opment perspective, Zhang recalls, though it voided the need for two levels of underground parking. "I think through all these years I review back, I never feel regretful. I think the decision was a good one," she said. "If you look at all these buildings they are over the bylaw code. There are three elevators in every building with over 400 stu- dents and all the details have been considered. "From all the details of the service, we always have the tenant in mind." Upon completion of the fourth and last building, Elora House, in 2022, Phil- lip Square will house 1,800 students. The overall cost of Phil- lip Square is expected to be just under $300 million, Zhang said. WATERLOO'S PHILLIP SQUARE BOASTS 'PREMIER' PROPERTY MANAGEMENT BILL JACKSON bjackson@kitchenerpost.ca Julia Zhang, president and CEO of development group Rez-One, speaks during a celebration at the Fergus House in Phillips Square in Waterloo. Bill Jackson/Torstar NEWS REZ-ONE SAYS IT WILL ENSURE ITS PROPERTIES ARE MANAGED AND STUDENT PROGRAMMING IS DEVELOPED TO THE HIGHEST STANDARD