London Construction - Development News Thread#1 [Archive] - Page 16

QuantumLeap

Jan 15, 2009, 10:20 PM

I have to vehemently disagree with the notion that the shabby old shit box at Wellington and Horton should be (have been?) demolished. It is absolutely right that this lot will become a surface parking lot, which decreases the already low pedestrian quality of the intersection, what with the long, dank walk through the underpass and the wide lanes and advanced turns on Wellington. Almost any building there looks better than a hole.
Secondly, it doesn't take a quantum physicist :banana: (sorry, couldn't resist the pun or the image) to figure out what the long-term effect of demolishing buildings downtown is- pretty soon, there is very little of anything to "revitalize". As Jane Jacobs pointed out, old, undistinguished buildings provide great space for nascent ventures because space is cheap - it could be light manufacturing, artist space, upstart internet ventures, whatever. Places from SOHO (NY) to Silicon Valley have thrived because of their initial ability to provide artists and entrepreneurs such space, although "gentrification" has eventually changed those areas significantly. Among other changes, the building stock has gradually been upgraded or replaced, turning former eyesores into fixed-up gems. Demolishing a building eliminates the possibility of such a "grassroots" turn-around and gentrification. Building a new building is almost always more expensive, and the sort of people who build new buildings are apt to charge high rents to "safe" tenants - read: Starbucks and the Gap. When the market doesn't exist for such safe tenants, as it surely doesn't at Wellington and Horton, then, surprise, surprise, the land stays vacant for a long time. Landlords and banks often can't be bothered to upgrade old buildings, however, so, they just knock them down, hoping to hold them for some amazing turnaround (the probability of which they diminish by knocking down neighbourhood buildings), while getting parking revenue in the interim. This kind of behaviour is what has really stopped the heart of neighbourhoods across the US and Canada, and which is evident in such places as Detroit, where vacant lots outnumber abandoned buildings by a ratio of something close to 10 to 1.
So, finally, I would say, the building at the corner was an eyesore. But it was an eyesore with economic and cultural potential, unlike the eyesore parking lot that will replace it.
London needs to stem the tide of such demolitions. I suggest both a carrot and a stick method:
Carrot:
-the City should decrease the economic value of parking lot income with incentives/ subsidization of parking decks, increased street parking, better transit infrastructure
-continue and expand the incentives and grant programs for older downtown buildings (heritage or not)
Stick:
-the City should disallow demolitions unless they are submitted along with a building permit application for the same site, or if the building is deemed by the building inspector to be unsafe and unfixable, in which case a demolition would be allowed, but the resulting vacant lot would be allowed only a temporary parking permit or perhaps not at all

Please tell me what you think.

sparky212

Jan 15, 2009, 11:06 PM

I agree.especialy the part about you need a construction permit to get a demo permit:previous:

london2020

Jan 16, 2009, 6:03 AM

Can anyone explain to me what the purpose of Bathurst St is? Did this used to be a proper through road? Why do they use the bridge over Wellington as a parking lot rather than a road to make Bathurst actually useful? :shrug:

manny_santos

Jan 16, 2009, 6:14 PM

Bathurst Street pre-dated the railway, it was one of the original east-west streets surveyed in the early 1800s along with Horton, York, King, and so forth. Its importance has been lessened for a very long time, and I can imagine the Horton extension in 1985 probably lessened it even more.

Somewhere out there there is a book of London street names which has some street histories, which may better answer your question.

JrUrbanDesigner

Jan 17, 2009, 5:30 AM

Anyone interested and looking for renderings of the proposed development, going to planning committee in the comming weeks, in the Old East Village (at Dundas and English) please check my blog (http://urbanitydesign.wordpress.com/) :)

sparky212

Jan 17, 2009, 2:19 PM

QuantumLeap

Jan 18, 2009, 8:25 PM

How did you get colour images?!?!?

FYI, I still don't know how to post images. But you can always ask city planners for concept plans and elevations.

QuantumLeap

Jan 18, 2009, 8:29 PM

sparky212

Jan 18, 2009, 11:58 PM

looks good:previous: :banana:

manny_santos

Jan 19, 2009, 12:02 AM

http://www.themanorvillage.com/photos/big/historic-london.html
This is the new development at Richmond and Victoria, where the old McCormick home was.
http://www.themanorvillage.com/photos/big/historic-london.html

I go by there almost daily, and there's been no construction there yet. It's just been an empty pit for the past year.

JrUrbanDesigner

Jan 20, 2009, 2:49 AM

So I hear RibFest is back on and going to be run by the people who do the kids expo and last years 1st annual international food festival. I also heared that they will combine ribfest with an outdoor homeshow? not sure how thats gonna work, might be interesting.

sparky212

Jan 20, 2009, 3:30 AM

sparky212

Jan 20, 2009, 11:23 PM

they are putting up the last of the glass for the renniasance:banana: :banana:

london2020

Jan 21, 2009, 2:09 AM

Are they going ahead with phase 2?

sparky212

Jan 21, 2009, 1:03 PM

Are they going ahead with phase 2?

probobly. if they do it won't be until spring:banana:

MolsonExport

Jan 21, 2009, 1:20 PM

very pleased to hear that Ribfest is back on the summer menu. One of my fave festivals in the unForest city.

QuantumLeap

Jan 21, 2009, 9:50 PM

probobly. if they do it won't be until spring:banana:

I would be surprised to see this project go ahead. There are quite a number of approved buildings that, as far as I know, have yet to see a shovel in the ground.
These include:
500-bedroom student housing at First and Oxford - APPROVED
600 units - Medallion rentals in two 25-floor towers at Dundas and Lyle - APPROVED
130 units, 400 bedroom - 12-floor student rentals at Mill and Richmond, Ayerswood development - APPROVED
300 units - two 12-floor Tricar apartment buildings at Hyde Park south of Gainsborough - APPROVED
unknown - at least two more Drewlo buildings at Wonderland and Oxford - APPROVED
500 units - one high-rise and four five-floor buildings by Old Oak at Riverside and Beaverbrook (Sugarcreek Village) - APPROVED
300 units - Tricar King and Ridout (Renaissance) - APPROVED
100 units - retirement building at Wharncliffe and Belmont (in addition to the one under construction now) - APPROVED

Plus there are several buildings under construction, or in the approvals process now, as well as all the rumours we have heard over the last few years. The CMHC estimates that 700-800 high-density units will be built next year, which is a definite reduction over this year. Somehow, I doubt that each of the city's major developers will be building a 300 unit high rise in downtown or Old East this year.

sparky212

Jan 21, 2009, 11:37 PM

I would be surprised to see this project go ahead. There are quite a number of approved buildings that, as far as I know, have yet to see a shovel in the ground.
These include:
500-bedroom student housing at First and Oxford - APPROVED
600 units - Medallion rentals in two 25-floor towers at Dundas and Lyle - APPROVED
130 units, 400 bedroom - 12-floor student rentals at Mill and Richmond, Ayerswood development - APPROVED
300 units - two 12-floor Tricar apartment buildings at Hyde Park south of Gainsborough - APPROVED
unknown - at least two more Drewlo buildings at Wonderland and Oxford - APPROVED
500 units - one high-rise and four five-floor buildings by Old Oak at Riverside and Beaverbrook (Sugarcreek Village) - APPROVED
300 units - Tricar King and Ridout (Renaissance) - APPROVED
100 units - retirement building at Wharncliffe and Belmont (in addition to the one under construction now) - APPROVED

Plus there are several buildings under construction, or in the approvals process now, as well as all the rumours we have heard over the last few years. The CMHC estimates that 700-800 high-density units will be built next year, which is a definite reduction over this year. Somehow, I doubt that each of the city's major developers will be building a 300 unit high rise in downtown or Old East this year.

in old east they are all out of town developers and only two on your list are downtown or old east

manny_santos

Jan 22, 2009, 12:02 AM

500-bedroom student housing at First and Oxford - APPROVED

The new Fleming Drive? :D

ldoto

Jan 22, 2009, 3:12 AM

These old pics from the Bell Building at 100 Dundas St London, Ontario
Bell Canada currently occupies 5 floors, but more than 70,000 square feet of office space is still available. :cool:

I think these pics are from the late 1970's and early 1980's

http://www.fhc.ca/property.asp?propid=221

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a138/ldoto/News%20Paper%20Photos/100d_construction_1.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a138/ldoto/News%20Paper%20Photos/100d_construction_2.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a138/ldoto/News%20Paper%20Photos/100d_construction_3.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a138/ldoto/News%20Paper%20Photos/100d_construction_4.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a138/ldoto/News%20Paper%20Photos/100d_construction_5.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a138/ldoto/News%20Paper%20Photos/100d_construction_6.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a138/ldoto/News%20Paper%20Photos/100d_construction_7.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a138/ldoto/News%20Paper%20Photos/100d_construction_8.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a138/ldoto/News%20Paper%20Photos/100d_construction_9.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a138/ldoto/News%20Paper%20Photos/100d_construction_10.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a138/ldoto/News%20Paper%20Photos/100dundas_bain_2_may2008.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a138/ldoto/News%20Paper%20Photos/100dundas_bain_4_may2008.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a138/ldoto/News%20Paper%20Photos/100d_0508_048.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a138/ldoto/News%20Paper%20Photos/100d_0508_015.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a138/ldoto/News%20Paper%20Photos/100dundas_bain_1_may2008.jpg

london2020

Jan 22, 2009, 6:55 AM

Are they still talking about building additional floors on top of the bell building?

london2020

Jan 22, 2009, 7:17 AM

Anyone know what's up with these illustrations?

These seem to show concepts for 305 Queens. I am pretty sure the CityPlace towers are where these are shown. They sure went with a more boring design if that's the case.

http://www.fhc.ca/Images/PropImages/305Rendering.jpg
http://www.fhc.ca/Images/PropImages/queens0001.jpg

And what about this? It was randomly in the gallery for 620 richmond.... i am guessing it is some other project...

http://www.fhc.ca/Images/PropImages/NewBlock.jpg

MolsonExport

Jan 22, 2009, 2:07 PM

It seems that every Canadian city is cursed with a similar 80's-crud Bell Building.

SlickFranky

Jan 22, 2009, 2:41 PM

:previous:

The first two were proposals for the old library site...not sure about the other one.

sparky212

Jan 22, 2009, 2:44 PM

not sure about the third but I like it.

QuantumLeap

Jan 22, 2009, 3:48 PM

LEDC setting sights on the skies
Thu, January 22, 2009
MPs were asked to collect proposals for 'shovel-ready' projects

By NORMAN DE BONO

London's job creation agency hopes to land a new packaging and shipping business from the Netherlands.

And it hopes to get $15 million from the provincial and federal governments to help make it happen.

Peter White, chief executive of the London Economic Development Corp., said yesterday the LEDC will visit the tiny European nation next month in a bid to land a big business it hopes will open an air-freight transportation logistics centre at London International Airport.

That could potentially position London to become a shipping centre where goods would arrive here from Europe, and be trucked, flown and shipped by rail across North America, White said.

"It would be a good move for us, and it could be huge," he said. "We have to think long term. We will not have the manufacturing industries we had. We have to look at new opportunities and where we have advantages."

Because the Netherlands is a centre for shipping products -- especially flowers and food -- around the world, officials there are experts in air-freight transportation, White added.

"There is a flower warehouse there that has the same floor space as the Pentagon. It is a worldwide interchange, but they are doing that in everything -- meat, cheeses, and dairy items. We hope we can show them the opportunity that is here," said White, declining to name the industries he's courting.

The move becomes possible following the open-skies agreement that came into effect this month between Canada and Europe. That deal, a type of free trade for the skies, allows airlines based in the 27-member European Union and in Canada to operate direct flights between the two areas, removing restrictions on routes, prices and the number of flights allowed.

In addition, once that infrastructure is established here, goods could also be shipped from London to Europe, establishing London as an air logistics centre nationally, White hopes.

"We are such a raw producer here," he said.

White will push London as much cheaper than Toronto -- landing fees here are one-tenth that of Pearson International Airport -- and the city is better positioned geographically to ship goods into the U.S.

More than $35 billion worth of cargo is flown between Ontario and Europe.

But to help establish the shipping warehouse at the London airport, the city and LEDC are looking to get $15 million in public works money from the federal and provincial governments as part of an economic stimulus program.

White will make a pitch tomorrow to both senior levels of government for the money, he said.

London West MPP and Attorney General Chris Bentley said the province "will be looking at how to stimulate job growth in the medium and long-term.

"These are very important, no doubt. We need economic foundation pieces. Those are the jobs of the future."

The money would go to help build the shipping centre, as well as a rail system to the airport to speed the shipment of goods. The LEDC also wants the airport's flight training centre expanded.

The airport project is "shovel ready," a key requirement to get stimulus money, and it would create long-term job growth, White added.

QuantumLeap

Jan 22, 2009, 3:54 PM

The new Fleming Drive? :D

How would you prefer to see students housed, Manny?

sparky212

Jan 22, 2009, 4:24 PM

The airport project is "shovel ready," a key requirement to get stimulus money, and it would create long-term job growth, White added.

:banana: :banana: :banana:

LondnPlanr

Jan 22, 2009, 7:01 PM

And what about this? It was randomly in the gallery for 620 richmond.... i am guessing it is some other project...

http://www.fhc.ca/Images/PropImages/NewBlock.jpg

This is the first time I've seen of an actual 'concept' for this block.

The location of this is bounded by Central to the South, Richmond to the West, Wellington to the East, and Hyman to the North. Farhi currently owns MOST of the buildings that front onto Central, and that streetscape is VERY important.

However, Farhi is appealing the designation of these properties as part of the West Woodfield Heritage District... doesn't take one too long to figure out why given this concept.

manny_santos

Jan 23, 2009, 2:27 AM

These old pics from the Bell Building at 100 Dundas St London, Ontario
Bell Canada currently occupies 5 floors, but more than 70,000 square feet of office space is still available. :cool:

Definitely not one of Ellis Don's best projects, but they redeemed themselves by building Skydome :cheers:

Gotta love that Talbot Inn sign. And that ancient Dundas Street lighting.

manny_santos

Jan 23, 2009, 2:28 AM

How would you prefer to see students housed, Manny?

On campus, where Fanshawe can have some control. Or be like me, and live a full hour bus ride away from school. :frog:

london2020

Jan 24, 2009, 1:49 AM

It seems that every Canadian city is cursed with a similar 80's-crud Bell Building.

It would probably look decent if re-clad with all glass.

sparky212

Jan 24, 2009, 2:52 AM

I like the bell building it's different and its got spunk:whip:

ldoto

Jan 24, 2009, 10:39 PM

New pitch for Labatt Park

Sat, January 24, 2009

By RANDY RICHMOND, SUN MEDIA

City hall is pitching a new idea to promote Labatt Park and draw tourists to London.

Turning a storage area under the grandstand into a permanent display space for baseball and other sports memorabilia will draw city residents and tourists alike to the park, said Bruce Huff, chair of a newly formed team that includes city officials, historians and baseball representatives.

“Labatt Park was the centre of the town for all sports until the modern days,” Huff said.

The park has been home to baseball, softball, football, boxing and a children's Olympics that drew thousands each summer, he said.

Opened in 1877, the park is still in use and is home to the London Majors of the Intercounty Baseball League.

City staff is recommending politicians shell out $20,000 in this year’s budget to get the project going.

The community and protective services committee are to consider the request Monday.

manny_santos

Jan 25, 2009, 12:09 AM

City hall is pitching a new idea to promote Labatt Park and draw tourists to London.

I like this idea.

MolsonExport

Jan 25, 2009, 3:11 AM

allow Labatt park to serve beer...and I will go to see London Majors games.

manny_santos

Jan 27, 2009, 2:59 AM

I was looking at some old road and transit plans for London today, and saw some interesting proposals that never came to fruition.

- In 1990 there was a study involving intersection improvements at Wellington and Commissioners, as part of the widening of Wellington from 4 to 6 lanes between there and Baseline. One of the proposals was to build a SPUI (Single Point Urban Interchange) to replace the intersection, with Commissioners passing underneath Wellington. Another option was to build a grade separated ramp from Commissioners westbound to Wellington southbound, travelling underneath the intersection.

- To the east at Adelaide in the same era, one proposal would've had Commissioners passing over both the CN railway and Adelaide, and Adeliade being extended to flow onto Pond Mills at Southdale. A "jug handle" would have been built as a southerly extension of Leathorne Street, to connect Commissioners and Adeliade.

- Dedicated bus lanes and bus roads, not unlike Ottawa's Transitway, were proposed way back in 1974 in the London Urban Transportation Study (the predecessor to the Transportation Master Plan). The bus lanes would've run along Wellington from Commissioners to downtown, north on Richmond, west on the CP railway corridor, and north along Platt's Lane and Western Road to UWO. Other rapid transit routes would've existed along Dundas east to Highbury and west to Wharncliffe and then onto Springbank west to Wonderland, and the CP corridor one continuing west to Hutton (Wonderland) Road.

- Same 1974 plan called for a southerly extension of Colborne Street to meet Wellington between Baseline and Grand, as well as changing Richmond and Wellington into one-way streets, with Wellington being 3 lanes northbound and Richmond being 3 lanes southbound, converging via either Grey or Simcoe Street. The plan also called for not only the Horton westerly extension which opened in 1985, but also an easterly Horton extension to Trafalgar Street, just west of Highbury, running along the south side of the CN mainline. The long-discussed King Street extension was also shown.

- Also in the 1974 plan was a proposed realignment, in conjunction with Middlesex County, of Hyde Park Road to bypass Hyde Park Corner to the east. Boler Road was also supposed to be realigned to run easterly to Colonel Talbot Road between Baseline and Southdale. The Oxford west extension is also shown, and what later became Veteran's Memorial Parkway.

- The 1974 plan included various road widenings, many of which have never been built. Springbank was called to be widened to 6 lanes east of Wonderland, Wellington to 6 lanes south from downtown to the 401, and Western/Wharncliffe to 4 lanes in the section which is still 2 lanes.

Some of the projects that did come out of this plan included the VMP (1977-1997), the Wonderland/Hutton link (1978), the Oxford extension (2003), the Horton west extension (1985), widening Wharncliffe to 4 lanes from Mount Pleasant Ave to Oxford (1982), widening Fanshawe Park Road to 4 lanes between Wonderland and Adelaide (1995-1998), and the Highbury/Bradley interchange (c. 1993).

JrUrbanDesigner

Jan 27, 2009, 1:10 PM

Finally got a chance to post this, I've been really busy with school lately!

Urban design key to future

Thursday, January 22, 2008
By PATRICK MALONEY, LFP

Having taken small steps to make urban design a priority for developers, builders and politicians, London city hall may soon take a huge leap.

Describing urban design as the creation of great communities, planning officials will ask council to add another $248,000 to their annual budget to hire a second urban designer, a design technician and a manager.

"Urban design is often seen as either a frill or something that's purely about esthetics or pretty buildings," said city planner John Fleming, who will make the request during council's current budget talks.

"Too much of what we've been doing is creating subdivisions without creating communities. (That) is the way that things have been operating for 20 years and this is where it's brought us."

Urban design principles aim to make communities -- from roads to neighbourhood design to building style -- more walkable, environmentally-friendly and conducive to social interaction.

Wortley Village is a London example of successful urban design.

Before the hiring of an urban designer in 2007, that was almost a non-priority at city hall, Fleming says. While council is heading into a tough budget year, he hopes the hirings won't be put off.

In May, council approved the Urban Design Work Program, essentially a blueprint to make design principles a city-wide priority.

The report set out the importance of urban design in the city's future. "In today's global economy it is urban design that differentiates cities and gives them a competitive edge . . ." it read.

No completed projects have been built under the guidance of the urban-design policy, but several, such as the Medallion development in Old East Village, are in the planning process. Though the quarter-million-dollar budget hike would be significant, one expert says the city can't afford not to approve the spending.

"The built environment is our largest investment and . . . what we build now is around for an awful long time, so we have to get it right," said Jason Gilliland, director of urban development in the University of Western Ontario's geography department.

"I think it's definitely a turning point for the city."

The $248,000 request is broken down as follows: $108,601 for the manager, $77,066 for the urban designer and $62,706 for the urban design technician.

QuantumLeap

Jan 27, 2009, 7:35 PM

This is the first time I've seen of an actual 'concept' for this block.

The location of this is bounded by Central to the South, Richmond to the West, Wellington to the East, and Hyman to the North. Farhi currently owns MOST of the buildings that front onto Central, and that streetscape is VERY important.

However, Farhi is appealing the designation of these properties as part of the West Woodfield Heritage District... doesn't take one too long to figure out why given this concept.

On the Tillman Ruth website, there was a concept plan for this block that they designed in coordination with one of the big New Urbanist firms, DPZ. It had a 9 or 10 floor tower plus some townhouses, with an interior walkway and all of the older buildings preserved. The concept was prepared for Ivest, the owners of the block pre-Farhi.
I am really unimpressed by Farhi's design. It is way too tall, too bulky (!) and has little character (half-traditionalist, half-modern). The one thing that inspires me about this proposal is that Farhi has yet to build so much as a shack in London, Ontario, and the library site seems to be his preferred place to start building

LondnPlanr

Jan 27, 2009, 8:29 PM

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Local/2009/01/27/8158626-sun.html

Mega plan unlike any other

Tue, January 27, 2009

By KATE DUBINSKI

Council Briefs

With more than 50 reports dating back to the 1960s, about everything from trees to parking to business, no one has thought to do what London city hall will try this year: come up with one master plan for the downtown core.

Last night, city hall's planning committee heard what managers call "terms of reference" for coming up with an all-encompassing plan for the city centre -- basically, discussion points and questions to guide city planners and councillors for decades.

"This vision will go a long way to solving what some call a problem and what I call a work in progress," said Bob Usher, chairperson of the London Downtown Business Association.

Last night's meeting saw a handful of interested citizens give input about everything from development outside of the downtown that affects the core, to affordable housing and a performing arts centre.

Among the questions planners will consider when writing the master plan:

- Should Richmond Row, Harris Park, Victoria Park and Eldon House, among others, be included in the downtown boundaries?

- What kind of downtown do Londoners want?

- How tall should new buildings be?

- Should there be new public facilities, such as a performing arts centre?

- How can the downtown attract a grocery store?

- Should there be more parking garages or 24-hour on-street parking?

- Should the city start a bike-share program or make more pedestrian walkways?

Planners will consider public input and the 55 previous reports written about the downtown and more about other parts of the city that have an effect on the core.

WHAT'S NEXT

January-May: Background work

May, June 22: Circulation of draft plan and meeting about the draft

June: Workshops, open house

July-September: Revisions to plan

October: Public meeting

Nov. 22: Final plan presented to board of control

Online: Go to www.london.ca/d.aspx?s=/Planning/downtown_town_plan.htm

ldoto

Jan 27, 2009, 10:06 PM

:previous:
I like these one's

What kind of downtown do Londoners want?

- How tall should new buildings be?

- Should there be new public facilities, such as a performing arts centre?

- How can the downtown attract a grocery store?

- Should there be more parking garages or 24-hour on-street parking?
:banana: :banana: :banana:

london2020

Jan 27, 2009, 10:06 PM

On the Tillman Ruth website, there was a concept plan for this block that they designed in coordination with one of the big New Urbanist firms, DPZ. It had a 9 or 10 floor tower plus some townhouses, with an interior walkway and all of the older buildings preserved. The concept was prepared for Ivest, the owners of the block pre-Farhi.
I am really unimpressed by Farhi's design. It is way too tall, too bulky (!) and has little character (half-traditionalist, half-modern). The one thing that inspires me about this proposal is that Farhi has yet to build so much as a shack in London, Ontario, and the library site seems to be his preferred place to start building

Too tall? I think it's perfect.

london2020

Jan 27, 2009, 10:08 PM

- How tall should new buildings be?

We need a 45-60 floor project at some point if we want to start having a real skyline. (something 150-200m)

- Should there be new public facilities, such as a performing arts centre?

Sure, if there's the money to do it.

- How can the downtown attract a grocery store?

Hasn't this already happened? If not, the answer is obviously more residential towers in a concentrated area.

- Should there be more parking garages or 24-hour on-street parking?

Parking garages are good if they aren't made to look like complete shit. It's better than more parking lots. Of course parking should be allowed on streets 24/7.

sparky212

Jan 28, 2009, 3:41 AM

I agree completly with what you just stated but we would need more than one 45+ tower otherwise it would just look okward.

FazDeH

Jan 28, 2009, 5:01 AM

should London get a 45+ tower? yes eventually... but this won't happen for quite awhile. presently I don't think it would fit into the skyline. I think 35ish is best suited for what we have already and we can grow up from that.
That being said.. with the economic climate the way it is... developers are hesitant to build anything of that size in fear that they will be throwing money away... so for several years at least.. I don't see that size of developement happening. and when it does happen... for the love of God enough stucco already.

secondly I agree with the concept that there needs to be a more central grocery store.. I live downtown and it's a pain.

thirdly as it goes for parking structures, I totally disagree that open air parking is the way to go... it takes up way to much space that could be used for infill. Parking structures as we've seen with recent developements can blend in. 310 Dundas aka cityplace has above ground parking built in and I don't think it's unattractive.. or at least not anymore so from the rest of the building. Underground is pricy, but an effective way to keep parking out of sight, and again if the city is thinking long term.. it might be a good idea. The last thing we need is massive open spaces for parking. Yes it's cost effective... but ultimately wasteful.

sparky212

Jan 28, 2009, 6:41 AM

you haven't posted in a long time

manny_santos

Jan 28, 2009, 3:39 PM

sparky212

Jan 28, 2009, 4:04 PM

I think the west end should extend to adelaid.

QuantumLeap

Jan 28, 2009, 5:34 PM

Board gives green light to transportation plan
Wed, January 28, 2009

By DEBORA VAN BRENK, SUN MEDIA

London could become the trade and transportation hub of Southwestern Ontario - but it has to move fast to do so, says London's chief administrator.

What London is best positioned for in "the next economy" is establishing a prime role in stimulus projects that highlight its natural geographic strengths, Jeff Fielding told board of control today.

"What I'm saying is you cannot afford unnecessary delay," Fielding said.

Included in the plan, endorsed in principle by the board, are plans for high-speed rail and developing partnerships that would include the airport, college and university.

QuantumLeap

Jan 28, 2009, 5:41 PM

How big should downtown be?

- North of the CN tracks
- East of the river
- West of Waterloo Street up to Queens, then west of Wellington
- South of Central Ave west to Talbot, then south of Dufferin

Victoria Park would be included, as well as the main part of Harris Park closest to Queens Ave. City Hall would not be included, but the Convention Centre would be. Some of Richmond Row would be included but not the stretch north of Central Ave. And I think that's more than generous.

I don't think that the Downtown "boundaries" solve anything. They are unfortunately typical of the top-down, systems-style approach prevalent at City Hall. What the City needs is a very broad, loose definition of downtown, something like "the Central City" that would encompass a much larger area- Old East, Woodfield, Wortley Village, the South St Hospital, Richmond Row etc. Within this area, individual projects and programmes would be targetted to the areas in need. The current regimen creates an arbitrary border where little existed before (and where, ultimately none should exist*), and only serves to entrench that border by highly priviledging what's on the inside at the expense of what is immediately on the other side. Eventually, what this will do is to create a ring of low-value, "undesirable" land uses like surface lots, social services right outside the downtown border.

*The most successful cities do NOT tend to have well-defined neighbourhoods. This is because the sorts of things that define neighbourhoods - big parks, railway tracks, steep hills, rivers, industrial zones - are the sort of things whose impacts should be minimized through land use mixing and ample connections, or, in the case of man-made obstructions, should not have been there in the first place. This isn't to say that neighbourliness does not exist in these places, but rather that the psychological "across the tracks" limitations of some cities are minimized.

QuantumLeap

Jan 28, 2009, 6:03 PM

FazDeH

Jan 28, 2009, 8:11 PM

yah, I didn't really have anything to say because I was living out west, doesnt mean I haven't been keeping my eye on the forum hahaha.

I think the bounderies of Downtown are already fairly well established, but continuing with the trend that smaller shops and revitalizing old east should be persued. Wellington south of the tracks has alot of potential aswell and I think it's improving. plus the whole Goodwill project, has anyone heard anything more regarding that?

sparky212

Jan 28, 2009, 8:22 PM

haven't heard a thing:slob:

ldoto

Jan 29, 2009, 3:08 AM

Wed, January 28, 2009

London can position itself as an international transportation hub, but will have to act fast, the city’s chief administrator warns.

With the region’s manufacturing engine faltering, and the hunt on for replacements, Jeff Fielding today gave the city’s board of control a sweeping vision of London’s economic future.

A larger transportation role figures in that vision, but with other cities also chasing the $1 billion the federal government has set aside over five years for hard-hit southern Ontario, time is of the essence, he said.

“We have to have a strategy in place that looks to the next economy,” he said.

“There’s $1 billion on offer. We have to be ingenious to get a handle on this.”

Making London International Airport a central facility — handling regional, national and foreign freight through a major distribution centre — is part of the vision.

So is adding a truck-train facility, a so-called intermodal terminal, where three main rail lines meet near Komoka.

Close to the U.S. market, on the nation’s biggest highway system and cheaper to fly goods in and out of than most large Canadian cities, London has key advantages.

Another advantage will be added soon with the airport rolled into an open-skies agreement between Canada and the 27-member European Union, allowing London to go after more of billions of dollars a year in air passenger and freight traffic.

The airport was also recently approved for Ottawa's cargo trans-shipment program, allowing cargo to be moved duty-free through the airport from one country to another.

Fielding said London’s next economy could and should include partnerships with the airport, the city’s post-secondary schools and the South West Economic Alliance.

He said the plan becomes an even stronger possibility with the federal budget announcement of the $1 billion over five years for southern Ontario, money to flow from a new economic development fund.

Fielding said as much as 80 per cent of what’s produced here goes to the Toronto area, where it’s “up-manufactured” and then whizzes past London to U.S. and other markets.

London can decide it wants a bigger piece of that action.

Specific details can come later but not too much later, he said: Other centres are chasing the same pot of cash.

Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco-Best said local government traditionally has had great plans but not followed through.

“There is an urgency and I don’t think we can delay. I think we need to move as quickly as we can.”

Controller Gord Hume lauded it as a solid plan.

“We don’t need huge amounts of navel-gazing and blue-sky-ing and that sort of thing. Let’s get on with action.”

The federal budget included millions to improve rail service among Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto – because they lobbied for it, noted Dianne Cunningham, director of the Lawrence National Centre for Policy and Management at the Richard Ivey School of Business.

“Now, we’re never going to get it unless we scream for it,” she told the board, presenting a response by her and her students to Fielding’s strategy.

She said the plan for distribution centres and dedicated freight lines needs to reach everyone’s ears.

“The sense of urgency, in the students’ view, has not reached the government of Canada, the government of Ontario.”

"Our way of working has to change in the next three to five years" as government and institutions, not the private sector, lead spending, Fielding said.

That means it’s essential to form partnerships with the University of Western Ontario and Fanshawe College to regenerate the city and region.

“It’s time we got together and realized we have to consolidate our viewpoints.”

He said staff will report back with a detailed action plan, time frames, costs and funding sources.

Controllers expressed enthusiasm for the strategy but also want to make sure politicians and administrators think beyond re-working the faltering auto-based economy.

“What programs are going to be an investment into the jobs of the future?” Deputy Mayor Tom Gosnell asked.

He said short-term financial investment is important, but not at the expense of long-term thinking.

“London wants to position itself for the future. That’s the point of this program. It’s not for someone to say, ‘Well, I always wanted to fix that sewer on Emery (Street).”

OTHER PLAN ELEMENTS:D :D :D

Besides major airport and rail/trucking upgrades, the vision shared with city controllers yesterday includes:

Making better use of land available along the Highway 401/402 corridor and along Veteran’s Memorial Parkway.
Adding high-speed passenger rail through the region and a dedicated rail for freight.

Expanding Hwy. 7 through Perth County and connecting it with Hwy. 402.
Local technology and innovation partnerships with UWO and Fanshawe College.

ldoto

Jan 30, 2009, 3:37 AM

Thu, January 29, 2009

Chris Kirwin has taken a bite out of the Red Apple.

The London real estate broker, vice-president and broker for Colliers International in London, has bought the former Red Apple discount store on Dundas Street. It will become a revamped commercial space with about 30 apartment units on the four floors above it.

"I think this is fantastic, I really believe in the downtown," said Kirwin. "There are more retailers downtown now and the John Labatt Centre and new library have contributed greatly to the core and its revitalization."

The space at 140 Dundas St. is one of the few large vacant spaces available near the JLC, he added.

"There is a strong market for retail apartments downtown," he said.

Kirwin takes possession of the property in March. He declined to reveal the purchase price.

The units will be lower-cost, one-bedroom and bachelor apartments marketed toward people working in the downtown at restaurants and call centres, he said.

He added that the downtown is still attractive because investors are fleeing the volatile stock markets and looking to buy property in a down market, he added.

Retail store vacancy rates downtown have dropped to about eight per cent from 10 per cent about two years ago, he said.

The store itself is 10,000 square feet and there is another 27,000 square feet above that. Since the store fronts on both Dundas and Carling streets, it could be divided between two tenants, or offered as one larger space, Kirwin said.

The decor on the upper floors dates to the 1930s, when the space was offices for the old Metropolitan Department stores, Kirwin said.

"I don't think it has been touched in 40 years," he said.

Janette MacDonald, manager of MainStreet London, cheered the news, adding there's a demand for inexpensive apartment in the core.

"People want to live downtown and this is the kind of residential development we need," she said.

But she said she's also glad to have the street level commercial space sold and ready soon for a tenant.

"Dundas is the most important street in the downtown. It is our main street. It is historic and it does not look good if it has vacancies. To see that occupied would be a fantastic win," she said. :tup: :tup:

Jamaican-Phoenix

Jan 30, 2009, 3:47 AM

London should be a world-class city in the heart of Southern Ontario. Hope you guys make the right choices for the future, and here's hoping you get more buildings and taller buildings downtown! :tup:

MolsonExport

Jan 30, 2009, 3:05 PM

Take London (ON), multiply it by 10, and maybe then, you would have something that could, very possibly, be a candidate for world-class.

SlickFranky

Jan 31, 2009, 3:10 AM

Good to hear someone's finally putting that piece of property to use.

And yeah, we're pretty far down the list of World Cities. Honestly, most people in our own country barely know we exist.

sparky212

Feb 1, 2009, 9:54 PM

went to the reniassance today and got som pics of the lobby

ForestryW

Feb 1, 2009, 11:02 PM

Nice, man. Post 'em!

sparky212

Feb 2, 2009, 3:01 AM

can i pm them to somebody cuz when i post they appier as x's

MolsonExport

Feb 4, 2009, 1:55 PM

JrUrbanDesigner

Feb 4, 2009, 2:06 PM

Hello everyone,
Thank you to those who check in on my blog every once in a while I've been swamped with school work lately so i haven’t had an opportunity to add any new post! - I do however, have several projects to talk about.

I'm doing some research for a project and was wondering if anyone could answer a few questions for me;

-Do you take public transit?

-What do you think it would take for the common Londoner (maybe even yourself) to take public transit in London?

-How do you feel about existing high density within our city?

-How do you think high density residential should be distributed throughout the city? What should it look like?

Thanks
*JrUD

sparky212

Feb 4, 2009, 5:46 PM

-Do you take public transit?yes

-What do you think it would take for the common Londoner (maybe even yourself) to take public transit in London? more room all the buses that run through the core are packed

-How do you feel about existing high density within our city? I wish more was downtown.

-How do you think high density residential should be distributed throughout the city? What should it look like?Anything over 12 stories should be dt And if in dt it should be at least 75 % coverd in glass or brick & stone. no stucco!!

MolsonExport

Feb 4, 2009, 6:00 PM

-Do you take public transit?
No. Used to, when I had no choice. Pretty awful.

-What do you think it would take for the common Londoner (maybe even yourself) to take public transit in London?
A more comfortable, swifter trip.

-How do you feel about existing high density within our city?
Could be worse, could be better. I'd like to see a higher proportion of HD downtown, and less going to commie-blocks near Costo on Wonderland, etc.

-How do you think high density residential should be distributed throughout the city? What should it look like?
See above. No more commie blocks/concrete slabs. Oh, and get rid of the horrid courthouse building downtown (a pipe dream, but that thing is so fugly on every single dimension).

SlickFranky

Feb 5, 2009, 12:44 AM

-Do you take public transit?
sometimes...I mostly just walk everywhere

-What do you think it would take for the common Londoner (maybe even yourself) to take public transit in London?
higher order service...many Londoners look down on buses (for good reason), and wouldn't take them no matter how well the service was run
a decent lrt (or even streetcar) network would get people on board

-How do you feel about existing high density within our city?
almost entirely awful

-How do you think high density residential should be distributed throughout the city? What should it look like?
more centralized, less Soviet

ldoto

Feb 5, 2009, 3:58 AM

Update!!!!

Embassy Hotel to close and be demolished for condos

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a138/ldoto/News%20Paper%20Photos/untitled.jpg

BREAKING NEWS: The Embassy Hotel at 732 Dundas Street East in Old East Village will be closing for good after Saturday, February 28, 2009.
The word is that a condo development will replace the Embassy and a few shops to the immediate east.

During the past 30 years, the hotel's Whippit Lounge has been an important entertainment venue for up-and-coming local bands. The hotel has been an east London landmark since the late 1920s. Developing ...:banana::banana::banana:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a138/ldoto/News%20Paper%20Photos/untitled1.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a138/ldoto/News%20Paper%20Photos/untitled3.jpg

flar

Feb 5, 2009, 4:07 AM

The Embassy used to have a lot of great music. I guess it's a sign of the times, local live music can't compete with the ultraperfect canned music people listen to nowadays.

FazDeH

Feb 5, 2009, 6:45 AM

I think it's good that the old east is going this direction, YAY upswing! As for the Embassy, I'm glad that hole is getting shut down, live music? sure. But the reality of the situation is it was unsafe, the crowd that goes there these days tends to be of a less then upstanding nature. Call the office is still rockin'

MolsonExport

Feb 5, 2009, 2:26 PM

sparky212

Feb 5, 2009, 7:39 PM

I know eh:previous:

manny_santos

Feb 6, 2009, 5:56 AM

-Do you take public transit?

Almost daily.

-What do you think it would take for the common Londoner (maybe even yourself) to take public transit in London?

More routes need to connect suburbs with major hubs other than downtown. For example getting to Westmount from Byron is not very easy via public transit. There also needs to be more frequent service on the major routes, and express routes that don't stop every block. Public carpool lots at major hubs such as malls would be a help as well. The service in general needs to be more reliable, as some routes have a reputation for a number of scheduled buses not showing up in a row - a particular problem on the Dundas route.

-How do you feel about existing high density within our city?

Not enough of it.

-How do you think high density residential should be distributed throughout the city? What should it look like?

There should be high density residential in every part of the city. The Oxford/Wonderland area has a lot of high density, but there isn't very much in some other areas. It also shouldn't look like the original SimCity.

manny_santos

Feb 6, 2009, 6:02 AM

What do you all think about the Mayor's husband's little adventure last saturday? Must be pretty damned embarassing for Anne-Marie, to say the least.

somehow, the London "Free" Press completely buried this news. Garbage, toady paper, as usual.

http://www.fridayknightlights.com/images/footer.jpg

-waiting for the usual snarky.

A friend of mine approached Anne-Marie at the bar the other night asking her about the issue, and she told him to "go away".

While the LFP buried the story, it was the top story on A-News on Sunday, which had a fairly long report about it. Once again they've proven they're a more credible news source than the daily rag.

This is the same bar where there was a shooting not long ago, and Mr. Best downplayed the whole thing, instead promoting his all-you-can-eat chicken wing deal in the LFP article. Wow. Just, wow.

In other City Hall news, I feel like I've stepped into a time machine back to 2001. We're STILL bickering about whether to have a deer cull in Sifton Bog?! (Next thing you know Jeff Malpass will be back.) The excess deer need to be shot, and the City needs to take the action and move onto more important issues such as the current economic situation.

MolsonExport

Feb 6, 2009, 1:30 PM

^here, here.

LondnPlanr

Feb 6, 2009, 3:14 PM

A friend of mine approached Anne-Marie at the bar the other night asking her about the issue, and she told him to "go away".

While the LFP buried the story, it was the top story on A-News on Sunday, which had a fairly long report about it. Once again they've proven they're a more credible news source than the daily rag.

This is the same bar where there was a shooting not long ago, and Mr. Best downplayed the whole thing, instead promoting his all-you-can-eat chicken wing deal in the LFP article. Wow. Just, wow.

In other City Hall news, I feel like I've stepped into a time machine back to 2001. We're STILL bickering about whether to have a deer cull in Sifton Bog?! (Next thing you know Jeff Malpass will be back.) The excess deer need to be shot, and the City needs to take the action and move onto more important issues such as the current economic situation.

A friend of mine and I have been in direct email contact with Paul Berton, the editor of the LFPress. After a few emails back and forth, and his constant spewing of the whole 'innocent until proven guilty' thing, my friend and I are ENTIRELY 100% ABSOLUTELY convinced that the Free Press ignored this incident on purpose.

I am sorry, but innocent or not, this incident ACTUALLY HAPPENED. Regardless of whether he was hammered or not, he almost KILLED people in not one, but TWO seperate accidents. I mean, ridiculous stuff! I suggest you all email Paul Berton and let him know that them trying to bury this on page 3 of the newspaper on Monday morning is not going to cut it. That was a front page article, no doubt about it. And why wasn't it on the front page? Because it was the mayors husband.

That being said, I'm not out to attack Anne-Marie. I don't mind her at all. It's just that, if this was another person, this would've been front page news. "Driver Causes 2 Accidents, Arrested" would be the headline.

MolsonExport

Feb 7, 2009, 2:05 AM

manny_santos

Feb 7, 2009, 2:25 AM

yep. exactly. anyone else, it would be front-page news. And you'd think, "wow, the mayor's husband...for sure the LFP will have something"...but it is buried like a skeleton in the closet.

And while we are at it, how on earth did Best get the exemption for that lousy deck/patio along Richmond? Fishy, fishy.

Not to mention him and Anne-Marie barged into Zellers at opening time to get door-crasher deals on patio furniture for the bar.

I've got one for Mr. Berton. How about Sara Whittington of St. Thomas? Is she innocent until proven guilty too?

ldoto

Feb 7, 2009, 2:03 PM

:previous:
Originally Posted by MolsonExport
What do you all think about the Mayor's husband's little adventure last saturday? Must be pretty damned embarassing for Anne-Marie, to say the least.

somehow, the London "Free" Press completely buried this news. Garbage, toady paper, as usual.

-waiting for the usual snarky.

The mayor, her husband, the media

Sat, February 7, 2009

By PAUL BERTON

It was a no-win situation. I knew I would be criticized regardless of where we ran the article Monday headlined "Mayor's husband facing charges."

If we ran it on the front page, people would criticize us for sensationalizing an incident in which the mayor was involved only by association. They'd say we've always hated the mayor. If we ran it on Page 3, we'd get criticized for "burying it." They'd ask why we're on the mayor's re-election team.

I took the high road (some of you might say, "for once") and we ran the story on Page 3. It simply seemed the fair thing to do.

Some congratulated us for putting it there; others were critical.

The Editor's blog at lfpress.com lit up: "Mr Berton, Just about everyone I know in London and a lot of others elsewhere are fully cognizant of the fact that you, your editors and board and your entire journalist (sic) staff act as the 'Praetorian media Guard' in forming a favourable protective 'ring' around your friends, the feminist-activist 'shelter industry' and its ranks, promoting the mayor, the chief of police, the father destroying shelter directors, the NDP cadre and the liars and manipulators at Western University."

Well, he certainly covers a lot of ground there, doesn't he? (And that's the edited version.)

Before I made the decision, I discussed it with several colleagues. The opinion was split evenly, and both sides made good points.

The over-riding consideration was the mayor was not involved in the incident. Would we have written a story if the spouse of a local MP or MPP was involved? Would we have put the story on the front page if it didn't involve the husband of the mayor?

Recommending the story to the front page was that Best had been on our front page before, and he is a bar owner, and it is a serious incident. (Best is charged, among other things, with failing to remain at the scene of an accident, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, and impaired operation of a motor vehicle.)

And, of course, putting it on the front page would help sell newspapers, which is always a consideration. Countering that was the fact the story was, by Monday morning, 36 hours old. It had been updated many times and many people had seen various versions of it at lfpress.com throughout Sunday. So I knew people would find the story whether it was on the front page or not.

Many blog posts from critics (before I edited them) used language that assumed guilt and made allegations not yet proven in court, as did the letters to the editor, which we didn't post because they were potentially libelous.

The writers simply didn't buy this, as you can see by reading the blog. They clearly do not understand most newspapers, unlike most "information" vehicles on the free-for-all that is the World Wide Web, must concern themselves with issues of libel and contempt of court.

Not only could our playing fast and loose with the "facts" be costly for this organization, it could jeopardize and derail a legal proceeding. That is why contempt of court laws exist.

Meanwhile, pursuing matters before the courts can be risky, and police are always parsimonious with details in cases like this.

None of this is of any relevance, apparently, to the blogosphere, a kind of electronic Wild West where conspiracy theories abound, common sense is at a minimum, and schadenfreude seems to be the prevailing sentiment.

And so it is some readers (and even a few of our staff, apparently) assume a cozy relationship between myself, this organization and the mayor, a sentiment I'm sure the mayor would find laughable at best.

Does this newspaper think twice before being critical of the mayor, the city, the police chief, the university, the college, the hospitals, the business community . . .?

Of course we do. Do individuals get the same treatment? Sometimes, unfortunately, they do not, and it isn't fair.

As a key part of this community, The London Free Press tries to be part of the solution rather than the problem. That means we're both critical (and all these organizations are more familiar with that than they'd rather) and complimentary when we can be.

But cabals, cozy relationships and conspiracies? Please.

I made a decision, based on journalism and experience, for better or worse.

All we can look forward to now is the day the case reaches the courts. (And yes, we'll be there.)

ldoto

Feb 7, 2009, 2:33 PM

GOOD NEWS!!!!!

Everyone agrees suburbia, while not broken, is not perfect either.

Developers, politicians, planners and residents want to make London more livable, friendly, affordable, aesthetically pleasing, green, energy-efficient -- workable.

The mayor reminded us of that yesterday in her annual state of the city address hosted by the London Chamber of Commerce.
And city council, sensing the right direction for the city, years ago put our money where its mouth is, hiring an urban designer to help guide us into a new era of residential and commercial development, and build neighbourhoods that work.

Ideally, suburban streetscapes of the future will be marked by front porches, not garages; the streets will be on grids, not cul-de-sacs or crescents; the plans will allow for easily walkable town centres and villages, not just regional malls and parking lots; there will be efficient mass transit, not just the odd bus in a sea of single-occupant vehicles; and there will be a mix of uses; not just one.

It's not an easy task. Old habits die hard, but they are shifting, and the realities of the modern world (that is, energy prices) will force us to change sooner or later. That's why a proposal to add another $248,000 to the city budget to hire more urban designers, despite tough economic times, deserves consideration.

If London is to be competitive in the future, to attract the kinds of people and the kinds of employers we need to sustain a healthy economy, we must stand out from the crowd, and one of the best ways to do that is to have great places to live.

To be sure, we have great places to live now, in old and new areas of the city. Our suburbs are on par with those in most other cities.

But is that good enough? Shouldn't we strive to be better -- different? Cities such as Oakville and Markham, to use two nearby examples, have started to build things differently, with an eye to attracting people who care about more than just a nice street and a big roof over their heads.

We need to start planning our communities of the future now, and we need the expertise to help us do it. :banana::banana:

ldoto

Feb 7, 2009, 2:51 PM

London Free Press Feb 5 2009

By RANDY RICHMOND , SUN MEDIA

A new provincial report has boosted London and backed what its leaders have insisted for years: London can lead Ontario into a new economy.

“The fact that London is specifically mentioned in the report gives us a boost,” Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco-Best said today. “I think we are already moving to a new economy.

The province is seeing London on the radar much more than ever before.” The $2.2-million report, commissioned by Premier Dalton McGuinty, examines the change in the province from reliance on manufacturing to a new economy of service, health care and research jobs that require high levels of knowledge and creativity.
By focusing on the new economy — and letting the old die naturally — Ontario is set to compete against other North American economic mega-regions when the recession eases, the report says.

“A handful of cities — from London through Kitchener-Waterloo through Toronto and Ottawa — together comprises one of the world’s largest economic mega-regions that helps make Ontario one of the most advanced and productive jurisdictions on earth,” Richard Florida, one of the report authors, said today.

But to realize its full potential, the mega-region needs improvement in key areas, including education and transportation, the report says. “We propose the province orient its infrastructure strategy around a simple goal — to speed the movement of goods, people and ideas . . . ” the report states. “We will need to build more substantial connections and further unify the Toronto/Greater Golden Horseshoe/Ottawa/London mega-region.” London’s political and economic leaders have been pushing to make the city a transportation hub through air, rail and highway improvements.

“(Transportation) is one of the areas in the report that stands out as where London can contribute,” DeCicco-Best said. “We believe we should be the transportation hub for the Southwestern Ontario region, which will make the province more competitive.”:)

The report’s recommendation Ontario develop and increase its “creative class” is nothing new to London, which has been trying to attract and hang onto young, well-educated workers, DeCicco-Best added.

“We are already doing it,” she said. In a speech before the report was released, co-author Florida clearly identified London as a creative-class city, said Peter White, chief executive officer of the London Economic Development Corp. “That makes total sense, give our capabilities in education and that we are the health service centre for the region,” he said. But the authors’ rejection of a manufacturing-based economy angered Jayson Myers, president and chief executive of the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters.

“The problem with this analysis is it assumes manufacturers are not innovative. If they think manufacturing is a brawn industry, they have to catch up with the times.” The suggestion the new creative economy will leave workers in manufacturing behind is little more than elitism, Myers said. “Those working in manufacturing help pay for those who sit around universities drinking coffee,” said Myers.

Florida and the report’s co-author Roger Martin, are leaders at the University of Toronto’s Rotman school of management. For the latest local coverage, read The London Free Press on the web or in print. To subscribe to the print edition, click on our subscription page. Randy Richmond is a Free Press reporter.
With files by Free Press reporter Norman De Bono

flar

Feb 9, 2009, 3:26 AM

I posted a phototour of Woodfield (the area east of Victoria Park) that you guys might be interested in:
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=164787

LondnPlanr

Feb 10, 2009, 3:49 PM

Old East Village on Rebound
Tue, February 10, 2009

TROUBLED NEIGHBOURHOOD: Problems with violence, prostitution and old buildings have slowly given way to new businesses and improvements

By KATE DUBINSKI

It wouldn't be too much to call Sarah Merritt giddy with pride about the changes in London's Old East Village.

The manager of the Business Improvement Area (BIA) for the troubled strip along Dundas Street east of Adelaide Street has a lot to celebrate -- two planned new condo developments, businesses sprucing up their facades and eyesores being demolished and replaced by new projects.

"It's not a mall, for sure, but we don't want it to be."

She stops in at two cafes and points out art co-ops, a theatre and empty storefronts soon to be renovated and spruced up.

"This is a revitalization of an already vibrant community," she said

This was always a positive community. We're living proof that it doesn't matter what other people think of you."

Merritt said problems with violence, prostitution and dilapidated buildings have slowly given way to arts hubs, fixed-up facades and one-of-a-kind stores.

"We're not done yet by a long shot, but we're on our way," says Merritt, who has a background in community development and jokingly calls herself "an old hippie."

"Failure is not an option. The revitalization has already happened. We're just seeing the buildings going up now. The faith in this community was always there."

It may be coming in dribs and drabs, but a tour of the main thoroughfare is Merritt's proof: the Medallion development, a two-tower condo project with 600 units, and the just-announced Terrasan condos, with 150 units, will change the village's look.

And those are just the latest announcements.

Even if those developments didn't go through, "that wouldn't stop us," Merritt says.

The London Potters Guild bought a building in the village that's being gutted and refurbished and two artists' co-ops have sprung up.

The city's financial incentive program -- everything from facade-improvement loan programs, to breaks on development charges -- has improved the look of Dundas from Charlotte Street, just east of Quebec Street, where the BIA begins, all the way to Adelaide, where it ends.

There's McHardy Vacuum, which spruced up its facade. Beside it, a new building is going in. Just west on Dundas, there's a dental clinic, home to a leading orthodontist, and the Aoelian Hall, with its art and music performances.

"This whole stretch is doing beautifully," Merritt says of the block beside Aoelian Hall.

Across the street from the Embassy Hotel, which is to be torn down to make way for the Terrasan condos, there's The Village Coffee House, which serves coffee and sells art.

If you ignore the odd eyesore, some say, Old East Village has come a long way.

"It's really your choice -- where you want to live and the kind of experience you want to have when you step out your door every day," Merritt says.

"If you want a varied, eclectic experience, this is the place to go."

The BIA also is working with the city and art groups to develop a greening plan and public art displays for the area.

MolsonExport

Feb 10, 2009, 7:31 PM

^interesting, but extremely selective. Dundas street east of Adelaide is a very scary, gritty place.

LondnPlanr

Feb 10, 2009, 8:26 PM

^interesting, but extremely selective. Dundas street east of Adelaide is a very scary, gritty place.

I assume you are referring to the old 'S' curve area of Dundas, formerly referred to as 'Centretown'. You are right, plenty of work still needs to be done there, but of the whole area of Old East Village, this is the area that needs the LEAST amount of rehabilitation. The store front, pedestrian-friendly streetscape already exists in this area, and just needs some polish and a few recognized, strong tennants.

I always wonder what would happen if, for example, a GAP, HMV, Starbucks, a few Richmond Row-style bars/restaurants, etc. took a huge gamble and moved into the area. I occassionally drive right down Dundas on my way home from work in the East end to Old South, and I just envision the area with a Richmond Row-style 'vibrance' to it. The apartments in the area are going to help, and like I just mentioned, a few recognized commercial tennants and some sort of increased night-life/restaurant crowd would probably work wonders... at least I can dream.

The area has unbelieveable potential, and the victory in this story is that it's not just the people that live and invest in Old East Village that see it now. It's right on the cusp of turning the corner, and I can't wait to see the area when it does.

ForestryW

Feb 10, 2009, 9:52 PM

I can think of much much scarier, grittier places.

ldoto

Feb 11, 2009, 3:08 AM

Tue, February 10, 2009

Premier was in London for lunch

The not-in-my backyard syndrome will not be allowed to halt green energy projects in Ontario and the jobs they bring, Premier Dalton McGuinty told a London audience today.

He said if all safety and environmental standards are met, communities will not be allowed to reject wind turbines, solar panels or biofuel plants simply because they don't like them.

He said the new Green Energy Act his government will enact is intended to prevent such barriers to green energy projects and the 50,000 jobs they bring.

"We are going to find a way, through this new legislation, to make it perfectly clear that NIMBYism will no longer prevail," he told reporters at a luncheon gathering of the London chamber of commerce.

"We need those jobs, we need clean electricity, we need to assume full responsibility in the face of climate change and we are going to do that in Ontario," he said. "We can't allow interests to oppose these, simply because they don't like them."

He took note of the application by Bio-En Power to build a biogas facility on Cuddy Boulevard.

The plan is opposed by an indoor soccer centre next door and city hall's planning committee has decided to study the issue further.

McGuinty said his government intends to "make it faster to get new wind turbines, solar panels and biofuel plants online and plugged into the (Ontario electricity) grid

ldoto

Feb 11, 2009, 3:24 AM

Tue, February 10, 2009

Housing starts in the London area rose last month, compared to the previous January, providing a glimmer of good economic news.

But David Lan, an analyst with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) cautions that of the 238 housing starts in the London-St. Thomas market last month, 204 units came from a single apartment building project at Adelaide Street and Kipps Lane.

The number of single housing starts, usually considered a more reliable indicator, fell to 31 last month, compared to 75 in the same month last year.

Lan said the January number may prove to be no more than a "blip" in an otherwise slow housing market. But he says multi-unit construction in the London market has continued to be relatively strong and building permit applications indicate more of these projects are on the way.

"In an uncertain economy, people tend to shift towards the rentals and ride things out," said Lan

New multi-unit projects in the works include a 150-unit condo building that would replace the Embassy Hotel in east London and an apartment building in northwest London.

Lan said the steady decline in single housing starts that started in the last quarter of 2008 is due to a decline in job numbers and consumer confidence. But he said unusually harsh weather also might have been a factor in January.

The CMHC reported housing starts across Canada were down to annualized rate of 153,500 units, down 10.9 per cent from December.

In Ontario the annualized starts were down to 51,500 units in January, down from 60,300 in December.

With dramatic job losses reported in Ontario last week, CMHC regional economist Ted Tsiakopoulos expects the slowdown will persist for months.

flar

Feb 11, 2009, 3:30 AM

RE: Dundas east

The new residential building going up on the Embassy site is just what is needed to revive retail on that stretch. The demographics have to change before any upscale (or midscale) businesses will take a chance there. If you've ever taken the Dundas bus you can instantly see the demographics east of Adelaide are not favourable for Starbucks or the Gap.

sparky212

Feb 11, 2009, 6:45 AM

did tricar do the same thing to the reniassance as sifton did to olp, build both foundations and put a parking lot over the one they are not using?

flar

Feb 11, 2009, 2:40 PM

Another London tour:
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=164891

ForestryW

Feb 11, 2009, 7:43 PM

ForestryW

Feb 13, 2009, 9:14 PM

Flar I'm loving your photo tours, keep 'em coming!

manny_santos

Feb 14, 2009, 1:59 AM

I didn't realize until today how serious the deer overpopulation in and around Sifton Bog is. Along Riverside Drive, I saw seven (7) deer sitting in one backyard backing onto Riverside. Seven crammed into one house's backyard.

I cannot believe some people think relocating them is a good idea. They won't survive in a non-natural habitat. We should've culled them in 2001, and moved onto other issues. The fact City Council is still bickering about this all these years later speaks volumes about the administration.

Also from that area, the old stone house on the southwest corner of Riverside and Wonderland is being demolished. All that is left now is the foundation.

JrUrbanDesigner

Feb 14, 2009, 5:21 AM

Really nice photo's of London Flar.. we got some great neighborhoods! and hopefully some of the newer neighborhoods that will be build someday will be just as great and photo worthy! -

As to Sparky's question about the Renaissance - "did tricar do the same thing to the Renaissance as sifton did to olp, build both foundations and put a parking lot over the one they are not using?
02-10-2009 10:30 PM "

To my knowledge they did not build both foundations the south portion of the site has remained untouched, hopefully though as soon as they are done with phase one they can continue on building the parking structure that is planned between the north tower and the proposed south tower, if they don't the block will really look unfinished!

Did anyone catch the CBC show The Nature of things on thurday? the episode was called - Living City: A Critical Guide; It was about 6 Canadian cities I found it very interesting and recomend it to anyone intersted in Urban Planning/ Design / Sustainable cities/ Public Transit. I have the episode up on my blog (http://urbanitydesign.wordpress.com/) - I also have some details and images of the new North London Community Recreation Center and Library!