London Construction - Development News Thread #1

[JrUrbanDesigner]

Originally Posted by QuantumLeap

Does anyone have any news on the new Regional Mental Health Care building to be constructed at the Parkwood Site?

I believe they are doing the 1st phase- which is infrastructure, they are digging a trench from the incenerator to the site of the new building to run ?steam-for heat? im guessing.

[JrUrbanDesigner]

What eventually happens to the hospital buildings near the Thames River, however, will be a dominant issue for the proposed redevelopment

By JONATHAN SHER

Dream big.

That was the undeniable message yesterday from London city designers and planners as they unveiled three-dimensional images of what might one day replace the hulking hospital buildings that block the view of the Thames River from South St.

The hospital facilities south of the street would be gone, replaced by residential buildings with ground-floor cafes and stores that open to a promenade that restores the connection between community and river.

The buildings themselves would be models of urban design, rising only a couple of storeys near the street and promenade, to blend with the mostly-residential neighbourhood south of Horton St., known as SoHo.

Farther from the street, the centres of the buildings rise many storeys and would be home to a concentration of people needed to draw vital and basic services, such as a grocery store.

"It's a dream, more than a plan and it's designed to help Londoners imagine the incredible potential for a very special development on this site," city planner John Fleming said.

It's a vision that's driven people in the area to look past the troubles they face today, problems such as street prostitution and empty stores on nearby Wellington and Horton streets.

"I'm really excited about it," said Marie Claire Bilyk, one of about 50 SoHo residents who gathered at the Wellington Street United Church to listen to city officials and brainstorm about neighbourhood plans.

The meeting was the third for the neighbourhood and the city as they create a plan for SoHo, and while that plan will have many facets, one issue dominates -- what will happen to the South St. hospital.

By the summer of 2011, London Health Sciences Centre will abandon its buildings south of South St. So far, none of the involved parties has agreed to pay for their demolition.

"It's Mt. Everest," Coun. Judy Bryant said after speaking at the church gathering.

If the buildings are removed and the land available for redevelopment, there will be community euphoria, she said. If demolition stalls over money, hopes of revitalizing the neighbourhood will be dealt a terrible blow.

In 2005, LHSC estimated demolition of the buildings and remediation of the lands would cost between $9.7 million and $13.15 million.

Some city councillors have demanded the hospital and Ontario government pay the full costs because a decade ago, hospital officials had promised to assume the cost if council gave city hospitals $15 million for restructuring. Council made the grant.

But LHSC officials say they'd banked on provincial funds that never came -- their board wants to cap the hospital contribution to $1.2 million plus the value of 1.8 hectares of hospital land there and some work already completed.

Source:LFPress.ca Oct 22nd 2009

[sparky212]

I see it every few days not much happening right now jus digging. There are huge piles of dirt though.
woops, didn't read JrUrbanDesigner's post.

[manny_santos]

Originally Posted by london2020

I looked through the draft 2009 budget and these are my findings in terms of road work in the next several years. Some of it is good, while other stuff is disappointing.

Where: Wonderland Rd (Gainsborough to Fanshawe)
What: Widening to 4 Lanes
When: 2010
Cost: $11.8 million

Where: Hale St / Trafalgar / CN Rail
What: Grade Separation
When: 2011-2013
Cost: $16 million
Notes: $4 m already spent, apparently. I have no idea what this will look like. It's a real mess now though.

Where: Commissioners Rd (Wonderland to Viscount)
What: Widen to 5 lanes
When: 2012
Cost: $13.7 million
Notes: Well, it's obviously a good idea. But why did they waste all that money repaving it recently?

Aside from Hale/Trafalgar, Wonderland North, and Sarnia Road west of Wonderland, have there been any revised timelines put forward for other projects? I overheard the tail-end of a report on A-News a couple weeks ago about road projects but couldn't find any info on it. What about the Bradley extension westward from White Oak Road, any idea when that is finally happening?

[manny_santos]

Originally Posted by london2020

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?

I've found a little more out about Bathurst Street, now that I work in that area...

The parking strip on the north side of Bathurst Street including on top of the Wellington Street subway used to be in railway use. The rail lines ran right up to the south edge of the structure and the Bathurst/Wellington roadway confuguration simply hasn't changed at all since the railway right-of-way was scaled back. My understanding is that the parking area is under private ownership and is only permitted for use by employees working in the buildings in the area.

Since we're in that area, I'm not sure closing off Bathurst Street just west of Wellington near the Salvation Army building is necessary. Working in the area, I can't say I've seen many people loitering in that direct area, loitering seems to be more of a problem on the west sidewalk on Wellington itself. And even then, it's less of a problem than the loitering in front of the Central Library entrance on Dundas Street or near McDonald's at Market Tower.

[sparky212]

found this in the buisness london mag.
Q:finnaly how do things stand in the core
Schnurr: almost no condo development except for a small building and a reasonably sized building.But still that could come.
So I wonder if this means we are gona see some development dt or I wonder if he is talking about the old east proposals. Lets hope for the previous

[ldoto]

Update!!!

Second-hand duds to get new digs

By RANDY RICHMOND, The London Free Press

A regional social service agency has taken the first step in a $12-million redevelopment enhancing the gateway to London's downtown.

Goodwill Industries officially opened its temporary store and donation centre at 205 Horton St. Friday, allowing work to start on its new facility on its property a block east.

"We are starting our project," a jubilant Michelle Quintyn, president of the Great Lakes region Goodwill, said. "We ought to be ground-breaking in March or early April."

Best known as a second-hand clothing shop, Goodwill offers employment counselling that last year served 7,000 people in the London region. Goodwill's new facility will include more than the agency's well-known store and donation centre, and its regional corporate offices.

Called the Social Enterprise Abilities Centre, the 80,000-square-foot facility also will include a cafe, community space, and a training and conference centre.

The expansion will add 75 to 100 new jobs to the 40 staff positions at the existing centre.

The temporary quarters will allow Goodwill to continue running its operation and bring in revenue while the new centre is built, Quintyn said.

"We wanted to stay in the neighbourhood, but that was going to be a challenge."

York Developments came to the rescue, buying and renovating a building down the street that was abandoned for a decade, Quintyn said.

York and Goodwill worked together to get the agency into the temporary headquarters.

"They made major improvements to allow us a place for maybe only 15 months," Quintyn said.

"They can see the renaissance of this area."

The area known as SOHO, for south of Horton, is home to about 1,200 homes, dozens of businesses, South Street hospital and several large social service agencies.

In recent years, the traditionally working class, tightly knit neighbourhood has attracted an artistic and activist community that is working with longer-term residents to combat increasing prostitution and illicit drug use in the area.

At the same time, the city has invested money in turning Wellington St. into an attractive gateway into the downtown area to the north.

[sparky212]

great found this on the same topic on the cities website

255 Horton Street East – Goodwill Industries – Request to: expand a legal non-conforming use (retail store) into the R3-1 zone south of the existing Goodwill Industries; permit a rear yard setback 0m whereas 7.5m is required under the AC4 zone portion and the said setback of 0.75m whereas 6m is required under R3-1 zone; permit a north interior side yard setback of 0m whereas 2.4m is required and an overall building height of 12.7m whereas 10m maximum is permitted in the AC4 zone and 10.5m maximum is permitted in the R3-1 zone; permit a lot coverage of 52% (63% existing) whereas a lot coverage maximum of 40% and 45% respectively is permitted; permit gross floor areas of 1022m2 for retail, 2272m2 for warehouse, 1130m2 for community centre, and 2200 m2 whereas 800m2 maximum is permitted for industrial uses; permit 128 parking spaces whereas 142 parking spaces are required and to locate the said parking spaces 0m from the ultimate road allowance whereas 3m is required and in an adjacent residential zone in place of a commercial zone.

[FazDeH]

Well ladies and gentlemen of our wonderful local forum, I was very luckily given the chance to sit in on a conversation with some local business men and investors over the weekend, I couldn't believe my ears but it seems that we're going to have quite the project under way in the next year or so.

Heres a basic breakdown of what I heard, they are looking to purchase a plot of land around Ridout near Carling, The project would include a restaurant and lounge on the main floor, aswell as 100-200 botique hotel rooms and 200ish apartments.

When I heard this I asked a few questions to probe the gentlemen who were speaking, basically what I was told was that it will be the first development of its kind in London and would fill a niche that is not yet being filled. I'm excited so I hope you guys keep your ear to the grindstone on this one!

[ldoto]

Are you kinding me!!!! This would be one of the greatest Construction Projects in the london like the One London Place in the 90's.

[sparky212]

this is gona be sweet. if it happens. wish we knew the hight sounds like a 35+

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by FazDeH

Well ladies and gentlemen of our wonderful local forum, I was very luckily given the chance to sit in on a conversation with some local business men and investors over the weekend, I couldn't believe my ears but it seems that we're going to have quite the project under way in the next year or so.

Heres a basic breakdown of what I heard, they are looking to purchase a plot of land around Ridout near Carling, The project would include a restaurant and lounge on the main floor, aswell as 100-200 botique hotel rooms and 200ish apartments.

When I heard this I asked a few questions to probe the gentlemen who were speaking, basically what I was told was that it will be the first development of its kind in London and would fill a niche that is not yet being filled. I'm excited so I hope you guys keep your ear to the grindstone on this one!

wow. I expect updates!

[manny_santos]

Originally Posted by ldoto

Are you kinding me!!!! This would be one of the greatest Construction Projects in the london like the One London Place in the 90's.

Nice photo! Somewhere here I have a photo of the construction site I took in June 1991, before the tower began to rise. I will try to scan that soon (as well as my dead mall photos for the other thread, haven't forgotten about that Mr. Export)

[MolsonExport]

excellent. I have a strange fascination with urban grit and dead malls.

[GreatTallNorth2]

If this project is one tower, it will be a new tallest for London. Let's hope that it is well designed!

[ldoto]

Downtown London to get new commercial building

What are these? A new, $8 million commercial building is coming to downtown London.

A three-storey, 30,000 square foot building will go up at Richmond and Carling streets on what is now 15,000 square feet of parking space and a Sammy's Souvlaki stand, next to Moxies restaurant.

"We have not had new, freestanding retail construction for a long, long time," said George Kerhoulas, sales representative with commercial realtors Cushman Wakefield Ltd.

"This is a sign that not only has residential noticed the downtown, but now the commercial market is noticing it also."

The new space will feature a "funky" exterior design and just may be a new home to a new Shoppers Drug Mart in the core.

"This is excellent news," beamed Janette MacDonald, manager of Downtown London, formerly MainStreet.

"It will be well built, the builder has an eye for urban design."

Kerhoulas has seen artist's renderings and agreed, adding, "the designs I have seen are modern, urban and say something about the future of downtown London."

The builder is Rocco Tullio, who owns Rock Developments in Windsor.

"London is a good market, it is somewhat insulated from the economy," he said.

"That is a good corner, in the heart of downtown, it's a great site and we are looking forward to building a first class office building."

He would not comment on rumours a Shoppers may locate there, but did add a major tenant is interested.

"I am confident we will make this go."

It is not his first building in London, as he also redeveloped the former Canadian Tire store in Masonville into a commercial plaza.

"It's a great city. I think putting your hockey rink downtown really helped the city, It provides life after the day-to-day business is gone," said Tullio.

Construction could begin later this year or in spring, 2011, depending on how fast the development moves.

The land, about one third of an acre, was sold by Dennis Dimitrakopoulous who operates several parking lots in the city.

"This will bring more people downtown, it is good for London," said Gus Dimitrakopoulous, Dennis's son.

The space behind the new building will remain parking, said Tullio.

Downtown London has seen new building, including commercial space in Tricar's Renaissance towers and a new office for Lerners, the law firm, and other new apartments.

"The more new builds we get, the more it instills confidence," said MacDonald.

If the tenant is a new Shoppers, that will help the downtown as the existing store on Dundas Street is small, old and does not have the larger grocery line now found in new stores.

It is not a grocery store, but along with the market, will offer a good lineup of foods for downtown residents, said MacDonald.

"It is good, but we still need a grocery store and we are working on it," said MacDonald.

[FazDeH]

^^^^ Wow sounds like that block is on an upswing. I've managed to eek out some more details from a friend of a friend etc etc etc... He knows one of the principle investors.
So I was given a visual that sounded more like a small scale vegas style hotel then the traditional condo buildings we see here in London. Considering the size of the lot, I could invision quite a sizable building there. My buddy tried to explain the idea but Architecture or design,.. not really his thing.
What I extrapolated from what he said was that the main floor of the building would include a large recration/pool area, and that the condo/hotel would flank it on one side. I dont believe that this building would be the next tallest, but would definitely make its mark on the London skyline.

[sparky212]

what is an office building they speak of??? A vegas style condotel wouldnt be that bad if done right

[manny_santos]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

excellent. I have a strange fascination with urban grit and dead malls.

Things are getting really bad for London Mall. The samosa and fax place isn't even there anymore. The southeast corner of Oxford and Wonderland desperately needs to be redeveloped.

[MolsonExport]

bold prediction: within 2 years, the London Mall will be demolished. It is a prime location, currently wasting space.


Dammit, now when I need Samosa and Fax, I will have to go to 2 different stores!