London Construction - Development News Thread #1

[ldoto]

Ground broken on $21 million police headquarters expansion

Mon, September 10, 2007

By JENNIFER O’BRIEN, SUN MEDIA



Used to be, when giving an out-of-town officer directions to London Police Headquarters, included was the instruction ‘Look for the Harvey’s.’

Not anymore.

That Harvey’s is gone.

So it’s fitting that police headquarters at 601 Dundas St. should get itself a new landmark.

Yesterday, ground broke on the first phase of that landmark — a $21 million project to expand headquarters and, according to supporters, make it a state of the art facility for its nearly 600 officers.

“Now with this building, we’ll be able to say ‘Look for police headquarters,’” said Police Chief Murray Faulkner, at a news conference to kick off construction of the 20-month, first phase of the expansion.

“It will stand out, it will act as the anchor for renovating East London . . . it will say to the people who work in it, we support you.”

Faulkner said the expanded facility will empower officers and benefit the city.

“It is the people who make up policing, but the building is very important, not only to the people, but to the community,” he said.

Built in 1974, the existing structure was made to fit a force of about 250 officers. Now there are 578.

Space is so tight, that the office for the department’s hostage negotiators is now a remodelled cloakroom, said Deputy Chief Brad Duncan. Other makeshift offices include a breezeway between two sections.

And with high-school sized 12” lockers, officers are forced to pile gear and some equipment on top of lockers, he said.

The first phase of the expansion includes building a new structure — with a modern firing range, classrooms for staff training and locker space — west of the existing station. It will also include more parking.

Once finished, the second phase to renovate the existing headquarters will begin.

Total cost for the expansion and facelift of police headquarters, built in 1974, is pegged at $34 million.

The project will likely disrupt staff, but will not compromise security in the building, said Deputy Chief Brad Duncan.

“We’ve looked at all security angles and, in fact, this new building will have more state-of-the-art security,” he said.

Duncan said London Police Service employees have been anxiously awaiting the expansion.

Spirits were high yesterday at the groundbreaking, with speeches from Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco-Best and Police Services Board Chair Ab Chahbar as well as Steve Aquino, vice president of the builder, Bondfield Construction Co. Ltd

[MolsonExport]

^hope so. East London needs a lot of help. Dundas st east is freakshow city.

[ldoto]

Convention Centre board sees room for new hotel

Wed, September 12, 2007

By HANK DANISZEWSKI, SUN MEDIA



That elusive hotel that was never built beside the London Convention Centre may finally become a reality.

Board of control will consider today a request from the convention centre board for city staff to investigate interest in building a luxury hotel next to the centre.

Cecil Rorabeck, chairperson of the convention centre board, said another adjoining hotel would open the market to bigger conventions.

"This could be great for downtown London . . . If we could get someone interested in a four- or five-star hotel" he said.

The proposal comes despite a flurry of hotel building in the city the last few years that appears to have left the market saturated.

Six hotels have opened during the last two years, mainly in the area of Wellington and Exeter roads.

The number of hotel rooms has almost doubled during the last 10 years to 3,800.



The number of visitors to London is up, but the hotel occupancy rate has dropped to about 63 per cent, well below the threshold of about 70 per cent that tends to attract new hotel investment.

Luc Van Den Heuvel, president of the London Hotel and Motel Association, said he's surprised the convention centre would pursue a new hotel, given market conditions.

But he said developers appear willing to build hotels despite the low vacancy rate.

"Obviously, there is a lot of interest in the city of London. The fact that there has not been a hotel built in the downtown for some time might prompt someone to come forward."

He said the south end and downtown hotels tend to serve different markets, but when a big convention comes to the city, all rooms tend to get booked up.

Convention centre general manager Lori Da Silva said the hotel site is L-shaped and includes a narrow parking lot east of the building and a garden area on the north facing King Street.

That site has been tagged for a possible hotel since the convention centre was first proposed during the late '80s. The original plan called for the convention centre to front on King Street facing what is now the Hilton London.
But Commonwealth Hospitality Ltd. told the city it wanted the site for a 300-room hotel, forcing the city to turn the convention centre around to face York Street.

A recession and a glut of hotel space prompted Commonwealth to back out of the deal in 1991, leaving the city with an empty lot and the infamous "walkway to nowhere" -- a truncated pedestrian passage over King Street from what was then the Radisson Hotel. The walkway was eventually extended to the convention centre in 1996.

The walkway gives the convention centre an indoor connection to the Hilton, which has 322 rooms.

Da Silva said another hotel directly connected to the centre could draw more big conventions, especially in winter.

"We would like to think we are bringing in new business instead of competing for the existing business," she said.

John Winston, general manager of Tourism London, said the current hotel market isn't likely to entice a lot of interest from developers, but the convention centre board is wise to plan for the long term.

"It's a fishing expedition, nothing more and nothing less," he said.

[FazDeH]

It would be great to fill that lot with a nice hotel, but sadly I agree, the London market doesn't seem to presently have the demand for another large hotel downtown. There is however the old adage, "if you build it they will come" and I think considering the growth we've seen over the past 10 years it isn't ludacris to think that we couldnt support another hotel not to far in the future. Keeping the fingers crossed for this one.
And any word on this yet Ldoto? "I also heard that there will be a big project announce in the next couple weeks."

[ldoto]

Where do you here that from??
It sounds good!!!:

[FazDeH]

quote from you "Udate!!!Park Lane Hotel to be reborn as condo project

It looks like the Park lane hotel is getting some work done to it two years later!!!

I will try to get some pics soon


_______________________________________

This is great news for the downtown core it is booming down here. I also heard that there will be a big project announce in the next couple weeks."

[ldoto]

Park Lane Hotel to be reborn as condo project

That post was from Wed, November 23, 2005 Old news!!!!!!

Yes I will try to get some update pics from Park lane hotel

[ldoto]

Board of control supports another downtown hotel

Thu, September 13, 2007

By HANK DANISZEWSKI, SUN MEDIA



A move to scout out interest in a new hotel beside the London Convention Centre got the green light from board of control yesterday.

But the manager of the Hilton London, connected to the convention centre by a walkway, warns another hotel isn't needed in London's crowded market.

Quickly and without debate, controllers approved a suggestion from the convention centre's board to have city staff issue a request for proposals from private developers interested in building a luxury hotel on vacant land next to the centre.

Controller Gord Hume, who sits on the board with Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco-Best, said it's worthwhile to explore the opportunities.

"Sometimes we don't get meetings and conferences because we don't have the hotel spaces in the vicinity. We want to build the market -- expand the pie for everybody," Hume said.

The number of hotel rooms in London has almost doubled in the last 10 years, to 3,800, while occupancy rates have dropped to about 63 per cent.

Joe Drummond, manager of the Hilton London, said pursing another hotel now shows "poor judgment" by city officials.

"Building another hotel is not going to help at all and will just add to the challenge the hotels have right now," he said.

The board's decision on the hotel issue will go to city council Monday for approval.

[QuantumLeap]

Anymore news on the project rumoured last week?

[QuantumLeap]

PS (sorry about taking the 750th post as so boring...) but who is going to do the big announcing? Unless the "big project" is the white elephant 180 Mill which is Auburn. Maybe Drewlo at Locust Mount? Or Farhi at Richmond? Or Sifton.....? All the other developers are busy. Who wants two projects in the same area at once?
PS I like the nifty little number at Talbot and Kent. More potential for sexiness than anything else going up. Build 'em tall and skinny!

[ldoto]

Mon, September 17, 2007

By JOE MATYAS, SUN MEDIA



A dirty wall running the length of one of the ugliest blocks in downtown London is about to be transformed.

People brandishing rollers soaked in exterior latex paint turned the exhaust-stained ochre brick wall on the south side of Galleria London's north building white on Saturday.

As they toiled, a small group of artists and art lovers lingered nearby, talking about a greater metamorphosis to come.

"This wall has been crying out for a very long time . . . to be enriched," said Coun. Judy Bryant, an artist and MainStreet London board member who was on site in the late afternoon supporting a bold stroke of public art.

Starting today and continuing for the next two weeks, six Argentine muralists and three from Vancouver will put their talents to work on the street, bringing beauty and visual interest to the bland brick tunnel on King Street between Clarence and Wellington streets.

The massive mural, measuring about 100 metres long and more than four metres high, was conceived by local members of La Raza six weeks ago.

The art collective, which traces its history back to Montreal in the 1980s, has always been interested in the public and social dimensions of art in the urban landscape.

Two of its members, Sylvia Curtis-Norcross of London and Gerald Pedros of St. Thomas, spent time in Argentina last year, working on murals with Canadian and local artists in three cities, including one involving an entire city block.

Pedros recalls having fun painting an image of a lizard wrapped in a Canadian flag.

Curtis-Norcross said the Canadian artists considered their trip south as the first half of an exchange.

"We told our friends there that we wanted to bring them to Canada."

When La Raza proposed the idea during the summer, MainStreet London and Galleria London jumped on board with funding to cover the cost of bringing the artists to London.

At the start, some doubts were expressed, said Pedros.

"Some people wondered if the idea was a bit flamboyant for London. I said, 'Let's not sell this city short.' "

Art is a mainly a solitary pursuit in Canada, said Curtis-Norcross, adding "there's a big public art movement in Argentina."

Bryant said the project is an example of what the city could be supporting with a public arts policy soon to receive consideration.

Maria Sansotta, an Argentinian journalist, said the artists plan to paint a mural with a message of liberty, equality and fraternity "between the north and south."

THE MURALISTS

Argentines: Juan Bauk, general secretary of the Regional Muralists Movement of Argentina; Gerardo Cianciolo; Marcelo Carpita; Silvia Albuixech; Daniel Zimmermann and Ornella Yori.

Vancouverites: Richard Tetrault, project leader, Alberto Cerritos and Esther Rosenberg

[MolsonExport]

Wish they could just paint over all of east dundas...bums and meth-heads, and everything.

[ldoto]

Hilton may pull out of London

Tue, September 18, 2007

A competing hotel beside the convention centre 'will only make things worse.'

By HANK DANISZEWSKI AND JONATHAN SHER, SUN MEDIA



The Hilton London could pull out of the city if a competing hotel sets up beside the convention centre, the Hilton's manager warns.

A second hotel seemed a possibility yesterday as city hall staff told council two private entities have expressed an interest in building on what is now a parking lot.

"It's gratifying there's that level of interest," said Grant Hopcroft, the city's community liaison director.

Council then directed staff to seek proposals for a hotel, but earlier in the day, the Hilton's Joe Drummond said his hotel, the only one connected to the convention centre, already is struggling to fill rooms and often has to discount the typical minimum rate of $160 a night.

"Another hotel will only makes things worse. It will be fighting for the same share of the pie," he said.

The London hotel market has been saturated in recent years, Drummond said.

The number of hotel rooms in the city has nearly doubled in 10 years while occupancy rates have dropped to about 63 per cent.

Drummond said if his hotel doesn't meet Hilton's corporate standards, the well-known luxury chain may pull out of the London market.

The building has been owned for 10 years by Royal Host Hotels, which bought the rights to the Hilton franchise. If Hilton pulls out, Royal Host would have to sell the building, convert it to another use or find another hotel franchise.

Members of the convention centre board have said a new luxury downtown hotel would make London a candidate for larger conventions that would benefit all hotels.

But Drummond said he's skeptical.

"How many conventions have they turned away because of a lack of hotel rooms? If that were the case, we should be busting at the seams," he said.

Although the Hilton works closely with the convention centre, Drummond said, he wasn't told about plans to pursue another hotel.

He said the current convention centre board has no representation from the hotel industry.

In April, the centre released a report saying 2006 was its best year ever, with an increase in revenue and the number of events.

But Drummond said the progress claimed by the convention centre isn't reflected in the Hilton's numbers even though the hotel would be the obvious accommodation choice for conventioneers.

He said the convention centre may simply be boosting numbers by attracting one-day meetings that easily can be handled by smaller venues.

Rather than pursuing another hotel next to the convention centre, Drummond said, London should consider building a performing arts centre on the site.

"That would give the convention centre a new level of competitiveness," he said

[MolsonExport]

sounds like an ultimatum.

[QuantumLeap]

Agreed. The only reason the convention centre board should take this seriously is if the new hotel is going to receive any sort of subsidies (which I hope it does not).

[ldoto]

Update!!!



As the first roughed in blocks of colour of the large Galleria London mural appear, the street and the once dull wall are quickly showing a new vibrancy.

Over the next two weeks, six Argentine muralists and three from Vancouver are putting their talents to work on the street, bringing beauty and visual interest to the bland brick tunnel on King Street between Clarence and Wellington streets.

The massive mural will measure about 100 metres long and more than four metres high.

[FazDeH]

I hope we dont see this thing getting "tagged" like crazy. It looks really nice

[QuantumLeap]

1503 Hyde Park Road - The purpose and effect of this revised zoning change is to permit two 14 storey apartment buildings (320 dwelling units) whereas a 12 storey and a 14 storey residential apartments (292 dwelling units) were initially proposed on the rear (3.7 ha) portion of the property and to maintain the commercial zoning on the front 0.9 ha of the property along Hyde Park Road. The request is to change Zoning By-law Z.-1 from a Holding Business District Commercial (h-17*BDC1/BDC2) Zone and a Holding Urban Reserve (h-2*UR3) Zone and an Urban Reserve (UR3) Zone and a remnant Open Space (OS5) Zone which permits commercial uses on the front portion of the property and existing residential and agricultural uses on the rear portion of the property to a Business District Commercial (BDC1/BDC2) Zone which permits commercial uses on the front portion and a Residential R9 (R9-7*H45) Zone which permits apartment buildings on the rear portion with a maximum height 45m and maximum density of 150 units per hectare. File: Z-7399
Planner: Craig Smith.

[ldoto]

It would have been better downtown!!!

[ldoto]

Group takes new look at core's weak spots

Sat, September 22, 2007

The task force wants a new vision for the downtown in 2017.

By RANDY RICHMOND, SUN MEDIA

We asked: What does downtown need to thrive again?




A wave washed over downtown London 10 years ago, leaving behind a new arena, library and market.

But the wave ended up only a ripple on Dundas Street.

"We've invested a significant amount of money in downtown and yet Dundas Street hasn't changed much," Controller Gord Hume says.

"A lot of people in London judge downtown by that strip of Dundas."

Hume is the chairperson of a newly created downtown task force charged with developing a vision for what the core, Dundas in particular, should look like in 2017.


The task force has two goals, Hume says.

"It is a snapshot of today. And the more important goal is the vision for tomorrow."

There are no limits on that vision.

"I think we have to be bold enough to think big. Tinkering is not the answer," Hume says.

The 11-member task force is holding a public meeting from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday at the London Convention Centre to hear what the public thinks downtown should look like by 2017.

The public has to have its say, from what isn't working to what could, Hume said.

"It's an open meeting. People can say what they want."

Created by the boards of the London Downtown Business Association (LDBA) and MainStreet London, the task force has met almost weekly since its first meeting in August, Hume says.

It should have its recommendations to the two boards by spring, he adds.

The task force will not create a detailed action plan. That will be up to the LDBA and MainStreet.

It's been almost 10 years since the kickoff of the downtown millennium plan that brought London the John Labatt Centre, the new Central Library and the new Covent Garden Market.

"There has been tremendous improvement in the downtown," says Bob Usher, chairperson of the LDBA.

"Every now and then you have to step back and say, 'Where are we going? Are we going in the right direction. Who is doing the blue sky thinking?' "

IF YOU GO

What: Downtown task force public meeting

When: Wednesday, 7 to 9 p.m.

Where: London Convention Centre

Purpose: For Londoners to make suggestions on rejuvenating downtown