London Construction - Development News Thread #1

[ldoto]

City Looking into Making City Streets Nicer
Nov, 14 2007 - 6:30 AM


LONDON - Board of Control will be asked to approve a new Downtown revitalization program, later this morning. One that would cost taxpayers about half-a-million dollars each year.
The plan has been in the development stages for the past year, and is now ready for consideration by Controllers.

Essentially, they're trying to make Dundas Street and the neighbourhood around it look a little nicer.

Recommendations include providing tax relief to business owners who use the first floor of a building for things like specialty retail, entertainment and other key services.

As well, aid would be provided to owners of designated heritage properties who want to preserve or enhance their buildings.

The plan also calls for a revolving fund to help business improve facades that don't face the street.

[ldoto]

Wed, November 14, 2007

By HANK DANISZEWSKI, SUN MEDIA



Metal trees and murals helped turned downtown London into a more creative space this year, says the head of the London Downtown Business Association.

Bob Usher gave a downtown update to about 200 people who attended the joint annual meeting of the LDBA and Mainstreet London last night.

Usher said the 32 artistic metal trees installed in the core last year have not been popular with everyone, but they have drawn attention inside and outside the city.

"What a fantastic opportunity to get people talking about our downtown," said Usher.

Usher said the number of metal trees will grow to 80 and LDBA will also contribute $10,000 to the planting of real trees. He said the mural on the King Street face of Galleria London has also attracted national attention and he promised it would be the first of "many more to come."

In an interview, Usher said much of the pessimism about downtown revitalization has vanished.

"We haven't had so much to celebrate in a long time and we are working hard to keep the momentum," said Usher.

The LDBA also unveiled a new logo and a new shared website with Mainstreet London, www.ldba.ca.

Mainstreet London has produced a new handbook for downtown business owners that lists all the available services and incentives offered by Mainstreet and the city.

Mainstreet manager Janette MacDonald said the downtown is taking on a creative atmosphere that will draw investors.

"We know that to attract the brightest and the best to have a creative city," she said.

MacDonald said a number of new restaurants and retailers opened in the core this year and the new Metro boutique hotel will open soon.

The LDBA also named several new Downtown Champions:

- Mike Smith, well-known restaurateur and owner of Joe Kool's, Jim Bob Ray's Fellini Koolini/Runt Club and Chancey Smith's. Smith also spearheaded the Clean and Green program.

- Jonathan Bancroft-Snell moved his art shop from Galleria London to Dundas Street in 2005. He has since expanded twice and has become Canada's leading ceramic art dealer and a downtown advocate.

- Tom Bird of Allied Construction and his brother David Bird, co-owner of Oxford Dodge Chrysler Jeep, bought and renovated downtown property for luxury loft apartments and retail space. David Bird died earlier this year.

[FazDeH]

^^ I hate those trees, they are really ugly. In my opinion.

[Snashcan]

The trees add some interest, not for everyone but its something for a rather dull downtown.

I have to laugh at the $10,000 for real trees, that gets like 25-30 trees downtown. To do them properly so they wont die, it gets about 5-10

[QuantumLeap]

The Freeps got it wrong, the new student development is at the Southwest corner of First and York.

[ldoto]

Plan may not satisfy Farhi

Thu, November 15, 2007

Chief administrative officer Jeff Fielding says the landlord wants to clear the Capitol property.

By RANDY RICHMOND, SUN MEDIA



A half-million dollar plan to save downtown may do little to appease the core's biggest landowner and one of his key properties, London's top bureaucrat warned yesterday.

"If I was (Shmuel Farhi), I would be in with a demolition request tomorrow," chief administrative officer Jeff Fielding told board of control.

The warning sparked a debate over politicians being intimidated into giving special favours to landowners. But it also persuaded controllers to change the way they choose landlords for city hall tenants.

Controllers also directed Fielding to meet with Farhi to determine how best to handle the former Capitol Theatre property on Dundas Street.

The debate began after board of control agreed in principle to several initiatives that would help owners of downtown properties.

The key and most expensive initiative would provide tax relief to people who use the first floor of a building for one of the uses targeted by the city, such as specialty retail, entertainment and key services.

The annual costs of all the programs would range between $455,600 and $623,700.

Controllers also agreed the city should support the downtown by renting as much as 25,000 square feet of space in the core for growing city departments.

The city would seek requests for proposals from interested landlords. That's when Fielding threw a curveball.

Farhi wants a commitment from the city to rent 4,500 square feet in the former Capitol Theatre for 10 years, Fielding said.

Farhi wanted to tear down the building a year ago to build a parking lot, but held off while city hall developed a plan for downtown.

He may not want to wait through the long proposal process to rent the space to city hall, Fielding said.

"You are going to get a demolition request on that site. That is going to happen."

The city can't reject its own purchasing process for one landlord, Controller Gina Barber said.

"I'm getting increasingly uneasy about people threatening to demolish buildings . . . and council being increasingly intimidated," she said.

Some consideration has to be given to Farhi's patience, other controllers said.

"He has been vocal but he has been co-operative," said Controller Bud Polhill.

Controllers did agree to give more weight to landlords who want to preserve buildings.

Farhi was out of the city and could not be reached for comment yesterday.
__________________

[ldoto]

Thu, November 15, 2007

By JOHN MINER, SUN MEDIA



What do you get when you combine the skills and knowledge of a biologist, engineer and medical professor?

An experimental eye research facility, the first of its kind in Ontario.

"That is what is so exciting. This pulls together core members from very different disciplines to approach eye research in a very novel way," said Dr. Cindy Hutnik, an opthamologist at the Ivey Institute and an associate professor at the University of Western Ontario's Schulich School of Medicine.

Hutnik has teamed up with Western biologist Kathleen Hill and associate professor of engineering Tim Newson to launch the Experimental Eye Research Facility in London with the help of a $30,000 grant from the Plunkett Foundation.

The goal is to improve the care of patients suffering from eye disease, Hutnik said.

The group has decided to focus on the two most prevalent eye diseases that rob people of their sight -- glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration.

"What we're trying to do is understand why these diseases are there and try to come up with novel ways to treat them," Hutnik said.

Research already underway includes using a mini CT scanner, one of four in the world, to investigate the best way to inject drugs into the eyeball.

"We're going to optimize where you put the needle, how fast you inject, what should the needle look like," she said.

In another experiment involving mice that have been genetically programmed to develop diseases similar to human glaucoma and macular degeneration, the scientists are feeding the mice drugs to see if degeneration can be prevented.

The research facility has 80 per cent of the equipment it needs, Hutnik said.

At present the research is carried out at the university and city hospitals. Hutnik said in the future it would be nice to have a single location.

[ldoto]

Plans to rejuvenate downtown Dundas Street and the neighbourhood around it will be presented today to city politicians eager to find ways to save the core of the city.

A year in the works, the initiatives are intended to help businesses, especially those in heritage buildings.

"Until these streets are revitalized, downtown revitalization cannot be considered a success," city staff wrote in a report to be presented today to board of control.

Among the initiatives:
- Provide tax relief to owners who use the first floor of a building for one of the uses targeted by the city, such as specialty retail, entertainment and key services.

- Provide aid to the owners of designated heritage properties who want to preserve or enhance their buildings.

- Create a revolving fund to help business improve facades that don't face the street.

Staff say the annual costs could be between $455,600 and $623,700. City council will make the final decision on whether to fund the programs.
"These are very positive steps," said Judy Bryant, the councillor who represents downtown.

City staff will circulate the proposal and present a final version to council in June that would target from York Street to Princess Avenue and from the Thames River to Colborne and Waterloo streets. The plan would also involve MainStreet London to attract and retain business.

[ldoto]

Affordable-housing project soon to become a reality

Mon, November 19, 2007

By DEBORA VAN BRENK, SUN MEDIA



The foundation for London’s newest affordable-housing units will be poured within weeks.

But the groundwork for the 30-unit LIFT building was laid years ago as core-area churches saw a need for affordable housing in downtown London.

“It just feels great” to be this far along the process, said Vic Morris, chairperson of the volunteer group that’s spearheading the project.

A few weeks ago, things were much less certain, as the London Innercity Faith Team (LIFT)— a coalition of 11 downtown London churches — was discouraged by some roadblocks.

The King Street site was a backdrop last August for a pre-provincial-election cash announcement for several affordable housing projects last August.

At the time, though, the local project’s committee was scrambling to meet its local donation commitment.

“We had faith we would get the money but time was running out,” Morris said. Then some donations rolled in and the building permits arrived.

Last week, the group made final the land purchase; this week, final details are being inked for the general contractor; and within a month, the foundations will be poured.

Work will then take a break until the spring, with the building’s opening expected early in 2009.

Of the 30 units, 20 will be rented by people struggling with mental illness.

That’s an issue the churches know all too well. Several of the 11 churches run hospitality dinners for homeless people; one at New St. James Presbyterian Church sees about 110 regular diners.

This is all part of making a difference in their lives, Morris said. “We feel it’s worthwhile.”

LIFT already operates two other homes: a 13-unit apartment on Queens Avenue for people needing mental-health support and a 32-unit affordable-housing project on Little Simcoe Street.

“When they come in, they’re so happy, they’re so pleased,” said LIFT Housing president Fred Faas.

About 4,000 people are on a waiting list for affordable housing in London. It’s a list made more complex by the fact that people who are homeless and on a waiting list are often difficult to contact once an opening comes up.

Planning for the King Street apartments got under way about two years ago as organizers anticipated a federal and provincial announcement of funding for this and similar projects. “One of the difficulties in affordable housing is the lack of continuity in these (funding) programs,” said fundraising chairperson Barry Scott.

Scott said the local group recently met its $260,000 commitment of the $3.5-million cost of the King Street apartments.

Grants and loans from the provincial, federal and London governments make up the remainder.

“They’re going to be very nice but they’re going to be utilitarian,” Scott said of the 500-square-foot units.

Any community donations that come in from now on will be put to use adding extras, such as air conditioning, offsetting maintenance costs and paying down the mortgage.

[ldoto]

London Housing Market Booming

London home owners can expect to benefit from a booming housing industry in the coming year, in fact they could see their property values rise by 10 per cent.
London's housing market has been hot for several yearsd now, but the latest figures from CMHC show prices will rise about 6 per cent this year, and another 4 per cent next year.

CMHC spokesman Ken Sumnall says there are two reasons for the strong showing. The market is more affordable than nearby communities like Kitchener, and the local economy is not over reliant on the auto industry.

Right now, northwest London is particularly hot, with 26 per cent of new home construction in the Hyde Park area.

As far as resale home are concerned, Wortley village, Old North and Old South remain strong. And new areas like Old East Village and the Labatt Park area are seeing a re-birth.

[ldoto]

London aims to become agri-food centre

Wed, November 21, 2007

By DEBORA VAN BRENK, SUN MEDIA



London is aiming to land two new food processing companies — bringing with them 150 new jobs — and adding another 50 jobs in existing agri-business by next year.

The London Economic Development Corp. (LEDC) is counting food processing one of its top two target sectors for growth in the next few years.

The huge automotive economy here “gets all the hype,” said Keith Gibbons, president of London-based spice giant McCormick Canada.

But London jobs in agri-business put food on almost as many tables, a brainstorming group of people working in that sector was told today.

“It’s a significant part of our economy and all expectations are that it will continue to grow at 10 per cent over the next couple of years,” Gibbons said.

He was chairperson of the meeting, the fourth of four round-table groups working to help London’s economy grow.

The group included medical researchers, farmers, the mayor and representatives from London food processors such as corn-sugar refiner CASCO Inc.

And it brainstormed about specific ways to attract more agri-food companies and jobs to London. The goal, they said, is another 200 jobs by 2008.

Those factors include training more workers in areas such as process controllers; building on existing research-and-development building blocks; and making sure land is available.

Steve Glickman of the LEDC said the biggest advantage in having the round-table meetings is “cohesion” between and within sectors of London’s economy.

“We have to be early adaptors (and) adopters of new technology and we have to be able to leverage new knowledge in a cohesive way.”

Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco-Best said growth in the industry is important to London’s food chain — literally and economically. “We want to brand ourselves as an agricultural centre.”

Gibbons said McCormick Canada alone has 500 employees and “absolutely” sees itself growing.

He was impressed with the diverse niches each member of the round-table group fills.

“Agriculture, food and health — it’s all linked,” Gibbons said.

Glickman said London sits in the heart of regional food production. And 70 per cent of food production is absorbed by processors, making the sector a dominant force on the local economic scene.

“A lot of it is common sense. You take a look at what you’ve got in the region, take your strengths and leverage them. You go with your strengths.”

DeCicco-Best and others noted with surprise the group hadn’t met as a sector before.

“Frankly, without the agricultural industry, as a province and as a community, we’re in big trouble,” the mayor said.

Coincidentally, the discussion paralleled a talk yesterday by a leading Canadian economist who told a London crowd of exporters London is ideally situated to take advantage of a growing agri-food trend.

Stephen Poloz, senior vice-president and chief economist with Export Development Canada, said the agri-food business will become a $10-billion-a-year industry in Ontario next year.

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by ldoto

London Housing Market Booming

London home owners can expect to benefit from a booming housing industry in the coming year, in fact they could see their property values rise by 10 per cent.
London's housing market has been hot for several yearsd now, but the latest figures from CMHC show prices will rise about 6 per cent this year, and another 4 per cent next year.

CMHC spokesman Ken Sumnall says there are two reasons for the strong showing. The market is more affordable than nearby communities like Kitchener, and the local economy is not over reliant on the auto industry.

Right now, northwest London is particularly hot, with 26 per cent of new home construction in the Hyde Park area.

As far as resale home are concerned, Wortley village, Old North and Old South remain strong. And new areas like Old East Village and the Labatt Park area are seeing a re-birth.

I bought a house in Hyde Park area.

[GreatTallNorth2]

Read the below Editorial in the Free Press which was published Saturday, November 24. There is no doubt in my mind that this was written because I called the Free Press Editor several times and told him that K/W is going to build light rail and we must do the same. He didn't have a clue what I was talking about. I hounded him several times and now I think he has woken up. If we want London to be progressive in transit, we should be writing letters to the Free Press supporting his view...read it...it is fantastic! Go to lfpress.com and respond and they might publish it. Anyways, below is the article....

Saturdays Editorial in the London Free Press

Light rail system for London is overdue
Even though it's buried underground and invisible from the street, Toronto's subway lines and even its subway stops are clearly outlined from the top of the CN Tower.

From that lofty vantage point, you can see the taller buildings and higher densities follow the subway lines - and the tallest buildings are close to the actual stops.

After all, that's where the most expensive land is. Development invariably follows public transit lines and nodes.

It is time London started thinking like the big city it is rather than a small backwater that will never break its addiction to the automobile.

Can't see that far ahead? Look again.

Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge has already seen it. Those cities are well on their way to establishing a light rail system to link their downtowns. So is Hamilton.

London must start catching up.

Meanwhile, the city of Rennes, France, is one of many worldwide even further ahead in planning for the future.

A city about the size of London, Rennes will hit a population of 400,000 by 2008. It opened a high-speed subway line in 2002 that is nine kilometres long and is planning a second 12-kilometre subway line at a cost exceeding $1 billion.

This is a community that understands itself, its potential, and its place in the world - and is willing to commit to making it all happen. It is now one of the fastest growing cities its size in France. Young professionals are clamouring to live there.

Not surprisingly, developers are jumping in, snapping up property around these lines, especially transportation nodes, where buses and trains meet. These are obvious locations for retailing, commercial, residential centres and public squares.

By making public investments in this way, municipalities not only attract far more private investment and increase economic activity, but also have a greater influence in how and where cities develop.

London should start thinking - now - about a light rail system (down the centre of Wellington Road, say) and establishing transportation nodes around the city.

Never mind that cities based on the car are unsustainable, that traffic, gasoline, pollution and other costs will soon force people out of their cars. If we make public transit predictable, affordable, even sexy, we won't need to wait for the inevitable.

POSTED BY: Paul Berton, london
POSTED ON: November 24, 2007

EDITORS NOTE: The Next London: One in a Series; As published in The London Free Press on Nov. 24, 2007.

[ldoto]

This would be great for the city Due to the school's and downtown!!!!!

[MolsonExport]

Good, but if it happens, I will eat my shoes.

[Koolfire]

A couple pages back I suggested my plan for LRT/Subway. But I don't think London is big enough to build it. I also think it would be a great idea to start the planning and setting aside right of ways so that when it is built costs can be minimized. I'll keep my fingers crossed that they at least start to seriously plan.

Originally Posted by Koolfire

A couple pages back I suggested my plan for LRT/Subway. But I don't think London is big enough to build it. I also think it would be a great idea to start the planning and setting aside right of ways so that when it is built costs can be minimized. I'll keep my fingers crossed that they at least start to seriously plan.

London's not big enough for a subway, but LRT is certainly not out of the question. Definitely start planning it ASAP because the process takes quite some time, as does the construction. London's biggest difficulty with this is that it will have to compete with other cities for funding. KW is likely set to be the next city to get LRT, as we are already a good way through the environmental assessment process. Hamilton is now looking at 2 possible LRT routes and multiple routes are planned throughout the GTA, including BRT in Mississauga-Brampton. I think even Winnipeg and Halifax are looking into it, although you may want to check with them. I hope you guys do get it though. I think any growing city of more than 300,000 needs to start looking into this kind of thing to grow sustainably.

[WhipperSnapper]

What's the status of 544 Talbot? Will it be completed by year's end?

[ldoto]

A group of churches guides the latest affordable housing project in London.




The foundation for London's newest affordable-housing units will be poured within weeks.

But the groundwork for the 30-unit, $3.5-million building was laid years ago as core-area churches saw a need for affordable housing in downtown London.

Overall, about 4,000 people are on a waiting list for affordable housing in London.

It's a list made more complex because people who are homeless and on a waiting list are often difficult to contact once an opening comes up.

"It just feels great" to be this far along the process, said Vic Morris, chairperson of the volunteer group spearheading the King Street project.

A few weeks ago, things were much less certain, as the London Innercity Faith Team (LIFT)-- a coalition of 11 downtown London churches -- was discouraged by roadblocks.


The King Street site was a backdrop last August for a pre-provincial election cash announcement for affordable housing projects last August.

At the time, though, the local project's committee was scrambling to meet its local donation commitment.

"We had faith we would get the money but time was running out," Morris said.

Then more donations rolled in and the building permits arrived.
Last week, the group finalized the land purchase; this week, final details are being inked for the general contractor; and within a month, the foundations will be poured.

Work then will take a break until the spring, with the building's opening expected early in 2009.

Of the 30 units, 20 will be rented by people struggling with mental illness.
That's an issue the churches know all too well. Several of the 11 churches run hospitality dinners for homeless people.

One at New St. James Presbyterian Church sees about 110 regular diners.
This is all part of making a difference in their lives, Morris said. "We feel it's worthwhile."

LIFT already operates two other homes: A 13-unit apartment on Queens Avenue for people needing mental health support and a 32-unit affordable housing project on Little Simcoe Street.

"When they come in, they're so happy, they're so pleased," said LIFT housing president Fred Faas.

Planning for the King Street apartments got under way about two years ago as organizers anticipated a federal and provincial announcement of funding for such projects.

"One of the difficulties in affordable housing is the lack of continuity in these (funding) programs," said fundraising chairperson Barry Scott.
Scott said the local group recently met its $260,000 commitment of the $3.5-million cost of the King Street apartments.

Grants and loans from the provincial, federal and London governments make up the remainder.

"They're going to be very nice, but they're going to be utilitarian," Scott said of the units.

Any community donations that come in from now on will be put to use adding extras, such as air-conditioning, offsetting maintenance costs and paying down the mortgage.


AFFORDABLE HOUSING
- Affordable housing projects are paid for through money from all levels of government and, in some cases, through local fundraising efforts.

- London has provided nearly $2 million toward the 30-unit King Street project and four other affordable housing projects.

- Tenants in the King Street facility will pay rent geared to their income.


KING STREET PROJECT

What: Thirty-unit affordable housing building (20 of the units for people needing mental health support) at 446 King St., London.

When: Construction expected to begin within weeks and to be done by spring, 2009.

[QuantumLeap]

544 Talbot:
I think it should be done soon. However, I have not been able to locate any rental/ sales info online, including MLS (silly developer!). I think if their sales do well, you should expect to see a twin to this tower right next door (to the North)