Not your father’s London . . . will it be your children’s?

[go_leafs_go02]

An interesting London Free Press article about London and the fact that the City's slowly falling behind other areas within Southern Ontario.

Ten years ago, at the start of a new century in the Forest City, London was bucking economic doom and gloom across North America.

It was early 2001, mere months into what would become a record-length reign for a young mayor. Housing starts had jumped dramatically and city unemployment numbers were dropping.

London, city leaders said at the time, was "holding its own."

The city's biggest asset? Its stable economy.

"We don't have the spikes," one leader boasted.

That was then. This, clearly, is now.

It could easily be argued that, little by little over its recent history, London has lost its swagger.

Continue the read at: http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2.../15308451.html

I have to agree with this article. I lived in London from 2000 to about 2008, and while I moved to British Columbia, my family still remains in London, Ontario. In fact, this post is being made in my parent's house out in Oakridge.


I moved to BC in January 2009, and have been back here several times since then. I find London to be somewhat going down the tube, and it just doesn't seem as great of a city as I remember growing up in. While now I compare it to Metro Vancouver (where I live and work), that comparison often just shows that London is not really that innovative or special like it was in the early 2000s, with the JLC being constructed, downtown being re-invested in, and London booming.

Now it just seems to be hard hit with the economy, and places like KW are taking off with new innovative transportation, modern development, etc.

London still builds cul-de-sacs, and sprawls everywhere. Maybe this will change with the SWAP (see another thread) but it seems now about 5-10 years behind the current styles of planning/development.

Nevertheless, I am still proud to call London home, and still refer to it as my hometown whenever someone asks. It's better than other places I've lived in southern Ontario, and I'll take it over many many different locales in this province as well.

[bolognium]

I also find myself agreeing with most of the article. I studied mechanical engineering at Conestoga for 3 years and while there I lived in both Kitchener and Cambridge. Not only is their transit system miles ahead of London's, but they seem very interested in making it even better. The whole KW area has a kind of innovative vibe that I just don't feel here in London. Hopefully the successes in KW make our city reconsider this steady-as-she-goes attitude.

I moved back to London this summer after graduating because this is my home. I moved back because my friends and family are here, but I certainly wasn't thinking about my future career when I moved back. Throughout my time in college I was consistently told how difficult it will be to find manufacturing work in London. Both my professors and peers recommended I consider staying in KW or in the GTA, but as I said, London's my home and I still love it here.

I'm hoping I'll be able to find work here so I don't have to move away but I guess only time will tell. Let's hope General Dynamics is interested in my talented ass

[haljackey]

I agree with "Where's the big picture" sort of thing. Other cities have a dream for their city, and some have achieved / are achieving it.

What should be London's dream? The city is so bland that it's hard to think of it.

I think we should give it more of a English theme. This city was named after London, England after all. Maybe replace the bus signs with the London Undergound circle (Similar to the new poacher's Arms logo) and maybe replace some 4-way stops with roundabouts.

Going English will give our city some more theme and pizazz, which is good for character and tourism!

[ForestryW]

^^ Please, PLEASE tell me you're joking.... If London starts playing up the English theme I will move many miles away...

I agree with the article. However...

Having lived in many cities across Ontario, from London to Ottawa, I can tell you that London is most definitely one of Ontario's cultural centers. It may be miles behind the rest of Ontario in terms of transit and land use planning, but no other midsize city in the province comes close to offering the kind of creativity and culture London does.

London has a thriving community of artists and is a hotbed of creative personalities. If Toronto and Ottawa are the first and second cultural centers of Ontario, London is definitely the third.

Not to mention the spectacular natural beauty of the Thames River valley and it's Carolinian forest.

These are the elements London should be marketing.

To the politicians, administrators and planners though: get off your beige couches and DO something.

[manny_santos]

I think one of the problems London has is complacency. Too many people satisfied with the status quo. Too many anti-business people on council like Gina Barber.

And yes, I believe London is quickly becoming the Elliot Lake of Southwestern Ontario. Every year there's one or two more new retirement homes opening, and young people are leaving in droves after graduating from Western and Fanshawe.

[haljackey]

Originally Posted by van Hemessen

^^ Please, PLEASE tell me you're joking.... If London starts playing up the English theme I will move many miles away...

I agree with the article. However....

lol, it was just an idea! Giving the city a theme is not a bad idea. K/W has a very German feel to it, especially in uptown Waterloo and between the two cities. Of course the city used to be called Berlin so that makes sense...

So since London is English shouldn't it be English like Kitchener is German? I'm not sure, maybe I'm not looking at the whole issue.

Originally Posted by manny_santos

I think one of the problems London has is complacency. Too many people satisfied with the status quo. Too many anti-business people on council like Gina Barber.

And yes, I believe London is quickly becoming the Elliot Lake of Southwestern Ontario. Every year there's one or two more new retirement homes opening, and young people are leaving in droves after graduating from Western and Fanshawe.

Oh geese I totally agree with your post. There's really no motivation right now to do any more than we have to, the status-quo will do.

Take transportation for example. No freeway? Meh, I think London is fine as it is. No light rail plans? Meh, buses will do fine. What about that CP rail line? There's like 2 trains that use it, so whatever leave it in. Where is the initiative?

I've gone to both Western and Fanshawe. You may as well call it Westin (a hotel where you check in, stay for a few nights then leave) and Funshawe (Fleming drive, need I say more?). For most students its like taking a break from the GTA to see "Small town Canada" (from their perspective) then leave to go back to the big city lifestyle.

As for Retirement, St. Thomas already has 25% more life, and it's invading London like Elliot Lake. Just a few months ago another retirement home opened in my neck of the woods (near Andover and Southdale), denying any possibility of Andover Drive meeting an extend Bradley Avenue. I know we have an aging population but come on, this is overkill.

[MolsonExport]

"20% more death...in St. Thomas!"
That city has got to be the graveyard capital of SW Ontario.
London is more like a Cruise ship of gracefully aging people. Status-quo oriented.

[Kokkei Mizu]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

"20% more death...in St. Thomas!"
That city has got to be the graveyard capital of SW Ontario.
London is more like a Cruise ship of gracefully aging people. Status-quo oriented.

Are you kidding me? St. Thomas is like the teen pregnancy capital of Canada! Lots of babies around!

[MolsonExport]

^even more tattoos.

[Snark]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

^even more tattoos.

Tattoos ROCK!!!!!!! Especially ones with snakes, knives, and babes!!!!!!

Off topic, but there was a guy nicknamed "Snake" from 25 years ago who was tattooed from head to toe, including a snake on his face (just like the John Candy character). I used to see him on the LTC when going to school once in the day. He even had a Freep one-pager on him once. He was a bit of a minor celebrity in his day.

[ssiguy]

London does have some concerns but to be honest I just don't agree with the article.
London is a cultural mecca. Kitchener maybe larger but it will never be the regional centre London is.
Kitcheners population growth has started to slow a bit over the last 5 years while London's has increased.
London is growing faster than any other SW Ontario city and the second fastest west of the GTA just behind Kitchener. It's unemployment rate has fallen quite a bit in the last year and is on a par with Kitchener's.
In the last 10 years the city has managed to rescue the downtown from the brink to one that has clearly turned the corner and seems to becoming back with avengence. That is no small accomplishment considering the economy of the last few years.
It's growing faster now since the mid 90s, the downtown scene and population is growing by leaps and bounds and unemployment is falling.

[ldoto]

Very True!!!!!!!

When I think of declining backwater towns in Ontario, London has never really been one of those places that came to mind. But there are certainly many other cities and towns in southern Ontario that fit the bill well.

Not even gonna get into the whole London vs. Kitchener thing...all I can say is, never say never. But at least for now, I would say London is more of a cultural centre and yes, has a single, more cohesive skyline (and more attractive skyline if you take out that fugly bunker of a courthouse). In certain other areas, I'd say Waterloo Region has more going for it.

[ssiguy]

KWC will continue to see growth at a rate probably faster than London for the forseeable future but the gap in the growth rates has been closing.
Niagara, Sarnia aren't growing at all and Windsor/Eassex is actually declining in numbers. Greater Hamilton is growing at a decent rate but that is warped by the fact that Burlington is growing very fast due to being part of the GTA. The City of Hamilton is growing slower than London as is Brantford.
Guelph is growing but again mainly due to it's proximity to Toronto.
Of Ontario's big cities the only ones that are really growing are Toronto, of course, Ottawa, KW, and London.

Originally Posted by ssiguy

KWC will continue to see growth at a rate probably faster than London for the forseeable future but the gap in the growth rates has been closing.
Niagara, Sarnia aren't growing at all and Windsor/Eassex is actually declining in numbers. Greater Hamilton is growing at a decent rate but that is warped by the fact that Burlington is growing very fast due to being part of the GTA. The City of Hamilton is growing slower than London as is Brantford.
Guelph is growing but again mainly due to it's proximity to Toronto.
Of Ontario's big cities the only ones that are really growing are Toronto, of course, Ottawa, KW, and London.

I know it's technically its own CMA, but Guelph is practically part of the same metro as the tri-cities. There are huge cross-boundary commuting movements between them (perhaps comparable to London and St. Thomas). Yes, it's slightly closer to Toronto, but it's relationship is closer to KWC via highways 7 and 24 (which get dangerously busy).

Another place that's growing fast is Barrie. It's weird though, since it's the same distance from Toronto, but there's not a whole lot of local employment there besides retail. It seems much less developed, it's still a long commute from the GTA, but it still grows like a weed. Guelph has a lot more going for it than Barrie regardless of the GTA (U of Guelph, lots of industry, agri-business/biotech sector, being known as a "creative class" community, etc.).

Niagara Region is actually growing, albeit at a snail's pace. London is definitely a more vibrant place.