Ontario Construction News staff writer
The City of London is starting a comprehensive consultation and planning initiative aimed at shaping the future of its downtown area, focusing on growth in housing, businesses, and employment, as well as investments in infrastructure and economic rejuvenation.
The upcoming Downtown Master Plan, currently being created, will act as a guiding framework for construction, development, and planning activities for the foreseeable future. Professionals in the construction industry, developers, and business representatives are invited to take part in this process since it will affect zoning regulations, infrastructure priorities, and incentives for growth in the city’s dynamic core.
This plan is being developed following a resolution passed by City Council in November 2023 that instructed staff to formulate an updated strategy addressing present challenges and conditions downtown. As it stands now, over 10,000 residents live in the area alongside more than 1,400 businesses and a rising number of events and cultural happenings.
The project will unfold in two phases:
Phase 1 consists of the Downtown Master Plan Background Study and Quick Start Actions. This initial stage focuses on reviewing current policies while collecting updated information about land use, demographics, business activity, and infrastructure needs. Based on public feedback along with input from the Downtown London Business Improvement Area (BIA) and other stakeholders, quick-start actions-like early improvements to public spaces or pilot development incentives-will be proposed to Council.
Phase 2 will entail developing the complete Downtown Master Plan that pinpoints specific actions concerning residential areas, commercial spaces, employment opportunities, and cultural initiatives. It will include a strategy for implementation along with financial considerations detailing measurable goals and costs involved.
Key focus areas within the plan include:
Downtown as a Place to Call Home: Setting targets for residential growth while exploring options for housing variety and intensification opportunities along with identifying necessary infrastructure to support population increases. Downtown as a Place to Work and Grow a Business: Crafting strategies aimed at attracting employers while lowering office vacancies; also focusing on strengthening sectors such as retailing, dining options, and services. Downtown as a Vibrant Destination: Improving the area’s attractiveness for both visitors and locals through effective placemaking efforts along with marketing initiatives related to tourism infrastructure.
The plan will be consistent with the city’s official plan alongside its 2023-2027 Strategic Plan. Additionally, it will take into account how surrounding areas-like rapid transit routes or nearby neighborhoods-can both aid and gain from a more robust downtown.
Construction professionals can now share their thoughts via an online survey available on the City’s project webpage. There’ll also be other engagement chances through pop-up events around town.
After Phase 1 wraps up, a report summarizing short-term recommendations will be presented to Council setting up groundwork for creating the full Master Plan.
The City assures that this final plan aims to provide clear guidance for residential developments along with commercial projects; it’ll address infrastructure investments while informing policy decisions-with long-lasting effects on construction industries as well as community vitality in downtown moving forward into future decades.
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