London Construction - Development News Thread#1

[MolsonExport]

Thanks for the updates, although I bemoan the continued march of power centres on greenfield lands.

Welcome to the forum!

[That_Chris]

That's just sad. All this work to revitalizing Old East and we're going to counter that with more parking lot?

Western Fairgrounds is the prime example of the need for a parking tower. Most of that area could then be converted to greenspace and parkland or some other purpose. Now THAT would improve the area and bring up demand as well.

[MrSlippery519]

Originally Posted by That_Chris

That's just sad. All this work to revitalizing Old East and we're going to counter that with more parking lot?

Western Fairgrounds is the prime example of the need for a parking tower. Most of that area could then be converted to greenspace and parkland or some other purpose. Now THAT would improve the area and bring up demand as well.

I'm quite shocked the Western Fair has not built a parking tower, a good 3-5 level structure would take care of the parking needs near the Casino. Leave the flat parking near the arena and build a hotel like they have been talking about for years.

[LondnPlanr]

Originally Posted by Project-79

[*]As well, there are a couple of empty lots that I’m curious if people know what is being built:

• big black building that was demolished just north of Wharncliffe/Commissioners (old Tepperman’s i believe)
• empty lot at Fanshawe/Adelaide beside the Tim Hortons
• At Western/Sarnia, the Mac’s was demolished.

[/LIST]

1) Not aware of anything proposed on the former Tepperman's site.

2) The lot beside Tim Horton's on Fanshawe (near Adelaide) is a 3-4 unit commercial development. Popeye's Chicken and perhaps a Starbucks.

3) The Mac's was demolished to make way for a new Barakat restaurant location.

[manny_santos]

I've been by Oxford and Hyde Park recently. The former 7-Eleven has been demolished, and Scotiabank and Popeye's Chicken will be going there. There is also a Rogers store under construction in front of A&W at the same intersection.

Also found out this week that the former KFC in Byron is becoming a Starbucks.

[Symz]

Originally Posted by manny_santos

Also found out this week that the former KFC in Byron is becoming a Starbucks.

I notice all the KFC's that closed down in Windsor are supposed to become Dixie Lee Chicken locations. There are 2 KFC locations that have closed and have had notices of Dixie Lee Chicken coming for months even though I've seen no signs of activity at these locations.

I'm wondering, did London lose a few KFC locations as well? Have you heard of Dixie Lee Chicken and are they cracking the London market with the closure of KFC's as well?

[manny_santos]

Originally Posted by Symz

I notice all the KFC's that closed down in Windsor are supposed to become Dixie Lee Chicken locations. There are 2 KFC locations that have closed and have had notices of Dixie Lee Chicken coming for months even though I've seen no signs of activity at these locations.

I'm wondering, did London lose a few KFC locations as well? Have you heard of Dixie Lee Chicken and are they cracking the London market with the closure of KFC's as well?

There have been three or four KFCs in London that closed suddenly without warning over the past two years. I have heard of Dixie Lee, although I have never seen them in London, nor have I ever been to one of their restaurants.

I went by the former KFC on Highbury a few days ago, and there has been no activity at the site since the closure almost two years ago. In fact the ancient Kentucky Fried Chicken sign is still on the building. I doubt that building will stay vacant for long, as the Zellers in that area is going to be converted to Walmart, which will attract new traffic to that area.

The former KFC on Wonderland Road North became a Money Mart a very short time after it closed.

[LondnPlanr]

Originally Posted by manny_santos

I went by the former KFC on Highbury a few days ago, and there has been no activity at the site since the closure almost two years ago. In fact the ancient Kentucky Fried Chicken sign is still on the building. I doubt that building will stay vacant for long, as the Zellers in that area is going to be converted to Walmart, which will attract new traffic to that area.

Believe it or not, this KFC is set to re-open... not sure if as a KFC or something else. It is in for Site Plan Approval for a re-modified drive-thru.

Take that for what it's worth.

[K85]

A new set of twin towers is on the rise in southwest London.

Old Oak Properties Inc. has begun construction of a 16-storey, 239-unit luxury apartment building on Pomeroy Lane near Southdale Rd. and Colonel Talbot Dr.

The company is planning to build a second apartment tower of similar size, with the timing contingent on the takeup of units in the first tower.

The two buildings, to be known as Pomeroy Place, will share an underground parking structure.

“It's a developing area. It's been expanding and the infrastructure is developing nicely ... We have a lot of confidence in that part of town,” said Greg Bierbaum, senior vice-president with Old Oak.

Cachet-Reid is building the Talbot Village subdivision just south of the apartment towers and the area is serviced by the retail complex at Southdale and Wonderland Roads.

Bierbaum said the new buildings will have upgraded features, including granite countertops, hardwood floors and in-suite washers and dryers.

Pomeroy Place will be one of the few developments outside the core taller than 12 storeys.

Bierbaum said Old Oak was able to negotiate a deal with city officials to boost the density of the development by adding design feature such as enhanced materials, landscaping and building positioning.

Bierbaum said southwest London is poised for more residential development with easy access to Highways 401 and 402.

[Symz]

You should link the source

http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2.../20101841.html

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by manny_santos

The former KFC on Wonderland Road North became a Money Mart a very short time after it closed.

Talk about going from bad to worse. I know that location. I loathe Money Mart and clones.

from dirty-birds to loansharks.

[GreatTallNorth2]

Originally Posted by K85

A new set of twin towers is on the rise in southwest London.

A new set of twin towers in London? I can't believe it! I just hope they can find some nice gray concrete for the exterior.

[K85]

Originally Posted by Symz

You should link the source

http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2.../20101841.html

[Stevo26]

Originally Posted by GreatTallNorth2

A new set of twin towers in London? I can't believe it! I just hope they can find some nice gray concrete for the exterior.

We should just rename London to 'Commie Blox-R-Us', LOL.

[Simpseatles]

Looks like yet another sprawl centre is coming to the intersection of Highbury and Fanshawe. Was up there the other day and the construction in that area was relentless.

My question is, who is moving into these new subdivisions? As much as I detest sprawl, at least it's a sign that a city is growing, and doing well economically, but London's economy is in the tank, and our growth rate is nearly stagnant. And it's not like you see a lot of hollowed out inner city neighbourhoods a la white flight. So what gives?

[MolsonExport]

There is a hollowing out. there must be. the numbers just don't compute. Growth is charged at 3/4 corners of London (Lambeth/Byron and points west, NW London & Sunningdale areas, Sunningdale [East of Richmond] to Highbury/Fanshawe areas).

[manny_santos]

It's the massive and growing gap between rich and poor in London. On one extreme there's my cousin, a former EMD employee who has been jobless since New Year's and has a fiancee and kid to support. On the other extreme are London's extremely wealthy, and the Starbucks-sipping young professionals who have been lucky to find employment.

London has very little of a middle class now. You're either rich, or you're not.

[GreatTallNorth2]

Originally Posted by manny_santos

It's the massive and growing gap between rich and poor in London. On one extreme there's my cousin, a former EMD employee who has been jobless since New Year's and has a fiancee and kid to support. On the other extreme are London's extremely wealthy, and the Starbucks-sipping young professionals who have been lucky to find employment.

London has very little of a middle class now. You're either rich, or you're not.

Lol, "starbucks-sipping" is not exactly a sign that you are wealthy. It's just a sign that you like better coffee than that brown hot water Tim Hortons brews.

[MolsonExport]

^true.

Yet there is more than a kernal of truth in Manny's comments. Clearly the two-income professionals are doing very well, because London might have more McMansions per capita than any other major city in Canada (partly also due to low interest rates, low relative r/e costs). On the other end, the working class has not stagnated; it has gotten measurably poorer. Make no mistake, with globalization and deindustrialization, aided by the current political winds, any wealth is trickling up and the misery, down.

[Stevo26]

Originally Posted by Simpseatles

Looks like yet another sprawl centre is coming to the intersection of Highbury and Fanshawe. Was up there the other day and the construction in that area was relentless.

My question is, who is moving into these new subdivisions? As much as I detest sprawl, at least it's a sign that a city is growing, and doing well economically, but London's economy is in the tank, and our growth rate is nearly stagnant. And it's not like you see a lot of hollowed out inner city neighbourhoods a la white flight. So what gives?

Since I live not far from the Southdale/Wonderland intersection, I wonder too about all the new retail and residential construction going on, considering the state of London's economy.

I've also seen the same sort of thing going on in my old hometown of Sarnia, and its economy is even worse off than London's, with employment in the petrochemical sector having declined rather precipitously since the late 1970s and little new employment being generated.

The money to support all of this new construction has to be coming from somewhere. I have a theory about where it's coming from. If you look at demographic patterns, there are two major shifts going on in our population.

The first is coming from immigrants, and this trend is likely to continue since the government is trying to attract immigrants to cover critical skills shortages. The second is coming from retirees with relatively good pensions, and that trend is liable to continue as well, with large waves of retirements of those aged 55+ coming this year and over the next five years.

Those in the middle - that is, people aged 34 - 50 with families are orienting their spending to necessaries and covering the cost of putting their kids through school. There aren't enough of these families to keep the economy afloat, and since the birth rate in Canada has fallen to below replacement levels, there aren't going to be many new families coming, except in the immigrant class.