London Construction - Development News Thread#1

[Snark]

..

[QuantumLeap]

Originally Posted by Snark

No one is gonna put down $300 mil for a building like that in any medium Canadian city (such as is London).
$100 mil is about the the extent that any developer will sink into a single project in London, and even that is pushing it.

ok, what I meant was where are our beautiful buildings, not where are our giant buildings. small can be beautiful. i am just so tired of pre-cast concrete blocks. even one london is only so-so.

towers like the mondrian in ottawa, the marilyn monroe in mississauga etc are at least interesting...

[Snark]

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[flar]

One London Place is definitely a top notch building any city would be lucky to have. Of course right now London doesn't need any more office space, which leaves residential buildings. It's really too bad developers don't get more creative with the condos and apartment towers.

[MolsonExport]

London has got to do a sweep of the downtown area. The intersection of Dundas and Richmond is a disgrace. The two major thoroughfares through the core downtown are incredibly gritty. Not at all good for attracting people to the core.

[ssiguy]

I've seen all the designs of the new Renasaince towers but haven't seen any actual picture as in colours.

[ldoto]

Mon, April 9, 2007

Sale will be good for local programming, expert says

By HANK DANISZEWSKI, SUN MEDIA



Rogers could bring revival to London’s A-Channel, says a media expert at the University of Western Ontario.

Rogers Communications (TSX:RCI.B) is paying $137.5 million for the A-Channel group of stations, which is being spun off by CTVglobemedia Inc. as part of its $1.7-billion acquisition of CHUM Ltd.

London’s A-Channel, with satellite operations in Windsor and Wingham, has been buffeted by a series of owners, format changes and cutbacks in recent years says David Spencer, a professor of media and information studies.

He expects the takeover by Rogers, known as a cable and cellphone giant, will be good news for the station, which was founded by Free Press publisher Walter Blackburn in 1955

Spencer expect Rogers will strengthen the local programming, especially in news.

“I think they will be a welcome addition to this market. They’ve learned a lot or hard lessons . . . and I think they will be out there in the community finding out what people want,” he said.

Spencer said Rogers is a relatively new player in broadcast television but did a good job building the Toronto-based Omni multicultural TV station and has added Omni 2, a second channel.

Rogers also operates a community cable operation in London, but Spencer said there is probably not much scope to combine the two operations because they have a different focus and advertising base.

A-Channel London station manager Donald Mumford says he had no information on any changes planned by Rogers but the news of the sale will put an end to months of uncertainty for the station, which has about 154 employees.

Although the station has gone through several owners in the past 20 years, Mumford said each change has had a positive impact.

“In each instance we have always benefited from ownership change. It has brought new vision and new resources.”

The sale to Rogers must be approved by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, which regulates the broadcast industry — but another analyst that should not be a problem.

“The CRTC will love it,” said John Henderson of Scotia Capital. “They want less market concentration and this adds to the level of competition in the market, and I don’t think the CRTC would have any problem with this.”

[ldoto]

Rogers to Acquire A-Channel Stations

One of Canada's largest technology firms is making headlines today.

Rogers Broadcasting is paying $137.5 million dollars for several CTVglobemedia TV channels divested in the wake of last year's acquisition of CHUM Limited.

Among them, A-Channel stations in London, Windsor and Wingham, along with 3 other A-Channel outlets, a CBC affiliate in Brandon, Manitoba and two other speciality TV channels.

In a news release, Rogers Broadcasting President Rael Merson says "Rogers has built its successful television business by serving community-focused and niche audiences."

CTVglobemedia President Ivan Fecan says he's confident Rogers will use its "financial resources and commitment to conventional TV to ensure the A-Channel local stations not only survive, but thrive."

The purchase agreement still needs the approval of the CRTC, which is not expected until late this year or early 2008.

[ldoto]

London Creative Tenants Wanted for Creative Business Consortium



Tenants are wanted to be part of a creative business consortium in the core of London. Looking to secure 60% of tenants to commence renovations. Prospective tenants are established small businesses in the creative community.

Overview
The Establishment: London Creative Business Consortium will be a vibrant 3rd floor venue in the Core of London, Ontario. The venue is a cross between an incubator for creative businesses (individual secure offices with shared access to a board room, kitchenette and common reception area) and a centre for the creative community – transient space for seminars, presentations and happenings. The Establishment is a quality professional space where the creative business-minded community can develop an economic process they can prosper from.

The venue will allow a positive synergy amongst the individual tenants further developing the creative community in downtown London.

Timeline
To meet a goal of August 1, 2007 occupancy, 60% of the tenants need to be interested by March 31.

For more information:

www.establishmentlondon.com

Michael L. Mullan
519.520.0386
michael@establishmentlondon.com




Here’s some pics from the The Creative Business Consortium from the core in London
http://gibbdesign.com/establishment/est_photos.html

[QuantumLeap]

If you are curious about seeing new projects at Western go tohttp://communications.uwo.ca/western_news/PDF_archive.html and look at page 11 of the pdf from April 5.

[ldoto]

Video game outlet seeks programmers

Thu, April 19, 2007

By HANK DANISZEWSKI, SUN MEDIA



The folks at Beanbag Studios in London are so busy churning out hot video games they want to hire about 90 more staff.

But they're afraid they won't be able to find experienced game programmers and are thinking of moving operations to the Toronto area.

"I'm in dire need of about 30 more people right now because we have more projects than we can handle. But our preference is to stay in London," said company president Steve Bergenholtz, who says Beanbag should have about 100 employees within two years.

Bergenholtz, based in Texas, says he contacted the London Economic Development Corp. (LEDC), but was disappointed by feedback from Larry MacKinnon, who started in a position last October to develop technology businesses. He said MacKinnon didn't offer direct help in recruitment and suggested Beanbag advertise on websites.

"We anticipated more support from the city than they were able to provide," Bergenholtz said.

Beanbag's London operation is headed by co-owner Gary Corriveau, a London native. He said the LEDC should do a better job promoting technology businesses.

"I want to know what they are spending their money on," Corriveau said.

MacKinnon said he wasn't aware of Beanbag until the company called him this week. He said London has five video game developers but they've kept a low profile.

"They have kept their heads down but now they have raised their profile to get the talent they need to grow," .

MacKinnon said the market for experienced video game programmers is tight everywhere.

"I am not in a position to be hiring those people, I can't address the issue directly," he said.

But MacKinnon said the LEDC can work with the company as well as Fanshawe College and the University of Western Ontario to ensure grads are ready for the job market. He said the LEDC also can help new employees settle in the city,

Video game programmers make $40,000 to $60,000 to start but some make more than $100,000 with incentive bonuses.

More information on the jobs is on the company's website, www.beanbagstudios.com

[ldoto]

Danish rival beats IKEA into London

Mon, April 23, 2007

By HANK DANISZEWSKI, SUN MEDIA



Swedish furniture giant IKEA may be snubbing London, but Danish rival JYSK is happy to move in to the market.

JYSK (pronounced Yisk) is opening its first London store on May 12 in a portion of the former Canadian Tire store near the Masonville mall.

The 30,000 square foot store will feature bed, bath and houseware items as well as Scandinavian-style home furnishings.

JYSK Canada CEO Pablo Reich said London shoppers who now travel to the nearest IKEA store in Burlington will like what JYSK has to offer.

“We target similar price points with similar looks . . . but we go into markets where IKEA is not present,” said Reich.

Rumours have been floating for years that IKEA is building a store in London. In 2004 a online petition asking for an IKEA store in London gathered over 7,000 names. But IKEA officials said at the time London is not a “viable” market for the chain.

JYSK was founded in 1979 by Lars Larsen, a native of the Jutland peninsula in Denmark. The name is derived from the Danish adjective for the region.

JYSK now has 1,200 stores worldwide including 31 in Canada. The chain entered the Canadian market in British Columbia 10 years ago and has been gradually moving east, opening it first Ontario store last year.

Reich said the Masonville store will employ about 35 people. He said he is confident London will be a good market and he expects the chain will open a second store in south London in the future.

JYSK is the third outlet to move into the building vacated by Canadian Tire last year when it opened a new store in Hyde Park. Marble Slab Creamery and Winners have also moved into the space.

Link
http://www.jysk.ca/

[ldoto]

Update!

Mon, April 23, 2007

By PATRICK MALONEY, SUN MEDIA



Robarts Research Institute is one step closer to becoming part of the University of Western Ontario, following approval of the move by the school's senate.

The senate's decision -- considered the biggest hurdle in the takeover of the cash-strapped institute -- has largely cleared the way for Robarts to be integrated into UWO's Schulich School of Medicine July 1.

It's now up to the boards of both institutions to approve the the move.

Earlier this month, Robarts, which was Canada's only independent research institute, announced 19 job cuts in a restructuring as part of the preparation to join UWO.

With a $55-million annual budget, Robarts also has a deficit that's reportedly in the millions of dollars. UWO isn't paying to bring the research institute under its umbrella.

But Robarts and the 600 people employed in its medical research work will add significantly to UWO's reputation, spokesperson Ann Hutchison said.

"Some of the best researchers in the world" work there, she said, noting many are already affiliated with the university.

"To have Robarts . . . as part of Western is just a great thing for both institutions."

When Robarts announced the job cuts earlier this month, officials said they were needed to keep the institute financially stable.

"The layoffs were absolutely essential to secure the long-term stability of Robarts," said Dr. Cecil Rorabeck, who was hired to oversee the move into UWO.

[ldoto]

News Release

2007-04-24


London ranks high as North American Small City of the Future
London ON – (April 24, 2007) Today, fDi magazine announces London, Ontario ranks in the Top Five of Most Cost Effective North American Small Cities of the Future, the Top Five Best Economic Potential and overall Top Ten (with a fourth place finish).

fDi researchers took more than six months to select the “top ten” shortlists of cities of all sizes with the best strategies and resources for economic development. Courtney Fingar, editor of fDi magazine, said: “fDi magazine’s City of the Future ranks reflects an independent panel of judges’ views on each city according to seven selection factors.

As part of the selection process, nine judges reviewed nominations from 108 cities on more than 60 criteria designed to assess cities’ potential to attract business investment projects.”

This is the first time that cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico have competed directly against one another in fDi’s Cities of the Future research.

“This is significant recognition for London by a magazine held in high regard by the international economic development community,” said John Kime, London Economic Development Corporation’s President and CEO. “This independent assessment of London’s economic potential, cost effectiveness, quality of life, human resources, infrastructure and business friendliness is another tool for LEDC to raise London’s profile internationally.”

fDi magazine’s “Locations of the Future” competition has been running for five years and covers almost every region across the world. The methodology is designed to identify those cities that have the basics in place to flourish in the next few years by attracting high levels of inward investment. The shortlists are created by asking cities to provide data and qualitative information in much the same way investors approach locations during the screening process used to decide which are suitable for capital investment projects.

“As Londoners, we have always viewed The Forest City as a well-rounded community, ideal for raising families and investing in enterprise,” says Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco-Best. “Now, through the fDi rankings, we have objective results to confirm we’re definitely taking the right steps to ensure our city’s future prosperity.”

In the second half of 2006, fDI magazine invited key cities across North America to answer more than 60 questions in seven broad categories. A total of 108 cities were considered by fDi’s panel of judges, which scored each city. Cities were categorized by size so that cities across North American could compete against each other on a level basis. London was ranked as a Small City with a population between 100,000 and 500,000.

Top ten small cities of the future

1 Windsor Ontario Canada
2 Huntsville Alabama United States
3 Albany New York United States
4 London Ontario Canada
5 Waterloo Ontario Canada
6 Colima Colima Mexico
7 Bloomington-Normal Illinois United States
8 Mobile Alabama United States
9 Chatham-Kent Ontario Canada
10 Saskatoon Saskatchewan Canada

Small cities - best economic potential

1 Saskatoon Saskatchewan Canada
2 Mobile Alabama United States
3 Halifax Nova Scotia Canada
4 Windsor Ontario Canada
5= Durango Durango Mexico
5= London Ontario Canada

Small cities - best development and investment promotion

1 Huntsville Alabama United States
2 Windsor Ontario Canada
3 Durango Durango Mexico
4 Sherbrooke Quebec Canada
5= St. Johns New Foundland and Labrador Canada
5= Waterloo Ontario Canada

Small cities - best human resources

1 Albany New York United States
2 Waterloo Ontario Canada
3 Greenville South Carolina United States
4 Plano Texas United States
5 Windsor Ontario Canada

Small cities - best infrastructure

1 Halifax Nova Scotia Canada
2 Gatineau Quebec Canada
3 Huntsville Alabama United States
4 Waterloo Ontario Canada
5= Matamoros Tamaulipas Mexico
5= Windsor Ontario Canada

Small cities - most business friendly

1 Mobile Alabama United States
2 Windsor Ontario Canada
3 Greenville South Carolina United States
4 Anchorage Alaska United States
5 Moncton New Brunswick Canada

Small cities - most cost effective

1 Colima Colima Mexico
2 Chatham-Kent Ontario Canada
3 London Ontario Canada
4 Barrie Ontario Canada
5 Amarillo Texas United States

Small cities - quality of life

1 Albany New York United States
2 Waterloo Ontario Canada
3 Huntsville Alabama United States
4 Windsor Ontario Canada
5 Lafayette Louisiana United States

Top ten micro cities of the future

1 Zapata Texas United States
2 Ennis Texas United States
3 Sarnia Ontario Canada
4 Yuma Arizona United States
5 Wilmington Delaware United States
6 Silverthorne Colorado United States
7 Surprise Arizona United States
8 Fredericton New Brunswick Canada
9 Plattsburgh New York United States
10 Poughkeepsie New York United States

Micro cities - best economic potential

1 Wilmington Delaware United States
2 Yuma Arizona United States
3 Ennis Texas United States
4 Danville Virginia United States
5 Zapata Texas United States

Micro cities - best development and investment promotion

1 Surprise Arizona United States
2 Zapata Texas United States
3 Sarnia Ontario Canada
4 Yuma Arizona United States
5= Campbell River British Columbia Canada
5= Ennis Texas United States

Micro cities - best human resources

1 Wilmington Delaware United States
2 Franklin Wisconsin United States
3 Plattsburgh New York United States
4 Fredericton New Brunswick Canada
5 Silverthorne Colorado United States

Micro cities - best infrastructure

1 Poughkeepsie New York United States
2 Surprise Arizona United States
3 Zapata Texas United States
4 Franklin Wisconsin United States
5 Wilmington Delaware United States

Micro cities - most business friendly

1 Zapata Texas United States
2 Blue Ash Ohio United States
3 Surprise Arizona United States
4 Ennis Texas United States
5 Wilmington Delaware United

[MolsonExport]

These lists are essentially meaningless.

[Snark]

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[Snashcan]

Suprising WoodStock isn't on the Micro city list, just a massive Toyota plant being built, prolly more then double the population

[FazDeH]

^^^ I doubt an automotive plant will add 33,000 people. More like 2000, still a nice bump for a city that size, but then most of the working force already lives in Woodstock or in London, considering the cut backs at GM and the Ford plant near St. Thomas. So sorry can't say I'd agree with you on this one.

[Snark]

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[Snashcan]

Originally Posted by FazDeH

^^^ I doubt an automotive plant will add 33,000 people. More like 2000, still a nice bump for a city that size, but then most of the working force already lives in Woodstock or in London, considering the cut backs at GM and the Ford plant near St. Thomas. So sorry can't say I'd agree with you on this one.

Ummm the plant alone is to add at least 2500 jobs (high paying Jobs)...One of my profs is high up in the conservation area and told me the trickle down will add at least an expected 10,000...but the plant is suppose to get much bigger then the 2500 jobs.

Remember it's not just the jobs at the plant created, it's also the service jobs added and the supplier jobs for all the workers. Not to mantion the supply jobs for the plant it self.

This plant is huge, it will be the new key industry in woodstock. Remember also with 2500 jobs comes all their families. Some of my planning profs have said the scale of growth which is in application form right now is unbelievable.

This plant will also have a significant effect on london and stratford.