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Council approves re-zoning for 2 massive riverfront towers in downtown London

A proposal by York Developments to build two massive towers with 800 residential units in downtown London, Ont., received the go-ahead from city council on Tuesday.

'This is what our downtown needs' says Mayor Josh Morgan as proposal passes council

CBC News ·
York Developments is proposing two large towers next to the Middlesex County building at the corner of King and Ridout Streets. At 53 and 43 storeys, the apartment towers would be London's two tallest buildings.
York Developments is proposing two large towers next to the Middlesex County building at the corner of King and Ridout Streets. At 53 and 43 storeys, the apartment towers would be London's two tallest buildings. The historic Middlesex courthouse building is seen at the bottom and centre of the frame. (York Developments)

A proposal by York Developments to build two massive towers with 800 residential units on a historic site in downtown London, Ont., received the go-ahead from council on Tuesday.

The 53 and 43-storey apartment buildings on King and Ridout Streets, will become the city's tallest buildings, once constructed. They will be located on the site of the former Middlesex-London Health Unit headquarters, next to the historic courthouse. 

After a lengthy debate, councillors voted 11-2 to approve re-zoning the site, which is required because the application exceeds the 35-storey maximum height for downtown.

"Make no mistake, this is a significant investment and a significant confidence in the downtown of our city. People do not build 53-storey buildings everywhere in this country, they build them in places where they have confidence in the future of those locations," said Mayor Josh Morgan. 

"This is what our downtown needs. This is an investment in long-term downtown vitality and this is what will secure that upward trend of having a vibrant, revitalized, exciting downtown."

The Toronto-style towers will be side-by-side at the corner overlooking Ivey Park and the Forks of the Thames River. They will rise above a shared podium which itself will have three or four floors of retail space.

'There are too many questions' says councillor

But some members of the public and councillors opposed the development, with concerns that the towers will sit next two heritage buildings, the former Middlesex County courthouse and jail. The plan won't alter those buildings, but critics fear the towers will crowd them out or leave them vulnerable to damage during construction. 

"I see that the applicant has promised to preserve the land but any development on that land would not be in preservation as with respect to its designation [as a national historic site]," said Coun. David Ferreira, who voted against the re-zoning bylaw amendment.

Coun. Sam Trosow who also voted against the proposal, saying there's too much ambiguity with the development.

"We're pushing more and more of this process to 'We'll take care of it later through post-approval review' and I think there are just too many questions here that are being deferred." 

This view from the west shows how the base of the two towers will integrate with Ivey Park and the Forks of the Thames River.
This view from the west shows how the base of the two towers will integrate with Ivey Park and the Forks of the Thames River. (York Developments)

York Developments has also committed $500,000 to affordable housing charity, Indwell, that will be transferred after the approved site plan.

With files from Andrew Lupton

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