Banks of the Thames to witness major re-development
By Mark
Schadenberg
LONDON -- The
South Street campus hospital (London Health Sciences Centre – LHSC)
in London was built along the Thames River and certainly features
some unique local architecture, but why at the 11th hour
is there some thought that maybe some additional buildings should be
restored and / or renovated for another (re-focused) use?
The
city council in London has been debating for years about a
re-development of this shoreline parcel, not a refurbishment of four
buildings.
One
building in particular dates back to 1899. City council does think
the War Memorial Children's Hospital (pictured below) should remain, but what about an
old nurses' residence?
Read
the London Free Press links below, but I have followed this story for
quite some time and was originally intrigued by the fact some
developers had (exciting and future) plans for property they didn't
even own. Who was going to expropriate property from those
proprietors? That's a slightly different topic, I realize.
Countless
public meetings have taken place (particular designed for the
neighbourhood residents), plus a final open house day for past
patients to patiently wait in line to tour the old structure.
Naturally, people are used to waiting in a hospital anyway.
The
demolition costs are being paid by the province, (LHSC), and the City
of London, and will hover around $15 million as a wrecking ball
hovers to swing through medical history of bricks and mortar.
I
don't live in London, but rather did witness the quick remediation
and demolition of the olde Woodstock General Hospital in the past two
years after The Friendly City finally opened its impressive new
medical centre on Juliana Drive.
Progress
is important, but so is nostalgia. I have often written about
Woodstock's great historical buildings (courthouse, old post office
is now city hall, old city hall is now museum, old market building is
a theatrical stage, the Armouries is a BDO accounting office, and old jail is home to the board of health), but we too have lost our share such as the former Woodstock College on the site of CASS high school.
As for London, I truly list the Normal School in London's Wortley Village
neighbourhood as one of my favourite Forest City landmarks.
The
banks of the Thames River - in what is described as London's SoHo –
could be transformed into another central focal point for London. In
other words, more residential, offices and commercial reasons to
strengthen the fabric of the heart of London and its Thames River
roots.
When
I attend London Knights games, I often park near the forks of the
Thames and I believe Labatt Memorial Park for baseball is an absolute
treasure to preserve and enjoy, but it too has witnessed many
renovations.
If
you read the LFP stories and other links, it would appear many London
city planners are pondering the idea of keeping even more buildings
around South, Colborne and Waterloo streets.
Jonathan
Sher of the LFP wrote:
Council
has approved that approach for the Colborne building and the War
Memorial Children’s Hospital.
This
spring staff will ask that council do the same for the old medical
school and nurses’ residence.
Tough
decisions to be made, but I thought the final decisions had been
made. It truly will be interesting to see the evolution of this
particular district of London. It would appear there will be a distinct flavour of yester-year mixed in with the newness of today.
FREE PRESS Link:
METRO NEWS Link:
LHSC Press Release:
Mark
Schadenberg, Sales
Representative
Senior
Real Estate Specialist (SRES designation)
Royal
LePage Triland Realty
757
Dundas St, Woodstock
www.wesellwoodstock.com
(519)
537-1553, cell or text
Email:
mschadenberg@rogers.com
Twitter:
markroyallepage
Facebook:
Mark Schadenberg, Royal LePage Triland
Discussion
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