The future of a Kingsmill’s campus for Fanshawe College is left in the hands of a London ward after a councillor says she will ask constituents if they want her to change her mind.
Denise Brown says she has been doing more research and will ask residents in Ward 11 what they want the city to do. Brown originally voted down the college’s request for an additional $10 million on top of the $20 million it had already committed to the plan.
Meanwhile, Downtown London is promising private sector money in hopes of reviving the deal.
On Wednesday, the deal for Fanshawe to relocate 1,600 students to the former Kingsmill’s Department Store building had expired.
Last month, council rejected the college’s request for the additional $10 million by virtue of a deadlocked vote of 7-7.
Downtown London and other stakeholders plan to use private money to try to keep the Fanshawe-Kingsmill’s deal alive.
“We will be putting a financial commitment out on the street saying politicians need business to step up and we're in a position to do that,” says Downtown London's Bob Usher.
While that monetary commitment isn’t known, it’s described as a large sum of money. The hope is now that council will change its mind.
“Business is willing to put money on the table, but what we are looking for from council is to reconsider this decision,” says Joel Adams, of Mainstreet London.
Joe Swan says unless the private sector comes up with $10 million, the deal doesn’t make sense.
“If they're moving in that direction then that's great, but the question is whether council will revisit this decision and I don't believe that will happen.”
Social media has been putting pressure on the politicians to change their minds, though.
Brown tells CTV News she will reconsider if that’s what the public wants.
“This weekend I will be knocking on the doors of people in my ward to see how they feel about it.”
Swan says the issue doesn’t need to be political as there are more affordable locations in the core for Fanshawe.
“Everyone wants to have the college downtown, but it has to be affordable. It has to be supported by the provincial government and it has to make sense financially.”
