Is a Toronto billionaire eyeing more than one property for redevelopment in downtown London?
Following last night's meeting about the London Hydro property -- Daryl Newcombe put the question to those in the know.
"There may be other opportunities that Kilmer and other companies may be interested in," says London Treasurer Martin Hayward.
Toronto-based firm of Kilmer Brownfield was attracted to London by the property at Horton and Rideout -- but now may have found other possibilities as well.
"Maybe there are other opportunities that we can look at in the city besides just the horton street property," says David Harper, Kilmer-Brownfield president.
Harper was coy about which other sites may be under consideration but committee members seemed shop one additional site in particular.
"Colbourne and Waterloo to the very east, the old Victoria Hospital is and they're starting to demolish. That's starting to work," says Mayor Joe Fontana.
Following demolition, city hall hopes to find a developer to turn the former hospital site into a mix of highrise condos, stores and riverfront public space.
It's similar to its vision for the hydro lands.
It would anchor the east end of a riverfront redevelopment stretching to the Forks of the Thames
"Whether we proceed in this direction or move in another direction because it's an area we've identified as primed for a different purpose," says councillor Matt Brown.
How big is the potential? Ultimately 9 hectares of riverfront land will be returned to city hall. That's double the develop-able space on the London Hydro property.
While the hydro lands remain at the forefront, Harper admits his firm is open to more.
"We've looked at the downtown core and that's why we again identified London as a good opportunity to invest in redevelopment," says Harper.
The hospital site will be turned over to city hall when demolition is complete at the end of this year.
