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Core housing applauded
A 25-unit residential development is to be built on a vacant lot on Dundas Street.
HANK DANISZEWSKI, Free Press Business Reporter 2005-05-12 03:52:29
A vacant lot on Dundas Street long considered an eyesore will soon be filled with affordable housing.
Officials with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) said yesterday a residential development at 129-131 Dundas St. will be underway soon, perhaps by the end of the month.
The 25-unit project, which backs onto Covent Garden Market, will have ground floor commercial space and is expected to receive funding from a federal-provincial housing deal approved last month.
Mainstreet London manager Janette MacDonald said the start of construction will be a great relief and bring a major improvement to the core.
"It will be so positive for that block and it will take care of the eyesore that's been there for five years. It's exactly what we were looking for -- more residential downtown," she said.
A building on the property housed Seigel's Shoe store for about 70 years. In 2000, London developer Arnon Kaplansky bought the property from Maurice Seigel and stirred controversy by demolishing the 120-year Victorian structure, creating a gap in the streetscape.
At the time, Kaplansky announced plans to build a 40-unit residential building. But the plans stalled later the same year, with Kaplansky indicating he had run into cost problems.
Contacted by The Free Press yesterday, Kaplansky confirmed the residential project is proceeding, but declined further comment.
A ground-breaking ceremony and a construction start is expected soon after the Memorial Cup festivities wind down in the area.
Kate Geilen operated the Geilen Design store next door for five years until its recent closing.
Three months after she opened in 2000, she said, the demolition of the neighbouring store created an eyesore and drove up utility costs in her building because an exterior wall was exposed.
"It's amazing the city gave him a demolition permit when there did not appear to be any intention of building," she said.
Geilen said construction of the new project would not have changed her plans to move because she had other problems, such as parking.
Geilen has found a new location, on Horton Street near Waterloo Street, which she says offers better parking, accessibility and main-floor space. The new store should open later this month.
Geilen said she has heard her former location on Dundas Street will be occupied by a law firm.
CMHC market analyst Helen Huttonsee said the $602-million federal-provincial affordable housing agreement should spur other affordable housing projects in the city.
Copyright © The London Free Press
A 25-unit residential development is to be built on a vacant lot on Dundas Street.
HANK DANISZEWSKI, Free Press Business Reporter 2005-05-12 03:52:29
A vacant lot on Dundas Street long considered an eyesore will soon be filled with affordable housing.
Officials with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) said yesterday a residential development at 129-131 Dundas St. will be underway soon, perhaps by the end of the month.
The 25-unit project, which backs onto Covent Garden Market, will have ground floor commercial space and is expected to receive funding from a federal-provincial housing deal approved last month.
Mainstreet London manager Janette MacDonald said the start of construction will be a great relief and bring a major improvement to the core.
"It will be so positive for that block and it will take care of the eyesore that's been there for five years. It's exactly what we were looking for -- more residential downtown," she said.
A building on the property housed Seigel's Shoe store for about 70 years. In 2000, London developer Arnon Kaplansky bought the property from Maurice Seigel and stirred controversy by demolishing the 120-year Victorian structure, creating a gap in the streetscape.
At the time, Kaplansky announced plans to build a 40-unit residential building. But the plans stalled later the same year, with Kaplansky indicating he had run into cost problems.
Contacted by The Free Press yesterday, Kaplansky confirmed the residential project is proceeding, but declined further comment.
A ground-breaking ceremony and a construction start is expected soon after the Memorial Cup festivities wind down in the area.
Kate Geilen operated the Geilen Design store next door for five years until its recent closing.
Three months after she opened in 2000, she said, the demolition of the neighbouring store created an eyesore and drove up utility costs in her building because an exterior wall was exposed.
"It's amazing the city gave him a demolition permit when there did not appear to be any intention of building," she said.
Geilen said construction of the new project would not have changed her plans to move because she had other problems, such as parking.
Geilen has found a new location, on Horton Street near Waterloo Street, which she says offers better parking, accessibility and main-floor space. The new store should open later this month.
Geilen said she has heard her former location on Dundas Street will be occupied by a law firm.
CMHC market analyst Helen Huttonsee said the $602-million federal-provincial affordable housing agreement should spur other affordable housing projects in the city.
Copyright © The London Free Press
