Constructing our Future How Businesses Saved Our Downtown Campus Downtown London IDA Award Submission Winnipeg, 2017
Welcoming the Future In 2007 negotiations began between the City, Western University and Fanshawe College to offer them a significant amount of financial incentive to purchase and retrofit heritage buildings in the core Fanshawe College was the most accommodating and shared the City s vision of a downtown campus. They agreed to bring 1,000 students into the downtown and Phase one resulted in a retrofitted building on our Main Street. The Centre for Digital and Performing Arts opened in 2013 and was immediately successful attracting more than the forecasted 400 students. Fanshawe s board of governors were so happy with the outcome that the search for a second building soon began.
An Unexpected Announcement Kingsmill s Department Store announces it is closing after 148 years downtown A family run business for six generations on our Main Street, Kingsmill s no longer had a successor after the family retired, and could not find a purchaser to continue the business The family agrees to sell the building to Fanshawe College, who plan to bring 1,600 students from their schools of information technology, tourism and hospitality, and culinary arts to the core The total students now planned for downtown is 2,000; double what was initially promised But Fanshawe College needs to increase their request from the City s incentives to accommodate the larger building and more students
Fred Kingsmill holds an artist rendering that shows Fanshawe College's plan for the Kingsmill's building. (Free Press file photo) City divided on whether to give Fanshawe College $10 million London Free Press (Aug 22, 2014) Council s vote in July, 2014 is deadlocked 7 7 on helping fund Fanshawe s plan. A tie vote is a loss, and a loss can not be voted on again. On August 15, 2014, the board of the London Downtown Business Association held an emergency meeting and voted unanimously to donate $1 million to the proposal ($100,000 a year for 10 years which represents 10% of LDBA s entire budget). The new proposal allows Council to have a new vote in September, 2014.
Core Merchants May Save Fanshawe Deal London Free Press (Aug 15, 2014) When the matter first came before council and was defeated, I felt almost sick. However inconvenient I imagined reconstruction of Kingsmill s might be, it would not be as harmful to my business as having the huge building which dominates the block sit vacant. Chris McInnis, Uber Cool Stuff The City s investment would have a unique impact not experienced since Council decided to invest in Budweiser Gardens Our experience is the presence of a young creative class has a tremendous impact not only on the cultural fabric of a city, but also on business. Brian Ohl, Budweiser Gardens Obfuscation of the facts and political interference on this project is at a level I haven t seen in all my years on council. Joni Baechler, interim Mayor of London Bob Usher (left), chair of the London Downtown Business Association; Joel Adams, chair of Mainstreet London; and Ward 13 Councillor Judy Bryant were three of approximately 30 community leaders taking part in a meeting on Friday (Aug. 15) designed to help resurrect Fanshawe College s proposed downtown expansion. Sean Meyer/London Community News I applaud your support of this endeavor. I am appalled that we are risking the alternative of a building that will potentially sit empty for years. Jonathon Bancroft Snell, Jonathon s Ceramic Gallery The Fanshawe proposal has the support of business, nonprofits and government, which demonstrates its potential for strong cross sector partnership. Michelle Baldwin, Pillar Non Profit Network This [proposal] fires on all cylinders the Fanshawe proposal is not about investing in a school it s about investing in city building. John Fleming, Managing Director of Planning The vibrancy of the heart of our city is the one that s made of people, people that are going to be the future leaders of our business. Felipe Gomes, Aroma Restaurant Fanshawe s growing presence, the services and products their faculty and students will undoubtedly consume, and the opportunities for new ventures that will arise from the more entrepreneurially minded young people are the right ingredients to make that hope [of a vibrant downtown] a reality. Adam Caplan, web.isod.es We are going to be bringing the highly skilled workers of tomorrow downtown, they are going to bring $9.7 million per year of economic activity AND we are going to have $86 million of shovel ready construction projects in our downtown. What s not to love? rtraction
In front of a packed gallery, and two overflow rooms at City Hall streaming the meeting, Councilor Denise Brown who voted against the plan to give Fanshawe $10 million to buy the vacant Kingsmill s building supported a revised plan for $9 million. Her swing vote approved the project.
The Start of an Ongoing Partnership Construction began in 2015 and is predicted to complete in 2018 Heritage features were preserved. Construction is on schedule Downtown London s commitment to Fanshawe has opened clear and collaborative channels which have helped mitigate disruption Some of the disruption mitigation strategies include
One Last Christmas With the windows set to be dark for the first time in more than 100 years, Downtown London coordinated more than 20 merchants to contribute merchandise to a new window display in 2014 Collaborated with the Kingsmill family for their support in this symbolic passing of the torch to small businesses Decorated by Downtown London staff and Fanshawe students from the fashion and merchandising program
Changing Orange to Green The most beautiful construction signs we ve ever seen. Project Manager from Ellis Don BEFORE AFTER 13 planters added around construction Reduce signage Promote open businesses Beautify area Planted with ivey that grew up the signs in summer Planted with winter greenery at Christmas
BEFORE AFTER Hoarding Mural Partnered with Fanshawe to paint a new design of the Fanshawe Falcon on hoarding Designed by Fanshawe grad Falcon was painted by established local graffiti artist Inside hoarding was given to young graffiti up and comers to paint Lit at night Became a selfie draw Reduced crime and safety problems
London Youth Showcase With the street closed for a day of construction deliveries, we programmed it with musicians and artists during the day, and a concert at night featuring London s most talented youth while the mural was painted Partnered with London Music Office and Fanshawe College Against Me! and Laura Jane Grace were surprise attendees who were performing that night at London Music Hall We continue to program the street when it needs to be closed
Looking Forward Ongoing communication has been invaluable Monthly meetings with Fanshawe and construction team help manage disruption Construction team regularly visits nearby businesses with updates, as well as shops/dines outside of work Fanshawe has been an active and supportive partner of businesses, including opportunities for students to intern, study, or apprentice with business owner. The building is set to open September, 2018, with 1,600 students. Between the two campuses, there will be more than 2,000 students now on our Main Street.