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The Process So Far On February 2, 2009 Council approved the Terms of Reference for the Downtown Master Plan, the first step in the process of completing the Plan. These Terms of Reference outlined the requirements, expectations, issues to be reviewed, methodology and products needed to complete the final Downtown Master Plan, Downtown Heritage Conservation District Plan and revised Downtown Design Guidelines. Following Council’s approval of the Terms of Reference, the City began preparing the Background Study to provide the policy, statistical and analytical basis for the Downtown Master Plan and revised Downtown Design Guidelines. In addition, Planning staff also started the process of preparing a Downtown vision statement. While past studies have done this, the intent of this process was to develop a current vision for Downtown London. A public workshop was held on July 29, 2009 at which participants were asked to identify weaknesses/constraints in the Downtown, strengths/opportunities in the Downtown, an idea of what improvements are needed Downtown and a Downtown vision. An on-line survey was also initiated which posed the same questions. Planning staff compiled the comments and they are contained in a Vision status report which was tabled at Planning Committee on November 16, 2009. The Downtown Master Plan Background Study was completed and approved July 19, 2010 and the Downtown Vision was approved by Council November 15, 2010.

The Next Step in the Process; A Change in Emphasis Following the November meetings the emphasis of the Downtown Master Plan process changed from reviewing and accumulating background information, reviewing previous reports and recommendations and identifying issues to reviewing issues raised through the public process and identifying solutions and ways to implement them. Based on the Downtown vision (pg.3), Council, staff, Downtown agencies and others will identify those areas where further study and attention are required and identify what needs to be addressed and improved through the implementation of the Downtown Master Plan and Downtown Design Guidelines. This may include new Official Plan policies, new zoning by-law regulations, changes in the site plan control by-law, the introduction of revised urban design guidelines, new or improved infrastructure, new programs or initiatives, the identification of future public projects and investments, new or revised financial incentives, new processes such as a Development Permit System or a Downtown Development Corporation or changes in the way the City deals with Downtown issues. The purpose of tonight’s meeting is to identify and discuss new ideas/options/alternatives for addressing issues identified in the first public workshop and throughout the public process. At the second workshop in November 2009 we started to look at issues, options and implementation. The discussion was summarized in the Draft New Ideas, Options and Implementation report submitted to Planning Committee in July 2010 which has now been circulated for public comment. This workshop will carry on the process of choosing options to deal with identified issues and providing ways to implement them. It is also hoped that we can establish priorities for them. At the end of the Downtown Master Plan process, there will be five products produced. The Downtown Master Plan, Downtown Master Plan Background Study (already complete) , Downtown Heritage Conservation District Background Study (already complete), Downtown Heritage Conservation Plan and Downtown Urban Design Guidelines.

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Figure 1: Downtown Boundary

Previous Successes in the Downtown The importance of the Downtown as the focal point for the City has long been recognized by the public, Council, business owners and City staff. Since the 1980’s a number of projects have already helped to improve the Downtown. Some of the projects include:

Construction of the John Labatt Centre Relocating Central Library Ten different incentive programs with loans already totaling $7.8 million Rebuilding of Covent Garden Market Improvements to Victoria Park and the Forks of the Thames Various policy changes Creation of Main Street (now “Downtown London”--)

As a result of these initiatives, the following has occurred:

Since 2001 public investment has totaled $100 million and private investment has reached $500 million;

Building permits for more than 1000 residential units have been issued for the Downtown since 1996

More and more people are using the Downtown: more then 3,400 now live in Downtown; 30,000 work there; 37,000 people a month visit the market; 100,000 people a month visit the library; and over 600,000 tickets are sold a year to the John Labatt Centre

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Over the past 20 years there has been significant money, time and effort devoted to the enhancement and revitalization of the Downtown. Many of those efforts focused on a particular set of issues and did not deal with the whole of the Downtown on a comprehensive basis. The Downtown appears to be healthy, especially in comparison with some other municipalities. It has many of the features required for a successful Downtown, however, there are still a number of issues that must be worked on and now is the right time to prepare a comprehensive Downtown Plan and develop a vision that will guide the Downtown for the next 20 years and beyond.

The Importance of Downtown The City’s Downtown often produces a very emotional response from city residents, particularly since the images that residents and visitors have of a City are often defined by their perception of the Downtown. Throughout the public process so far, participants have raised issues but there is an underlying interest from the public in the “health” of the Downtown. Also, businesses typically use images of the Downtown on their annual reports In London, providing a image of stability and prestige. That image is of a Downtown that serves as a focus for the region. The storefronts and architecture of the commercial core reflect the historic role of the Downtown as a business centre. The higher density and height in and around the core confirm this traditional role, and demonstrate that Downtown London is still an important element of the City’s urban form. Although its function has evolved from a retail centre to an office, cultural, entertainment, government and service centre, London’s Downtown still serves as a focus for the region.

The Downtown Vision

On November 15, 2010, after two public workshops and comments received through the on-line survey and other correspondence, Council approved the Downtown “Vision”. It states;

“Downtown London is the business, cultural and entertainment centre of the City; an attractive, vibrant and diverse gathering place and the community focus for City residents and visitors to live, work, shop, visit and play. It will continue to be the focus of the City’s revitalization efforts.” “Downtown London is everybody’s neighbourhood; a unique place that is accessible and inviting to all, with many things to see and do, where people have fun and come together in a clean and safe environment, where trees, parks and open spaces are important parts of our green Downtown.” “Downtown London offers many distinctive cultural, arts, recreation, entertainment, retail, dining, employment and service uses during the morning, day and evening. These uses create continuous streetscapes that are attractive, interesting, walkable, well maintained and comfortable for pedestrians. Heritage buildings and streetscapes will be preserved to provide architectural interest, a unique identity and a strong tie to our past.”

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“Downtown London is where emerging businesses begin and are encouraged to stay and grow.” “Downtown London … a place that makes Londoners proud and a place where people want to be”

This statement will form the basis of the preparation of the Downtown Master Plan, the Downtown Heritage Conservation District Plan and the Downtown Urban Design Guidelines. All new initiatives should be consistent with the Downtown “vision”.

The Issues

Throughout the process so far we have asked you to identify issues or problems with the Downtown. In the

first public workshop we asked you to identify the strengths of the Downtown, what could be improved

Downtown and your Downtown “vision”. In the second workshop we went one step further and asked you

for your thoughts on ways to address problems and asked you to narrow down the parameters of a

Downtown “vision”. Based on the public input so far these are the top 15 issues you identified.

1. MAKE DUNDAS STREET MORE ACTIVE AND THE MAIN STREET OF THE CITY AND

REGION.

2. MAKE THE FORKS OF THE THAMES MORE ACTIVE/CLOSE KENSINGTON BRIDGE TO

CARS

3. REDISTRIBUTE SOCIAL SERVICE OFFICES FROM DUNDAS AND RICHMOND

4. RELOCATE BUS ROUTES FROM DUNDAS STREET

5. IMPROVE THE PEDESTRIAN CONNECTION BETWEEN THE DOWNTOWN AND THE

FORKS

6. IMPROVE THE PEDESTRIAN ENVIRONMENT ON ALL DOWNTOWN STREETS

7. DEAL WITH NEGATIVE PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS OF SAFETY DOWNTOWN

8. CONTINUE TO BUILD THE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBOURHOOD DOWNTOWN

9. CREATE A LONDON TRANSIT/INTER-CITY AND VIA RAIL TRANSPORTATION NODE

10. ESTABLISH A DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

11. ESTABLISH A CITY OF LONDON DOWNTOWN PARKING AUTHOURITY

12. ADDRESS THE SUPPLY, LOCATION AND NATURE OF PARKING IN THE DOWNTOWN

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13. CREATE A CENTRAL PUBLIC “MEETING PLACE” IN THE DOWNTOWN

14. TRACK AND REPORT ON THE VALUE OF DOWNTOWN TO THE BROADER COMMUNITY

15. MAKE MORE DOWNTOWN STREETS FLEXIBLE

What is a “Big Idea”?

A “Big Idea” is something which implements the Downtown “vision”, is something which can transform

Downtown and is comprehensive in nature. Adding street furniture, new lighting etc. are not “Big Ideas” but

they can be part of a larger “Big Idea” such as “Improving the Pedestrian Environment” Downtown. It can

be something new, redesign of an existing space or just a new way of doing things.

What we would like your help with Tonight

We would like the groups at the tables to identify their top 2 or 3 “Big Ideas” and begin the process of

clarifying what the issue is, and then identify ways to resolve the issue. This is the “reality check” for the

consideration of issues and their eventual resolution. This process will address the “what”, “why”, “how”

and “when”. An important part of the “reality check” is to make sure that it meets our definition of “Big

Ideas”. The last question will attempt to bring us closer to establishing priorities for new initiatives in the

Downtown. For those issues where site specific improvements are needed Downtown, we would like you to

design the space that needs improvement. Markers, Downtown maps and paper have been provided. If

there are issues you think are important which are not on the list (see attached comprehensive list), please

feel free to assess them similar to the above. We have also provided a separate list of issues and a copy of

the Council approved Downtown “vision” at each table.

Structure of this Workshop 6:00-7:00 Interactive display and questions Please take some time to review the panels on display. City staff will be available to answer your questions. At 7:00 pm please proceed to table that you were assigned when you entered. 7:00-7:15 Welcoming remarks and presentation City staff will present welcoming remarks, a brief overview of the Downtown Master Plan process, and some initial thoughts about the objectives for the workshop. 7:15-8:30 Breakout session The main component of the evening is a facilitated small group discussion. We hope to get a good mix of interests at each table but please feel free to sit with friends, acquaintances and/or complete strangers. The first part of the discussion will focus on selecting your 2or 3 “Big Ideas”. Once each table has selected

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them Planning staff will circulate and put each tables list on the overhead for everyone to see. If you want to switch tables to discuss an issue you are concerned about please feel free to do so. After having an opportunity to discuss a topic, each table will assign a reporter to share with the larger audience the key themes, and ideas that emerged from their group’s discussion and possible solutions 8:30-9:00 Report back 9:00-9:30 Closing remarks/Informal Discussion

Figure 2: Downtown Master Plan Timeline

February 2009

Council Approval of Terms of Reference (February 2, 2009) Downtown Master Plan Background Study begins

July 2009

Public Visioning Session (July 29, 2009)

November 2009

Draft Downtown Master Plan Background Study completed Public Meeting on Draft Downtown Master Plan Background Study and

Vision Report (November 16, 2009) New Ideas/Options/Recommendations and Implementation Workshop

(November 24, 2009) New Ideas/Options/Recommendations and Implementation Report started

April 2010 Downtown Heritage Conservation District process begins

July 2010

Downtown Master Plan Background Study completed (July 19, 2010) Second Downtown Vision Report to Planning Committee Draft New Ideas/ Options/Recommendations and Implementation Report

completed

November 2010

Draft Downtown Heritage Conservation District Background Study completed (November 8, 2010)

Downtown Vision completed (November 15, 2010)

January 2011

Urban Design Framework completed Downtown Heritage Conservation District Background Study completed Downtown Heritage Conservation District Plan and Implementation

Guidelines started Downtown Urban Design Guidelines started

February 2011

Third Public Workshop (“Big Ideas”) on DMP, HCD and Urban Design Guidelines

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New Ideas/Options/Recommendations and Implementation Report completed

Downtown Master Plan started

April 2011 Draft Downtown Master Plan completed Draft Downtown Urban Design Guidelines Fourth Public Workshop – Draft DMP and Urban Design Guidelines

May 2011

Downtown Master Plan completed Downtown Heritage Conservation District Plan completed Downtown Urban Design Guidelines completed

June 2011

Final Public Meeting

For More Information… Copies of the Council approved Terms of Reference for the Downtown Master Plan and other documents are available from the Planning Division, 206 Dundas Street, London, ON. Monday to Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm. All reports, notices and updates on the Plan process will also be provided on the website: http://www.london.ca/d.aspx?s=/Planning/downtown_town_plan.htm An on-line survey has also been included on the website for those that cannot attend the meetings. You may also provide comments or ask questions by contacting Chuck Parker in the City of London Planning Division at 519-661-2500 x4648, by e-mail at cparker@london.ca or by fax to (519) 661-5397. If you would like to be added to our Downtown Master Plan mailing list, please provide your name, address, telephone, e-mail address, etc. to Chuck Parker by e-mail or include it on the attached Feedback Page. Your representative on City Council, Councillor Judy Bryant (519-661-2500 x0370), would also be pleased to discuss any concerns or questions you may have regarding the Downtown Master Plan.

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Feedback Page Please use these pages to record any thoughts, reactions or comments you wish to share with us. You may use the points below to guide you, share your own vision, or simply respond to anything you have heard, read or seen this evening. Make sure to tear out and leave these pages with a City staff member before you depart! Built Form (architectural style /

building height / heritage) Identity Housing

Activities / Uses Transportation Design Safety

Livability Sustainability / Environment Others?

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Optional Exercise In order to get a better idea of pedestrian movements in the Downtown and attractors/detriments to pedestrian movement, the following exercise has been included to serve as a basis for future improvements. Using the attached map (Appendix 2) please indicate the routes you follow when walking Downtown and your normal destination points. Please indicate by arrows to the route why you like that route. Conversely, if you don’t use a certain route please indicate why. Please hand in the completed maps at the end of the workshop. If you don’t have time to complete it please forward to the Planning Division at 206 Dundas Street to the attention of Chuck Parker. Thank you.

Next Steps All of the above information and the ensuing discussion will be used to complete the report “New Ideas, Options, Recommendations and Implementation” which will give direction to the preparation of the Downtown Master Plan, Downtown Heritage Conservation District Plan and Downtown Urban Design Guidelines. At each step the public will be involved (See Figure 2 for timeline). The City’s Urban Designer is currently reviewing the City’s current Downtown Urban Design Guidelines and is working towards revising and updating those guidelines. A Draft will be available in early 2011 for public review. A consultant has recently completed the Downtown Heritage Conservation District Plan Background Study and it will be submitted to Built and Natural Environment Committee (BNEC) on February 14, 2011 for approval. Preparation of the Downtown Heritage Conservation District Plan will follow. This Plan will serve as a Background Study to the Downtown Master Plan and provide the basis for protection of the Downtown’s heritage resources. Please visit our website at www.london.ca – business – planning – Downtown Master Plan to keep up to date on reports, information and public notices. If you would like to be added to our Downtown Master Plan mailing list, please fill out the following information or e-mail it to Chuck Parker at cparker@london.ca. Name: ______________________________________________________________________ Address: ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ Telephone #: ______________________________________________________________________ E-mail: ______________________________________________________________________

Thank you.

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APPENDIX 1

ISSUES RAISED THROUGH THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS

1 - LAND USES

Office

1. Should the existing Official Plan policies regarding major office buildings be strengthened,

more liberal or stay the same?

2. Should the predesignated and prezoned density of office development in the Downtown be

reduced?

3. Are there ways to encourage new office tenants to locate in the Downtown?

4. Are there ways to improve the Payment-in-Lieu of Parking By-law or other By-laws, so that it

can be used to assist office development?

5. Should we be targeting certain areas for office development?

6. Should we continue to restrict the location of office uses on the ground floor of office buildings

within the main pedestrian corridors?

7. Do we want to pursue the conversion of office space to residential?

8. High office vacancy rate (15%)

Residential

1. Where do we want to encourage residential?

2. Are there ways to improve the incentives for additional residential growth?

3. Residential Design

4. How do we encourage more affordable housing?

5. Underutilized former residential space

6. Lack of living space

7. Lack of economic diversity pertaining to residential

8. Lack of choice for residential tenure

9. Need more on Dundas and Richmond

10. Not enough people living Downtown yet

11. More student housing

12. Absentee Landlords

13. Need to maintain balance between rentals and ownership

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14. Too few homeowners

Entertainment

1. Should the OP policies for entertainment uses be stronger?

2. Should entertainment uses be concentrated or dispersed in the Downtown

3. What new entertainment uses does the City need Downtown and what methods should be

used to attract them?

4. No destination to walk to

5. Should all bars and theatres be Downtown?

6. Too many dance clubs

7. Too many strip clubs and tattoo parlours

8. Not much to do after 6 pm

9. Too many bars

10. No non-alcoholic nightlife

11. Bars are gang havens

12. No proper crowd control after bars close

13. Nothing to do in evening

14. No reason to take tourists to the core

15. Lack of Music on the Street

Public Facility/Cultural

1. What public facilities are required and where should they be located?

2. What facilities are needed to attract more tourists, seniors and families?

Retail

1. Improvement of Dundas Street from Talbot to Wellington Street

2. Encourage more retail Downtown

3. How do we encourage existing ground level offices and residential uses to relocate to

contain, solidify and enhance the main pedestrian routes

4. To what extent will street front businesses and property owners be prepared to upgrade their

buildings

5. Improve the retail mix

6. Improve pedestrian connection between Downtown and Richmond Row

7. Fix 3 blocks of Dundas Street

8. Fix ground level vacancies on Dundas and Richmond

9. No grocery store

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10. Dundas Street doesn’t attract people

11. Shops and uses should be grouped into districts

12. Not enough destinations

13. No hardware store

14. Over concentration of similar businesses and services

15. No storefronts on York St. from Wellington to Clarence in front of JLC and Library

16. Lack of food staples and daily sundries

17. Lots of businesses on Dundas Street don’t draw customers

18. Lack of quality stores

19. Hours limited to day time

20. Some businesses attract undesirable customers

21. Create more vitality

22. Lack of loading space

23. Lack of a diverse range of stores, restaurants and cafes

24. Few sidewalk cafes

25. Commercial “dead zones”

26. Not significant concentration of stores to draw people

27. Too much commercial building in the suburbs

28. Lack of coffee shops and restaurants at Thames River

29. Too strict on outdoor patios

30. Lack of viable affordable, ready made space for new businesses

31. No stores that cater to middle class, only rich and poor

32. Segmented shopping options

33. Hours aren’t consistent

34. Inability to attract retail

35. Lack of major stores

2 - NATURAL HERITAGE AND OPEN SPACE

Open Space/Parks and Recreation

1. What types of open space features should be located in deficit areas of the Downtown

2. Tree planting strategy

3. Connect Downtown to the River – King and Dundas

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4. Walkways and sidewalks not walkable

5. Need more real trees - coniferous

6. Insufficient sitting/resting places

7. Tracks interrupt connection of green space

8. Lack of trees and greenery

9. Library greenspace not accessible from outdoors

10. Not using river enough

11. Make Victoria Park more active ?

12. Allow more development

13. Bird Friendly Development Guidelines

3 – BUILT FORM

Heritage

1. Graffiti removal can damage brick and paint

2. Disrespect and facadism

3. No control for rooftop access to prevent graffiti

4. No money for preservation

5. Lack of heritage preservation

6. Heritage buildings not promoted

7. Heritage building destruction for parking lots

Urban Design

1. Poster locations

2. Link between core and Forks and Victoria Park, area south of railway

3. Poorly designed public buildings

4. Setback of higher buildings from the street; light and wind tunnel effect

5. Visual clutter – signage

6. Poor façade maintenance

7. Lack of architectural continuity

8. Too many blank walls

9. Eyesore at Dundas and Clarence St.

10. Fortress Alley between Talbot and Richmond

11. Lacking charm and continuity block by block

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12. Needs to be designed for people not cars

13. Wellington Road gateway to Downtown

14. Overpriced ugly metal trees

15. Graffiti

16. Garbage/dirt

17. Poorly designed additions to buildings

18. Downtown ugly

19. Downtown dark and gloomy

20. Streetscape on Dundas from Richmond to Clarence

21. Lack of Public Art

22. Lack of public spaces

23. City should set standards for Urban Design

24. View Corridors

4 - COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE

Social Service

1. Concentration at the City’s Main Intersection

2. Address socially marginalized population

3. Location of social services in the core

4. Too concentrated on Dundas Street

5. Street people - Panhandlers

6. Drug use on the street-drug trade

7. Youth gangs

8. Crime or perception of crime

9. Need for citizen engagement

10. Stop panhandling/beggars

11. Scare people away

12. Youth centre located in the centre of bars

13. Not enough teen-orientated uses

14. Division between rich and poor

15. Safety issue after last call

16. Safety

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17. Visible homelessness/social challenges

18. Loitering

19. Parole office out of Downtown

Infrastructure

1. Adequate sanitary sewer capacity to accommodate new development

2. Need for stormwater management and determination of on-site quality and/or quantity

control – direct top Thames now

3. Installation of services in the road allowance and its impact on traffic

4. Potential soil and groundwater contamination from historic uses

5. Street lighting not very good

6. Capacity constraints in the existing system

7. Impact of proposed intensification on services

8. Absence of stormwater management – discharge of road, parking lot and run-off into

Thames

9. Combined sewers overflow

10. Power lines should be buried

11. Extra day of garbage collection

12. Need pay phones

5 - TRANSPORTATION – General

1. Need for a Downtown Transportation Plan

Transportation – Roads

1. Should the amount of traffic going through Downtown be minimized?

2. Are there streets in the Downtown which could be closed and instead used for pedestrians

3. Truck loading

4. One way streets

5. Automobile traffic circulation

6. Emergency vehicle noise and speed at night

7. Street signs hard to see

8. Signage is misleading

9. Motorcycle noise on Dundas Street

10. Lessen street noise

11. Turning movements

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Transportation – Parking

1. Amount of parking

2. What should be the balance between long term and short term parking?

3. Cost of parking

4. Location of parking

5. Should there be on-street parking on Dundas

6. Need for and the best locations for parking garages

7. What are the best methods for encouraging development on existing surface parking lots

8. How do you improve aesthetics of those lots?

9. Are there any further policies or regulations needed to prevent demolition of buildings for

parking lots

10. Should the City actively discourage the provision of parking

11. Should the City get involved in the supply and control of parking

12. Should parking exemptions be maintained

13. Lacking short term parking (15 mins)

14. Parking not evident/convenient

15. Overzealous parking enforcement

16. Need for monthly parking

17. Need for parking garage

18. Too many parking lots/surface lots

19. Stormwater problem

20. Lazy public

21. Expensive, should be free

22. Safety concerns

23. Monopoly

24. Parking metres on residential streets

25. Removal of Dundas Street on-street parking

26. Richmond Street needs on-street parking

27. Need more City owned parking

Transportation - Transit

1. Level of transit use on Dundas Street

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2. Construction of Downtown Transit hub

3. Inconsistency between TMP recommendations and OP

4. Integration of modes

5. People waiting at buses block pedestrians

6. Bus traffic is too busy around Richmond and Dundas

7. Public attitude towards transit

8. Not enough bus shelters

9. Too much smoking around bus stops

10. Too much bus noise

11. Move the main bus stops and transfer station from Dundas and Richmond

12. Poor scheduling and routes

13. Late night transit service

14. Takes too long to get Downtown

15. Buses too large for Dundas Street

16. Connectivity to other parts of Central London

17. Co-ordination between Transit Planning and Downtown Planning

18. New technology

Transportation-Bicycle and Other

1. Should level rail crossings on the south end of the Downtown be addressed

2. Limited bike lanes, bike racks and storage space for bicycles

3. Bikes on sidewalks a safety issue

4. Safe Bicycle parking

5. Level Rail crossings in Central London – access to Downtown

6. Too much rail traffic

7. Impacts of rail traffic

Transportation - Pedestrian

1. Closing Dundas Street to vehicles to create a pedestrian mall

2. Closing other streets for pedestrians

3. More above grade walkways

4. Make Richmond Street two lanes and widen sidewalks

5. Downtown is not pedestrian supportive

6. Narrow sidewalks – no room for cafes and street trees

7. Sidewalks are unsafe

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8. Uncared for materials

9. Remove the sidewalk obstruction on Richmond south of Dundas

10. Too much congestion at Richmond/Dundas

11. Lack of connectors linking cool hubs Downtown

12. Congested foot traffic

13. Too narrow and obstructed

14. Trip hazard

15. Not enough benches

16. Poor access from building to building – move from store to store

17. Better connections to surrounding neighbourhoods

18. Poor cleanliness and maintenance of streets – dirty image

19. Lack of recycling program

20. Waste management

21. Streets are unloved

22. Smell from public urination

23. Need for more recycling bins

24. Lack of snow clearing

25. No drinking fountains

26. No safe and clean public washrooms

27. Need more amenity space

28. Traffic signals should favour pedestrians and cyclists

29. Unsafe intersections - Richmond/Queens, Wellington/York

6 – GENERAL

1. Vacant buildings hurt image of Downtown

2. No emotional centre in Downtown

3. No community “feel” to Downtown

4. Should Downtown be a separate community, the regional centre or a hybrid.

5. Lack of Identity, Vibrancy, Community and Sense of Ownership

6. Need to build on Uniqueness, not be like other Cities

7. No Universally Recognized Place where People can Congregate

8. Negative Publicity and Public Perception

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9. Never Celebrate Success

10. Should Downtown be treated differently than rest of City?

11. What should be done when policies, regulations and incentives conflict?

12. Future Development

Economic

1. Are there issues with the existing programs which need to be reviewed through the

Downtown Master Plan process

2. High property taxes

3. Reviewing recent initiatives to assess their cost and return on investment and

improvements

4. Amount of tax dollars being wasted

5. More incentives/subsidies

Boundary

1. Is a boundary needed?

2. Should the boundary be changed?

Characteristics

1. Should we encourage character areas?

Downtown Information

1. Is there a need to establish a Downtown Database?

Building Conditions

1. Is there a need to complete a comprehensive building conditions study?

2. Many vacant buildings/difficult to contact owners

3. Too many buildings in disrepair

4. Need disaster plan for high buildings and older buildings

5. Owners who don’t take care of their buildings

6. Lack of building ownership

7. Look and age of buildings

8. Abandoned buildings

Property Values/Assessment

1. What is the current value of Downtown property assessment on a parcel basis?

2. What assessment patterns are emerging?

3. What opportunities or impacts might arise from these patterns?

18

4. Vacant commercial space is assessed as vacant residential

5. Vacant lands are assessed lower than vacant built space

6. Accessory parking lots and commercial parking lots are treated the same by the Province.

7. Assessment practises do not assist heritage preservation

8. Need for a land tax

Public Safety

1. Safety after last call

2. More police presence

3. Unsafe feeling

4. Some streets not safe

5. Women and kids uncomfortable Downtown

6. Richmond and King

7. Foot patrol not in the right places

8. Alley safety

9. Recessed doorways

Programming

1. Function of “Downtown London”

2. What do people want?

Investment Strategies

1. Investments not focused

Programs

1. Not enough information

Administration

1. Relationship between City, Downtown London and LDBA

2. Downtown Development Corporation

3. Block representation on LDBA

Regulation – Planning Act/PPS

1. Need for strong government policies

Regulation – Official Plan

1. Are current Downtown policies appropriate?

2. Should the same policies apply to all of Downtown?

Regulation – Zoning By-Law

1. Different regulations for different areas

19

Regulation – Site Plan Control

Regulation – Design Guidelines

Regulation - Other Municipal Regulations

y:\shared\policy\downtown\downtown master plan - 2008\downtown issues raised by the public - 2011.doc

20

APPENDIX 2

DOWNTOWN MAP

EXISTING PEDESTRIAN ROUTES

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