Downtown London’s population will swell by close to 1,000 when a new $100-million residential-retail complex rises over a parking lot at King and Clarence streets

Danford London unveiled details of the development Monday that will include two highrise towers and a smaller residential building with a total of 550 units, as well as retail office building fronting on Dundas St.

The company is owned by developer Tony Graat, “It will mean a significant increase in the population downtown,” said Alan Patton, the lawyer representing Danford.

Combined with a proposed 30-storey building on Middlesex County land overlooking the forks of the Thames River and a 33-storey tower at Talbot and Fullarton streets announced early this year, downtown boosters are hailing a population boom.

But the jury is out on whether the projects represent a population tipping point that will bring more retailers and services to the core.

Patton said the retail component of the Danford project could lead to a grocery store on the site.

“We know there are new models coming out in the food store market...It’s a very good possibility.”

Sorry, not even close, says one veteran observer.

Bill Code, a geography professor emeritus at Western University, said the amount of downtown development has been “disappointingly slow.

“We still have a long way to go... We need a lot more than we have,” said Code, who owns an urban consulting company.

Retail chains are still committed to big-box developments, and only big cities such as Toronto and Vancouver have attracted major supermarket and other retailers to downtown cores, Code said.

Kathy McLaughlin of Downtown London said attracting major retail chains back to the core has been difficult.

“We’re not giving up, but it’s not our primary focus. There’s a lot of independent owner/operators where we see more growth.”

Patton said the Danford project will require some zoning amendments to increase height and density but he said it will only require “tweaking.” He said construction could begin next year.

This is the first development in the core for Graat, a longtime London developer, although he owns residential towers on Richmond Row. His most recent project was a controversial highrise on Reservoir Hill, at Commissioners Rd. and Springbank Dr., that is still under construction.

Patton said the Danford development won’t focus on luxury condos.

“It will be attractive to a wide range of tenants. It will provide for downtown needs which is a mix of units.”

Fifteen years ago the parking lot was the site of a shopping mall known over the years as the London Arcade, the London Mews and finally Smugglers Alley.

The property was purchased from a group of London investors including Vito Frijia, Glen Sifton, Andy Spriet, Geno Francolini, Mitch Baran, Sheldon Aaron and the late Brayl Copp. Patton said Graat’s project fulfils the long-term vision for the site.

“Their intention all the way along was to have a premier development occur.”

Mayoral candidate Roger Caranci was singled out by Patton as the real-estate consultant who helped the developers find the spot.

Asked if the developer was endorsing the Caranci campaign, Patton said his presence was a nod to work done “before he was a candidate for mayor.”

The press conference was held Monday, Patton noted, “because the deal will be closing in a matter of a few weeks” before it goes to council for zoning changes.

hank.daniszewski@sunmedia.ca

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The Danford Project

rectangular property at King and Clarence streets with additional frontage on Dundas St., former shopping mall, now parking lot

two highrise towers at least 20 storeys, as well as a low-rise residential building with office-residential uses fronting on Dundas St.

550 residential units, likely rentals

some below grade and some above grade parking

construction to begin next year, pending minor zoning amendments for height and density

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POPULATION GROWTH

London versus its downtown:

1996: 325,615 (2,510)

2001: 336,680 (2,800)

2006: 352,395 (3,430)

2011: 366,151 (4,010 )

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Downtown residential projects

Renaissance 1 Ridout/King 278 units

Renaissance II Ridout/York 199 units

Proposed

Rygar (Talbot/Fullarton) 248 units

Middlesex County (King St.) 200 units

Danford (King/Clarence) 550 units