Logo.jpg

Some Background on the Big Box Boom

By Samu 

The Urban League of London Position.
Hyde Park Community Plan - Big Picture or Big Box?

Please be advised the Urban League supports City Staff's recommendation to decline the requested zoning designation change from medium density residential to commercial.

When the Hyde Park Community Plan began, it was being touted at the opportunity to put forward the "Hyde Park Village in the North", similar in design to "Wortley Village in Old South".

The integrity of the Community Planning process is of importance in that it represents a long term, balanced plan for development in an area. A change of this significance compromises that integrity. The original plan is a far cry from the original vision and this proposal takes it even further.

An important component of planning is ensuring residential is adjacent to commercial & it is a critical component of smart growth. Supporting a move to commercial could place smart growth/super build dollars in jeopardy as this is clear evidence the City is not committed to sustainable and controlled growth; affects air quality by encouraging not just more traffic but removing population which would reduce SOV trips and so on.

The revitalization of the downtown is not complete; there are many empty storefronts within one or two blocks of either JLC or the New Central Library. The zoning request at Hyde Park does not fit with the City's overall vision - indeed, it is at cross purposes. It is ironic we celebrate the new residential developments in the core (provided by a tax subsidy), recognizing the necessity of them to a vibrant and vital downtown community yet remove the same component from the Hyde Park community plan.

Given the proposed tax hikes over the next four years (which including this year cumulatively will be appox 20%), this request cannot be supported. In addition, the inflexibility looming over our capital expenditures which will have occurred if we allow this request to proceed places the city at risk. For instance, if we go ahead now with this, and Hale Street overpass commitments are larger or dollars do not materialize as anticipated, would we still have the flexibility to accommodate that project which is already in progress? Without taxpayers taking another hit?

We urge you to consider all aspects of this request which has far reaching implications in a number of areas. We need to hold the line as much as possible. We need to look at every new request very closely to see if it is in the City's overall best interests and we need to stick with our plan. This is not a "need to have" project. The City has the right to control its growth - it is also the fiscally responsible strategy.

Medium density residential is the wiser and more responsible choice on many fronts than commercial. It is the big picture choice.