Transformative ways

The power of vision, plus a sampling of high- and low-priced real estate listings in London this week

Photo: The Embassy Commons affordable housing development at 744 Dundas Street

THROUGHOUT OUR CITY’S history, there have been countless moments of upheaval that have helped to shape London and push it forward. There were so many “founders” who took risks and changed our city immeasurably. People like Mowbray Sifton. 

When suburban development was a radical idea, he brought it to London, pushing us out and shaping our city. Westmount was not his first, but it was one of his boldest moves. Riverbend’s unique ownership structure was his answer to managing the tax consequences of development. A true visionary.

Ewald Bierbaum and Sam Katz were contemporaries of Mr. Sifton. Starting in 1955, they transformed what was once the Kingsmill family farm into Cherryhill Village and Westown Mall. They proved London could handle a scale of density and construction never conceived here before that time. The shear audacity is formidable.

The recent conversion of the Kellogg Canada facility is a wonderful example of remaking a neighbourhood with bold vision and just plain guts; and the development on the site of the former South St. Victoria Hospital will change Soho forever. I could go on and on with examples of transformative thinking and city building events. 

It’s also possible, right under our noses, a transformative change has been happening for our city’s most vulnerable.

Late last week, we had another evolutionary change strike our city.  Indwell’s Embassy Commons, through shear determination and a proven track record, secured $13.2 in federal funds to complete the $22-million development at 744 Dundas Street.  Embassy Commons is 72 housing units with comprehensive support to dramatically impact homelessness in our city. Together with Indwell’s other projects in the region, this truly is a bellwether for helping to solve the problem of housing for our most vulnerable.

A rendering of the completed Embassy Commons project

One day, hopefully in the near future, Londoners will look back at this pandemic decade and remember it for another reason ― the beginning of the end of homelessness in our city.

Market analysis provided by Marcus Plowright, Sales Representative, A Team London. Marcus can be reached at 519-872-8326 or marcus@ateamlondon.ca.

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London East

Low

Address: 105-1170 Hamilton Road
MLS number: 40214013
List price: $224,786
Days on market: 18
Size: 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 505 square feet
Listing agent: Harprit Singh Ahluwalia, Sales Representative, Keller Williams Lifestyles Realty Inc., Brokerage

High

Address: 1745 Kilally Road
MLS number: 40223277
List price: $3,500,000
Days on market: 10 
Size: 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 4,000 square feet
Listing agent: James Hudson Smith, Sales Representative, Sutton Group -Select Realty Inc., Brokerage

London North

Low

Address: 216-511 Gainsborough Road
MLS number: 40221540
List price: $289,900
Days on market: 12
Size: 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 885 square feet
Listing agent: Michelle Henderson, Broker, Re/Max Advantage Realty Ltd., Brokerage

High

Address: 306 Waterstone Place
MLS number: 40214978
List price: $2,790,000
Days on market: 22
Size: 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 2,331 square feet
Listing agent: Kelley McIntyre, Salesperson, Royal LePage Triland Realty, Brokerage

London South & West

Low

Address: 107-1103 Jalna Boulevard
MLS number: 40226606
List price: $249,900
Days on market: 6
Size: 0 bedroom (bachelor), 1 bathroom, 410 square feet
Listing agent: Veronika Jovicic, Salesperson, Sutton Group-Select Realty Inc.

Address: 484 Westmount Drive
MLS number: 40200169
List price: $2,499,999
Days on market: 66
Size: 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2,477 square feet
Listing agent: Jonathan David, Broker of Record, PG Direct Realty Ltd.

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Disclaimer: London Inc. does not guarantee the accuracy of the statistical data on this page. The data does not represent the listings of any one agent or agency but represents the activity of the real estate community in the area. Any real estate agent’s ad appearing is separate from the statistical data provided, which is in no way a part of their advertisement.