Image Taken By: (Evan Frederiksen - XFM News)
Future plans for a new London City Hall building are looking uncertain, with councillors looking to realize concrete developments by 2027.
Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis, Ward 2, added that the debate to replace the current building has been ongoing for more than a decade, dating back to 2010. “We’ve had Mayor Fontana, Mayor Brown, Mayor Holder, and now we’re with Mayor Morgan, and we still haven’t seen any progress on getting a shovel in the ground,” Lewis said.
The current City Hall, built in 1971, houses 16,000 square feet of office space, with the city having to lease additional space in 12 other structures. Lewis called the building “older than I am” and spoke of its antiquated technology and a soon-to-be-retired $8-million heating system due to phased-out steam lines.
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Bid solicitation for the new building also stalled. Only one company submitted a bid, one that Lewis described as “an overcomplicated” one with too many variables. From placing residential units over office spaces to shared facilities for boards, commissions, and community facilities, all ideas were weighed, but may have been discouraging for bidders.
Lewis predicts that a way forward will become more apparent when city staff speak with those companies that withdrew from the process. “By the end of 2027, I would say hopefully that means there’s progress on construction,” he said. The final location for the new city hall is to be decided, with officials exploring options other than the current 300 Dufferin location.
