(London, ON – January 25, 2024) Mayor Josh Morgan used his annual State of the City address to unveil a series of bold new housing measures, substantial developments on work related to health and homelessness, and also signaled his full support for the single largest public safety investment in London’s history.
The Mayor’s remarks (full text attached), delivered Thursday before a crowd of more than 1,000 people at RBC Place, contained a series of new announcements on housing, including the imminent launch of a financial incentive program to convert unused office space into residential units, and leveraging strong Mayor powers to redevelop city-owned parking lots in the downtown area.
“This has the potential to deliver hundreds of new parking spaces, and thousands of new residences, both contributing to an unprecedented renewal of our downtown,” he told the audience.
Mayor Morgan also updated attendees on progress related to London’s first of its kind approach to addressing the health and homelessness crisis, touting community donations nearing $35-million, the opening of hubs, the creation of 69 highly supportive housing units, and a surprise announcement which could significantly bolster that total.
“Four of London’s most prominent developers – Tricar, Auburn Group, Drewlo, and Sifton Properties – have generously facilitated the acquisition of a vacant long-term care residence on Elmwood Place for prompt transformation into supportive housing with wrap-around services,” he said. “Partnering with Indwell, they will work to retrofit the property, and with support from government partners, this site will provide over 40 new units of highly supportive housing.”
Looking ahead to the tabling of next week’s multi-year budget, Mayor Morgan said he would be unequivocal in his support for an unprecedented investment in public safety, the largest of its kind in London’s history.
“Yes, the cost is significant, and yes it will result in a noticeable, one-time impact on our property tax bills, but the cost of doing nothing – as we’ve all seen – is far greater,” he said. “I will be equally unequivocal that this unprecedented request comes with unprecedented transparency and accountability on behalf of taxpayers.”
While the Mayor’s full budget won’t be revealed until February 1st, he also indicated it would contain substantial investments in public transit, including paratransit, along with the creation of an economic development strategy.
“We have created 18,000 new jobs since this Council was sworn-in to office just over a year ago. That’s among the best records in all of Canada during that time, but we can’t take it for granted,” said Mayor Morgan. “The creation of a unifying economic development strategy will better align resources in unprecedented ways, remove silos, and fuel London’s economy for decades to come.”
Thursday’s address also touted progress on climate change, active transportation, tourism-related initiatives, creative sectors, and measures related to anti-racism and anti-oppression.
“In my role as Mayor, I am not just here to do a job, or deliver on a mandate – I am here to deliver on a purpose,” Morgan told the audience at one point.
The largest State of the City event of its kind in Canada, and organized by the London Chamber of Commerce, marked the 45th consecutive year Londoners had taken part in this annual tradition.