The multi-million dollar transformation of Dundas Street into Dundas Place, a pedestrian focused venue in the downtown, is now all but certain.
City council approved the Dundas "flex-street" project Wednesday.
The $15.9-million plan would see the five-block stretch between Wellington St. and the Thames River converted into a pedestrian friendly destination. Curbs would be removed with poles being put in their place to create sidewalks whenever vehicles are permitted on the street. During car-free times, the street would be an open space for pedestrians to take in live entertainment.
The plan is seen as a way to revitalize the downtown while simultaneously boosting property values.
Councilor Phil Squire voted in favour of the project but says he still has concerns.
"When do we get to the point where some of these projects are going to make downtown self sustainable, as other areas of the city are. I really want to have some sort of measurement going forward as to whether these projects are actually doing what they are meant to do, which is transforming downtown into the hub of London."
Much of the flex-street's massive price tag will be spent on road construction and water and sewer upgrades. Only $2.4-million will be used for street-level beautification. It was those infrastructure upgrades that ultimately swayed Squire.
"There are pipes that are over 100-years-old under that road, so they have to be replaced in any event," says Squire. "It didn't make a lot of sense to dig up the street then not do the additional work on top which was the flex-street. If it would have been just doing the flex-street at the cost of $16-million I would not have supported it."
The flex-street will take several years to complete. It was the single largest unfunded project in the city's first ever multi-year budget. Its approval by council increases the proposed tax hike for the next four years to 2.4%. That works out to roughly $66 annually for the average London home assessed at $221,000.
