A sign at the McCormick factory depicting the future Expendicare facility, Credit - @MayorMorgan on X
London has been known for many abandoned buildings in core business areas. Recently, two big plans have been announced to bring new life to these vacant buildings.
The outside of the abandoned McCormick Candy and Cookie Factory
The 80+ year old abandoned McCormick factory on 1156 Dundas Street is getting a new long term care home. An announcement was made for a $77 million dollar Extendicare facility on a section of the property. The facility will have 192 beds and is expected to accept residents in summer 2025. The rest of the McCormick factory property has yet to be announced what will replace the land.
The city of London announced a new commercial vacancy program. The program is intended to help fill vacant business locations through the core business areas of Downtown, Midtown, and Old East Village.
The plan consists of granting new businesses up to $50 000 dollars to support half of the renovating costs at vacant storefronts. Funding for this program was planned in the multi-year city budget. This program is set to support 15 to 25 businesses from 2025 to 2027.
Originally the program was for the Downtown core because it had the highest number of vacancies but was changed later to include Midtown and Old East Village. The area was changed after Midtown and Old East Village BIAs talked to city council at a recent meeting.
Kevin Morrison, Old East Village BIA General Manager, said in an interview with XFM News, “per capita, Old East Village has the highest number of vacancies.”
Morrison also believes that after the plan gets implemented into the core of London, “Downtown, Midtown, and Old East Village can become very vibrant like they have in the past.”
With two new plans on tackling abandoned buildings throughout London, we can see this city become the beautiful sight it once was with more local businesses people love.
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