Five things to know about London city hall moves since 1855

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London is looking at redeveloping a plot of land home to city hall, an apartment building, Centennial Hall and Reg Cooper Square with the goal of replacing the 53-year-old city hall building and bringing all city employees under one roof. LFP’s Jack Moulton takes a look at the city government’s previous homes, and why it’s looking at replacing its current one.

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HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

Before London was even incorporated as a city in 1855, the town council of the day gathered at a small store at the northeast corner of Talbot and Fullarton streets, roughly where the Talbot Centre buildings stand today. Later, operations moved closer to the Covent Garden Market site.

A NEW CITY IS BORN

In 1855, coinciding with London’s incorporation as a city, its first city hall was opened at the northwest corner of Richmond and King streets, next door to the Masonic Temple and Opera House of the day. It was complete with a covered passageway to allow access to Covent Garden Market from Richmond Street, and even had shops for rent.

During election night on Jan. 3, 1898, a crowd gathered at city hall to celebrate mayor-elect John Wilson. With a room at capacity, the floor collapsed, killing 23 and seriously injuring 150. The building was sold to the Royal Bank in 1911.

A MORE FAMILIAR SIGHT

After the sale of the first city hall in 1911, city operations mostly continued in temporary quarters with few plans for an official replacement. An opportunity arose in 1918 when the Public Utility constructed a three-storey building at the northeast corner of Dundas and Wellington streets.

A compromise was reached where a fourth floor was added to the building, and an addition was added on to the east side of the building to accommodate a new, second city hall until 1971. The building still stands today, home to apartments and ground floor commercial suites.

WHERE WE ARE TODAY

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The current home of London’s municipal government, the 12-storey building designed by London architect Philip Carter Johnson at 300 Dufferin Ave. opened on Sept. 22, 1971. In attendance for the grand opening was then-mayor Herbert McClure and London North MPP and Ontario Premier John Robarts.

Four days of celebration followed the opening of city hall, including tours of the building, concerts and a beer garden. A time capsule was placed in the date stone that included coins, photos and film reels from that year, as well as that day’s edition of The London Free Press.

Since opening, city hall’s interior has gone through many changes, including replacing the circular reception desk in the main lobby, and revamping council chambers.

WHY DO WE NEED A FOURTH CITY HALL?

It’s begun to show its age. For more than a year, the canopy over the front entrance has been covered in scaffolding, after it began to leak in February 2023. The front entrance has been closed since in March 2023 for repairs expected to be completed by the end of July.

The old building made headlines again last month when smoke appeared in an electrical room, forcing an evacuation of the building and the shutting downn of city services for the day.

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Age is part of the reason behind the city’s master accommodation plan, the long-term goal to build a new home for city staff and council under one roof to better reflect the city today, and to allow for growth.

While the plan looks at maintaining the 1971 building and constructing a new city hall and housing on the same lot, council received an unsolicited offer from Farhi Holdings Corp. that would bring city hall closer to its 1855 roots.

The major London landlord made an offer this week for the city to buy three buildings on Richmond Street between Dundas and King streets – Market Tower, the Royal Bank building and the building between them – to develop a new city hall, on the same site that once hosted the first London city hall.

Politicians had a tepid response to the plan, expressing reluctance to delay the decade-long project any further, and voting to continue with the master accommodation plan. City staff expect to put out a request for proposals in early 2025.

jmoulton@postmedia.com

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