Motion to grant college $10 million denied
City council's vote on whether
to give Fanshawe College $10 million
to help buy and revamp the
Kingsmill building on July 29 resulted
in a tie, meaning the motion
was not endorsed.
With Ward 9 councillor Dale Henderson absent, the council voted to delay a vote on the proposal, which resulted in a tie. The council then voted on the motion to give Fanshawe the $10 million over 10 years the school had requested for the project. The vote also resulted in a tie, meaning the city will not give Fanshawe the grant.
“We're disappointed that the council didn't approve the extra funding for what we thought was an important investment in downtown and in London,” said Elaine Gamble, the senior manager of corporate communications at Fanshawe. “At this point, we need to go back and review all of our options to determine what our next steps are.”
The City has already given the college $20 million in grants to bring Fanshawe to downtown London. The funds were used for the Centre for Digital and Performance Arts, located in the former Royal Trust Building on Dundas Street.
London Mayor Joni Baechler said the project had been recommended by various people and organizations, such as the city manager, the city treasurer and the chamber of commerce.
The mayor voted yes on the motion to grant Fanshawe $10 million.
Councillors Joe Swan, Sandy White, Paul Van Meerbergen, Denise Brown, Stephen Orser, Bill Armstrong and Bud Polhill voted against the motion.
“I believe colleges are funded by the province of Ontario,” Swan said. “The city of London does not usually support building schools.”
Swan also said that the project would result in the demolition of a heritage building and that he feels the City should try to preserve heritage sites, not demolish them.
Fanshawe revealed a $66.2-million plan in June to purchase the historic Kingsmill's department store, which is located on Dundas Street, across the college's downtown campus. The plan was to add three stories to the building, move the School of Tourism and Hospitality there and expand the digital and performance arts program to the new building.
In a letter addressed to the mayor dated July 9, Fanshawe College President Peter Devlin said the plan was “the single largest capital investment the College has ever made” and that it was a “unique opportunity for growth and development in downtown London.”
“I'm disappointed council didn't endorse the project,” Baechler said.
The London Downtown Business Association, an organization with the goal of improving the experience of downtown London businesses, is offering Fanshawe College $1 million to reconsider buying the Kingsmill building.
Organization members met on August 15 and made the decision to give the college $100,000 a year for 10 years if the school purchases the building.
With Ward 9 councillor Dale Henderson absent, the council voted to delay a vote on the proposal, which resulted in a tie. The council then voted on the motion to give Fanshawe the $10 million over 10 years the school had requested for the project. The vote also resulted in a tie, meaning the city will not give Fanshawe the grant.
“We're disappointed that the council didn't approve the extra funding for what we thought was an important investment in downtown and in London,” said Elaine Gamble, the senior manager of corporate communications at Fanshawe. “At this point, we need to go back and review all of our options to determine what our next steps are.”
The City has already given the college $20 million in grants to bring Fanshawe to downtown London. The funds were used for the Centre for Digital and Performance Arts, located in the former Royal Trust Building on Dundas Street.
London Mayor Joni Baechler said the project had been recommended by various people and organizations, such as the city manager, the city treasurer and the chamber of commerce.
The mayor voted yes on the motion to grant Fanshawe $10 million.
Councillors Joe Swan, Sandy White, Paul Van Meerbergen, Denise Brown, Stephen Orser, Bill Armstrong and Bud Polhill voted against the motion.
“I believe colleges are funded by the province of Ontario,” Swan said. “The city of London does not usually support building schools.”
Swan also said that the project would result in the demolition of a heritage building and that he feels the City should try to preserve heritage sites, not demolish them.
Fanshawe revealed a $66.2-million plan in June to purchase the historic Kingsmill's department store, which is located on Dundas Street, across the college's downtown campus. The plan was to add three stories to the building, move the School of Tourism and Hospitality there and expand the digital and performance arts program to the new building.
In a letter addressed to the mayor dated July 9, Fanshawe College President Peter Devlin said the plan was “the single largest capital investment the College has ever made” and that it was a “unique opportunity for growth and development in downtown London.”
“I'm disappointed council didn't endorse the project,” Baechler said.
The London Downtown Business Association, an organization with the goal of improving the experience of downtown London businesses, is offering Fanshawe College $1 million to reconsider buying the Kingsmill building.
Organization members met on August 15 and made the decision to give the college $100,000 a year for 10 years if the school purchases the building.
