Central Elgin is looking for “experienced development partners” to play a leading role in turning about 400 acres of land into the largest planned community expansion in the municipality’s history.
The former St. Thomas Psychiatric Hospital lands in the coming decades will be redeveloped into a community of more than 3,500 new homes, with 9,000 residents, local businesses and parkland.
The hospital opened in 1939, and St. Joseph’s Health Care in London assumed control in 1997 as part of the reorganization initiative ordered by the Health Care Restructuring Commission.
It closed once the Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care opened in 2013.
The province currently owns the land, and about 60 acres is being set aside for institutional use, including a possible expansion of St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital and a school.
The redevelopment will help support the job growth expected with the opening of the PowerCo EV battery gigafactory in 2028.
Central Elgin Mayor Andrew Sloan outlines the request for proposal (RFP) process that will launch on Monday (March 2).
Because of the massive scale of developing what, in essence, will be a community the size of a small town, the undertaking will be phased in over the next couple of decades, explains Sloan.
Development bids are likely to be submitted by partnerships or consortiums rather than single developers.
Sloan stresses the land will not be parcelled off but, instead, there will be one winning bid.
The existing buildings related to the psychiatric hospital will remain in place and their future will be determined by the province.
It is expected the initial development will begin later this year in the northwest corner of the property, adjacent to Sunset Drive.
Due to the scope of the development over the coming decades, Sloan advises the municipality will need to hire additional staff.
Rob Flack, Elgin-Middlesex-London MP and Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing observes, “Recent investements in St. Thomas, through businesses like Vianode and Vokswagen, have emphasized the need to get shovels in the ground for more homes in a growing community.”
Sloan admits it will be a steep learning curve moving forward.
According to information previously released by the municipality, this future community will:
- Provide a range of housing options to support affordability and meet provincial housing targets
- Create space for new residents and respond to population and housing pressures connected to regional job growth
- Support Central Elgin’s strategic goals of sustainability, affordability, and livability
- Include a vibrant main street, parks, community facilities, and cultural heritage features
As part of the planning process, heritage-related policies were updated, “To provide clearer guidance for conservation and commemoration, and to strengthen recognition of the site’s cultural and institutional history.”
Project information, engagement material and updates are available at https://letstalkcentralelgin.ca/ReimagineHospitalLands
A statutory public meeting will take place this Monday (March 2), from 6 until 8 p.m. at the Central Elgin council chambers, 450 Sunset Drive.
Written by Ian McCallum
