'Quite controversial': Farhi plans 40-storey tower along Banker's Row

Farhi Holdings Corporation plans tobuild a 40-storey toweron Ridout Street North at Queens Avenueand while some are raising concerns, the developer says they've taken steps to ensure it will be agood fit with the heritage buildings it will sit next to on Banker's Row.

The tower is proposed for the northwest corner of Queens andRidout, across from Museum London and kitty corner to London's downtown courthouse.

Itcalls for a mixed-use tower with 280 residential units. Site plans show the building's footprint placed behind three brick Georgian buildings that date from the mid 1800sand are designatedunder the Ontario Heritage Act. Collectively the three buildings (435, 441, and 451 Ridout) also form aNational Historic Site designated in 1966.

The project's heritage impact assessment points out that the row of heritage buildings forms an important link between Eldon House at 481 Ridout and the former Middlesex County Court Houseat 399 Ridout, a heritage building recently sold to a developer.

That stretch of Ridout is known as Banker's Row because its buildingswere once home to thehead offices of five banks, which were later turned into residences or businesses.

Heritage buildings to stay 'untouched'

CBC News spoke to Jim Bujouves, president of Farhi Developments, who was hired by the company in September.

Bujouves said the proposed tower, which represents an investment of about $100-million, will respect the heritage buildings on Ridout and nearby Eldon House.

"What we've done from a heritage perspective is we've clearly retained and repurposed the existing heritage structures on site. They will remain untouched," he said.

Bujouves said Farhi began working with the city on the project back in 2012 and said careful thought has been given to integrate the building with the river,the Thames Valley Parkway and the surrounding neighbourhood.

He said part of the plan involves the city receiving a portion of the parking lot near the river, to enhance Harris Park.
The application will require an amendment to London's official plan to permit the 125-metre height and an increase in density from 350 units a hectare to 500 units. Zoning amendments will also be needed.

The existing vacant three-storey building located on the slope between Ridout and the river will be demolished if the proposal goes ahead.

The plan also calls for a multi-level parking area that can accommodate370 vehicles.

The project is currently in a four-month consultation period, a chance to allow the public to weigh in.Bujouvessaid heexpects there will be a public meeting about the plan to be held some time in the coming months.

He said the current plan is topresent the project at the city's April 27 meeting of the planning committee, along with a city staff report with a recommendation about the project.

Heritage advocates are already voicing concerns.

The 'wrong place'

Jennifer Grainger, president of the London region of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario, said the proposed tower is out-of-scale with the site.

"This is going to be quite controversial for a lot of reasons," she said.

"This is the wrong place for a 40-storey highrise. It would be a very strange backdrop for the existing buildings on Ridout."

Graingersaidit wouldblock river views and she'sconcerned that it's too close to a section of theThames which is proneto flooding. Grainger suggested Farhi Holdings Corp. should instead consider locating the building on one of the downtown surface parking lots the company owns.

It's clear the company has already put considerable resources into the proposal.

• Read the planning documents here

In addition to a geo-technical assessment, documents related to the project and posted on the city's website include a167-pageheritage impact assessmentand an 87-page planning justification report.

Farhi to shift focus to developing?

Bujouves said Farhi Holdingsa company known more for buying and holding London properties will be looking to develop more of its extensive inventory of local real estate holdings.

"It's simply to take advantage of the significant and exciting platform that he has across London and other communities," saidBujouves. "To enhance the attributes of those platforms and create value for the communities."