300-320 King Street - 35s mixed use (Under Construction)

[CanadianTalk]

A 35s building is proposed for the NW corner of King and Waterloo. Currently, there is a 2 storey parking structure on this site for the Hilton hotel next door, I believe.

This is proposed to be a 435-unit mixed-use building with a central residential tower, and a 4 and 5-storey podium across the entire site consisting of commercial, a parking structure, bicycle storage and residential units.

Notice of application: https://london.ca/sites/default/files/20...pplication%20300-320%20King%20Street.pdf

Application page (with various developer reports and studies): https://london.ca/business-development/p...lanning-applications/300-320-king-street

[CanadianTalk]

Also of note:

"The subject lands are currently occupied by an existing 22-storey [Hilton] hotel building and an existing 2-level parking structure, which is wholly located on 320 King Street (Images 1-3). A Site Plan Approval application is currently being processed to permit the conversion of part, or all, of the hotel units to residential units."

[jammer139]

This is nice. Hopefully they proceed. Would have no issue with this being well over 40s if they wanted to go higher. Interesting that they would convert the current hotel to residential if true that would remove a lot of rooms from the downtown hotel inventory. Might we see this open up an opportunity for a new hotel down the road? Still have seen no commercial sale of the east side of the convention centre block that went on the market earlier this year or the even larger parking lot south of the convention centre. Also have not seen any sale yet of the Call the Office property or the surrounding parking lot and buildings. Lots of opportunities in this area of downtown.

[jammer139]

Looking at the detailed design document its curious that they plan to only have 2 elevators for a 35s building. Today's elevators certainly are much faster then those in the past but only 2 elevators seems a tad short. Would have expected 3 elevators in the design.



https://london.ca/sites/default/files/20...age%20-%20320%20King%20St%20-%20AODA.pdf

[inimrepus]

I was in that Hilton hotel recently and the rooms are incredibly dated. I wonder if they have decided it just isn't worthwhile to update them. Shame though since that used to be a really nice hotel.

[ericmacm]

I love it. A big residential tower will do a lot for that area. I am hoping we see more like this popping up downtown in wake of the new 10-year provincial targets for residential unit construction.

[GreatTallNorth2]

Exactly what downtown needs! Not a striking design, but not bad either.

[ssiguy]

This is great news for the Core and hopefully it goes ahead but actually I think it will.

In this time of high inflation, higher interest rates, and a booming population nobody will be wasting their time and money on proposals unless they are serious {Farhi excepted}.

It's not a beautiful building but quite decent.

[GeneralLea]

Holy cow. That's huge. I'm not sure if I necessarily like that a hotel will be lost, but hopefully another one will open up nearby in the area. Still, this will be great in injecting more life to this part of time.

[GreatTallNorth2]

Originally Posted by GeneralLeeTPHLS

Holy cow. That's huge. I'm not sure if I necessarily like that a hotel will be lost, but hopefully another one will open up nearby in the area. Still, this will be great in injecting more life to this part of time.

I don't think the hotel will be lost, will it? Is it not simply on a parking lot that shares the hotel? The hotel is in the rendering.

[jammer139]

Apparently they propose to convert the hotel into residential units. Would take some careful design work with the plumbing, electrical and HVAC but certainly very possible.

Originally Posted by GreatTallNorth2

I don't think the hotel will be lost, will it? Is it not simply on a parking lot that shares the hotel? The hotel is in the rendering.

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by GreatTallNorth2

I don't think the hotel will be lost, will it? Is it not simply on a parking lot that shares the hotel? The hotel is in the rendering.

Have a look at the second post above where they talk about converting all or part of the hotel to residential.

I can see the upper floors of the hotel being converted, like a lot of big city hotels are done, with residential up high. I think there still is a demand for hotel space in that building though, with it being connected to the convention centre. I'm sure the Delta and the Park would be happy to lose the Doubletree from downtown competition though.

[GreatTallNorth2]

Ah yes I did miss that. Hopefully they make some cosmetic changes to that hotel if it is converted.

[MrSlippery519]

Pretty detailed design work, I think this is likely to go ahead without much resistance.

[jammer139]

LFP article on the proposal.


https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/london-hotel-owners-pitch-adjacent-35-storey-downtown-tower

[jammer139]

More info on the plans for the Doubletree hotel in this LFP article.


https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/doub...l-floats-plan-to-convert-units-to-condos


Conversion of some or all rooms into Condo units is being considered. This will require rezoning from City Hall.

[GreatTallNorth2]

I am assuming that project would cost a lot of money. They would be totally refurbishing the inside and I would assume the exterior would be refurbished too (something I hope they do as it's pretty ugly).

I do not think that removing these hotel rooms is a big deal. This might open up an opportunity for the new York project at the forks to have a hotel element in that project, which makes a lot of sense to me as it is near the market and arena, which is where visitors would want to stay. You still have the armouries hotel near the convention centre and if you had a new hotel at the forks, it would be a 10 minute walk to the convention centre.

[ssiguy]

This seems like a win-win. London gets a lot more residential downtown, the conversion will be able to be done much faster than the brand new building bringing much needed housing onto the market much faster, and will help other hotels reach higher occupancy rates to keep them sustainable.

Conversions of hotels over to condos/apt is not new and happens all the time and this trend will continue as demand for housing increases and hotel occupancy rates continue to decline. The reality is that COVID has struck a blow to the hotel industry and especially to one's that are geared to more convention centers travelers and this hotel is a prime example being across from RBC Place. Many conventions are no longer taking place or are much smaller due to COVID greatly accelerating "on-line" conventions. Companies are realizing that this is an expense that is no longer required.

There will always be a need for conventions but I think there will be fewer attendees and the conventions themselves will be smaller and shorter. This conversion exemplifies this new reality.

[jammer139]

Public mtg scheduled for April 11th. Of note max height in proposal is 112m which would be the same a One London Place. Shame they didn't go 40s plus on this.



https://london.ca/business-development/p...lanning-applications/300-320-king-street

[MrSlippery519]

This and 319 across the street are prime for tall development. Still 110m+ is great for this site, I cannot imagine it not going through quickly.