If You Build It, They Will Come: Infrastructure for the Next Generation

Our perception of a city largely depends on how we interact with it. This can be anything from how it looks to how it feels. World class cities are architecturally interesting, have efficient transportation, and preserve heritage while also leaving room for innovation and progress. Infrastructure as a focus point covers many things that determine what makes a city successful and proper investment into infrastructure can help a city flourish. Park redevelopment projects, bus lanes, new housing, etc. can all go a long way to keep the core of London feeling vibrant and ensure that our downtown is a place where people want to meet, work, and live.

Every city has infrastructure projects that define the city’s image and shape their cultural identity. This may include sleek and modern condominiums,historical buildings and  municipal parks. Something as simple as a skyline can define someone’s memory of a city. By supporting these kinds of projects in the city, London will develop a richer cultural identity. This can be done through inclusive zoning to allow more buildings to be built but also through supportive grants for businesses to enhance their properties. The city has grants for this purpose in place but the programs could be expanded in order to take advantage of this opportunity. Similarly, grants that are offered for developing vacant space have already been successful in London and should continue for the core vacancies to reduce.

While infrastructure can define a city, it’s also integral to maintain it. Projects that don’t get as much attention are often the ones that we use everyday. Road, sidewalk, and sewer maintenance are the backbone of the city and we must ensure that they are maintained at a reasonable level. As the city grows, its ability to handle more people must also grow. While it’s not always glamorous, it is vital to the city’s success. Cultural events in the core are an excellent tool for the city but they can only work well when people have a way to get into and out of the core. By building a robust transportation network across the city, we can better support these events and our city.

What the Chamber Recommends:

To ensure that our infrastructure enables our community to thrive, the London Chamber of Commerce recommends the following:

• Continue investments into city defining infrastructure projects

The way that we physically interact with the city determines our perception of it. By investing in large infrastructure projects like Blackfriars Bridge, Dundas Place, BRT, etc. the city will continue to shape its image and develop a distinct cultural landscape. 

• Expand grant opportunities for businesses

Improving commercial spaces and converting vacant spaces into residential with the use of grants and loans will help to improve the city’s infrastructure. These tools will allow us to fully take advantage of the space that we have while also encouraging more investment into our core.

• Ensure that our city’s infrastructure keeps pace with its population growth

The city must continue to build new housing to encourage people to live in the core but they must also ensure that the backbone infrastructure of the city is  scaled alongside it. This includes road maintenance projects, sewer upgrades, sidewalk upkeep and bike lane expansion.

What You Can Do

• Speak up. Share your ideas about the infrastructure projects and other elements of downtown that matter most to you. Visit Get Involved London and share your ideas.
• Stay informed. Follow this summer series as we explore the key areas of the plan.
• Connect with us. Reach out to the Chamber with your insights, questions, or challenges—we want to hear from you.

Let’s co-create a downtown where community thrives, creativity flourishes, and everyone feels they belong.