The City of London has a vision to revitalize our Core Area as the cultural, civic, retail, and economic heart of London, and as a great place to live. The Core Area includes Downtown, Richmond Row, Midtown and Old East Village and encompasses most of the Downtown London and the Old East Village Business Improvement Areas (BIA). 

Have a question related to the Core Area? Please email corearea@london.ca.

Core Area grants and loans

From façade improvement loans to rehabilitation and redevelopment tax grant and safety audit grants to residential development charges grants, the City of London offers several grants and loans to business owners and property owners in London's Core Area neighbourhoods. 

Learn more


Core Area supports contact list

Looking to get in touch with City of London staff to ask a question or share a complaint or concern? View or Core Area supports contact list for a full list of City contacts to assist with safety and security, garbage and cleanliness, construction and transportation, business supports and more. 

Learn more

Core Area plans, strategies and programs

There are several strategies, plans, and programs underway that set the foundation for revitalization in our Core Area. These plans encompass everything from homeless prevention and business supports to transportation infrastructure and cultural prosperity. Visit our plans and strategies page for more information.

Frequently asked questions

What are the boundaries of the core area?

The core area includes Downtown, Richmond Row, Midtown and Old East Village and encompasses most of the Downtown London and the Old East Village Business Improvement Areas (BIA).

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Map of London's Core Area
What happens if we don’t address issues in the core?

If we do not address those problems that are threatening its long-term success, we stand to:

  • See a significant decline in our Downtown assessment base, leaving a greater tax burden on property owners in the remainder of the City;
  • Send the image of a declining city to prospective new businesses, undercutting our economic competitiveness with other cities;
  • Weaken our competitive position for attracting and retaining a talented workforce in London and innovation that follows them;
  • Undermine our significant municipal investments in the Core Area;
  • Portray London as an unattractive city to live and work in;
  • Lose existing businesses in the Core Area, leading to job losses and a reduction in local economic activity;
  • Leave our city’s most vulnerable populations at risk and without supports;
  • Damage our Core Area’s residential neighbourhoods;
  • Reduce the viability of important cultural heritage resources and neighbourhoods that define our city’s history;
  • Undermine our city-building strategy to grow more inward and upward in the future; and,
  • Weaken our City’s music, entertainment, culture and arts offerings