Tonight, London City Council approved the sale of the Old Victoria Hospital Lands Phase II (OVHL) to Vision SoHo Alliance group for their proposal to create over 600 units of housing, including 300 units of affordable housing. Council’s approval follows a tender sale procurement process for disposition of the OVHL lands which began in August 2020.
“This is an important step in the redevelopment of the Old Victoria Hospital Lands and a significant milestone in building more affordable housing for Londoners,” says Mayor Ed Holder. “I am thrilled to hear that Vision SoHo Alliance’s vision and collaboration on this project will include the creation of 600 units, 300 of which will affordable housing.”
The redevelopment of the OVHL will address key planning and financial objectives of the City while implementing the vision as set out in the Old Victoria Hospital Lands Secondary Plan.
“Through the implementation of this plan, we will have the opportunity to see two London heritage buildings, the Health Services Building and the War Memorial Children’s Hospital, protected and repurposed for a new generation of Londoners,” says Bill Warner, Manager of Realty Services, City of London. “We will also have the opportunity to see the regeneration of a neighbourhood through new employment opportunities and architectural excellence. The development of the OVHL will also support the rapid transit network by focusing on development within close proximity to transit corridors and stations, as well as improved connectivity to the Thames Valley Corridor and enhanced river and trail access for the neighbourhood.”
Vision SoHo Alliance consists of five regional organizations including; Indwell Community Homes, Zerin Development Corporation, Homes Unlimited (London) Inc., Chelsea Green Home Society and Italian Seniors’ Project. The alliance has a combined portfolio of over 2200 units, including apartments and townhomes, completed or under construction. Their portfolio comprises of a range of demographics including working adults, youth, seniors, families and persons with disabilities, and includes affordable and market value rentals along with tenant support services where necessary.
The Vision SoHo Alliance design concept for OVHL combines the vision and strengths of each of its five members into a single, cohesive development framework. The design concept includes a range of low- to mid-rise building forms that integrate to the local surroundings and each other, within a main block structure that delivers a generous outdoor amenity space and underground parking.
Combined, the buildings in the design concept will deliver approximately 600 units, integrated with more than 2600 square meters of outdoor amenity space, 500 square meters of commercial space, along with the planned civic space located at the corner of Colborne Street and South Street.
The London Community Foundation is providing leadership and facilitation within an advisory role to the Vision SoHo Alliance affordable housing stakeholders who are working together to create more affordable housing on the OVHL site.
The Old Victoria Hospital Lands Phase II includes 124 Colborne Street (0.80 acres), as well as the lands bounded by Waterloo Street, South Street, Colborne Street and Hill Street (5.45 acres), excluding lands reserved for the future construction of a public square and retained by the City of London. This future public square will be located at the corner of South Street and Colborne Street.
The Health Services Building (“Building 50”) and the War Memorial Children’s Hospital (“Building 52”) are situated on 5.45 acres of land and are included in the purchase.