London’s Job Summit PT 2: “We can dig a grave. Can we climb out?”

[“The Corporation of the City of London needs to make a fundamental shift. In my opinion, one part of the answer lies where some business minds would least expect it - inside an 800 square foot house.” G. Harrison, Aug. 11]

London’s 9.1 per cent unemployment figure has spurred Mayor Joe Fontana into action.

With “his city suddenly the poster child for tough times, Mayor Joe Fontana says he wants to take stock of where we’re at and brainstorm solutions to London’s jobless crisis at an emergency summit Friday.” (London Free Press, Aug. 11)

So, today he’ll meet with local politicians and members of business and make hash, and try to find the secret to more jobs, jobs, jobs.

The entire answer may not be found inside Fontana’s meeting venue, e.g., a large community hall.

As ‘a poster child for tough times’ as well as a poster child for the culture of big, our fair city - built in sprawling, extravagant fashion when fossil fuels were cheap - may find part of the answer lies inside a very small house.

Please allow me to explain.

I don’t mean the answer lies inside my humble cottage (at 1,200 sq. ft.; exterior measurement), as if to say I’m an urban planning guru of any sort. (Urban thinker, maybe, or something that rhymes with thinker).

I mean that part of the answer to future job growth lies in making the transition to building small homes and all the small scale supplies (cupboards, furniture, appliances, heating and cooling units, cars, sheds, etc.) required to outfit them.

Think 800 sq. ft. house.


[“It’s hard to think of one. We see so few!”: photo GH]

Think small refrigerator, e.g., 8 cubic ft., and two-burner stove.

Think 25 sq. ft. (e.g., 5 ft. x 5 ft.) bathroom.


[“All tile bathroom, 16 sq. ft.”: Little House in a Small World]

Think small furnace and AC unit.

Think sleeping berths over chests of drawers and computer desks in multi-purpose bedrooms.

Think three-wheeled, enclosed, 500 cc scooter-mobile with 2-person bench seat and 9 sq. ft. truck bed for groceries.


[“The truck for me!”: photo link]

Then think of London as the center of the small economy, cornering the market of all things for the small household and families with sustainable pay cheques.

We have no shortage of space to build and display hundreds of small scale items.

Why, one fine looking 800 sq. ft. house - designed and crafted as a joint venture between the University of Western Ontario and Fanshawe College - will quite easily fit in the snack food section of one of London’s lovely Walmart Super Stores.

And I can think of nothing finer than a three-wheeled scooter-mobile plant to occupy part of the soon to be closed Ford Talbotville plant on the outskirts of our city.

Small.

Why, it’s never been done. Our tourism industry will likely get a substantial shot in the arm as people come from miles around to see the creation of all things related to a sustainable, live-under-your-means lifestyle.

I think my plan will work even now, but I know for certain it will work much better once the majority of Londoners, politicians and business owners realize we’ve been digging our own grave for many decades on the back of cheap oil and we have little time left to pursue business as usual before we start digging our way out.

What do you think?

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Please click here to read London’s Job Summit PT 1.

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