About Us

Building Information

Talisman Woods Co-operative is a Federal Co-operative

Phone: 519-659-8586

Fax: 519-659-7623

Email: talismanwoods@rogers.com

Address: 235 Marconi Blvd, London, ON N5V 1A6

Direction: Trafalgar St. and Marconi Blvd, near Noel Ave.

• Unit Type: 3 Storey walk-up apartments
• Utilities Included: Yes
• Total Units: 138 Units
• Number of Units: 43 One-Bedrooms (33 Large and 10 small), and 95 Two-Bedrooms
• Wheelchair Accessible Unit: 3 One-Bedrooms, 2 Two-Bedrooms
• Population Target: Adults and Families
• Restrictions: No Rottweilers, Pit Bulls, Dobermans, and other types are allowed, the co-op have the right to deny any dogs that they find will pose a risk
• Unit Features: Fridge and stove
• Parking: One space per unit, additional parking $5.00 (per month)
• Building Features: Token operated laundry facilities on each floor, common room with kitchen, children's playground, security entrance
• Amenities: Shopping, banks, churches, grocery store, drug store, restaurant, elementary and secondary schools
• Transportation: Access to city buses (Dundas - A stop in front)

The Beginnings of Talisman Woods Housing Co-Operative

Two people had a dream. They lived in an apartment which was in bad repair, and they wished that the repairs to all the other apartments plus their own would be done. It became apparent that the owners of these buildings were not going to do the repairs. They sought out information about what they could do to make the landlords do the repairs and someone guided them to look into turning these buildings into a Co-op. They convinced three other tenants to join them. This 5 building complex was known as Cascade Apartments, and these building were under receivership at that time.

The group approached Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and Community Homes in Southwestern Ontario to help them obtain that goal. An active door to door campaign was then undertaken in October and November of 1991 to establish a 50% expression that was needed for CMHC funding. Also at this time, another campaign was undertaken by a group of tenants that did not want go Co-op, and they campaigned against it. The complex was 80% occupied and the group had chosen to stay for various reasons. One of the group's main objectives was to improve the the quality of life for the 78 tenants that occupied the units.

On December 19 1991, Talisman Woods Co-operative received their incorporation thanks to David and Kim Brown, Mary Blandford and Anne Blythe.

Several information meetings were held with the tenants to tell them about Co-op housing and how it works, and to explain the program and how the conversion process would improve the image of the complex as well as the surrounding community.

On January 8, 1992, a commitment was given by CMHC, with funding for conversion and rehabilitation coming from the Federal Government's ILM Program (Index Linked Mortgage). Talisman Woods Co-op was the last to receive funding under this program. The original four, plus two new, formed the Board of Directors and spent many long hours setting polices, adopting by-laws, implementing the procedures to deal with tenants and members issues, defining what happens when the project is under construction, and adopting management and administrative procedures.

The Board of Directors hired Community Housing Administration Service (CHAS) which provided an on-site co-ordinator that handled the day to day administration and dealt with concerns regarding the construction and conversion. A Community Development Worker was hired to work the members to help them with the transition to co-operative living and to encourage the participation needed to develop the co- op community.

Although the building appeared to be structurally sound, there were many problems that had to be addressed to stop further deterioration. The Board, CHSO, and CMHC compiled a list of conversion and rehabilitation improvements as part of the proposal. Permission was granted to the Board to hire R.E. Dietz Contracting Co. to provide technical services, and Tonda Construction to carry out the conversions construction.

The rehabilitation and repairs to Talisman Woods commenced on May of 1992 and completed on April 1993. The construction of the community centre was delayed until July 1993 due to cost overruns. The community centre supplies a place for the co-op's general meetings, and the committee's meetings, to meet, and house's the the co- op office as well as giving the maintenance committee a centre organization area.

Thanks to David and Kim brown, Mary Blandford, Archie Owens, Maureen Faires, and Leo Bouillon for making the dream become a reality in developing a decent and family friendly community to live in.

Talisman Woods Housing Co-operative strives to provide decent, affordable, and safe housing.

(Submitted by our un-official historian Eileen)