I’m sure by now everyone has seen King Eddie’s latest legacy scheme. I’m not quite sure what to make of this plan, but I don’t like the idea of removing the last remnants of the residential area west of downtown for a hair-brained scheme like this.
It seems like this mayor is always after the silver bullet solution, rather than trying to fix the things in this city that are broken… But I digress…
If you haven’t seen the plan yet, click here for high res version of the photo above.
Judging by the concept drawing supplied by his highness, it looks like all of the area shaded in yellow will be obliterated. In fact Chatham St. will cease to exist west of Church St.
I took a little cruise through the area last night to show off the sights to those of you that aren’t familiar with the area. Here’s a mid-century hydro sub-station.
A nice, well kept little house on Bruce.
Next door to that one, at the corner of Bruce and Pitt is the J. H. Beattie house, listed as being built c. 1892.
This currently commercial section of row houses along Chatham was formerly the offices of the Walkerville Times.
An old early 1900’s duplex.
Hard to tell from the renderings, but it looks like these two older buildings along Pitt St. between Chatham & Janette may be saved. One is currently the home of Acapulco Delight, who already had to move once when their building on Victoria just south of University was demolished for a much needed parking lot.
A view south along Janette from Pitt.
I suppose we’ll have to wait and see, but if Eddie’s track record counts for anything, than there’s nothing to worry about as it will never get done…
What do you guys make of this plan? For the out of towners, click here to read the media’s coverage…
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Terry, I agree with you. But remember, this could never possibly work here in Windsor. We can't have a canal built.....(searching through my BOOK OF EXCUSES)....ah, found one, Excuse #57: people will get drunk and fall over into it and drown......oh, and #82: this project can never happen, its too big for us! (I hope you identify the sarcasm)
ESD, there are not half a dozen homes. In fact there are 17 houses to which half are owner occupied with the remainder housing apartments (some luxury, some standard). That is not even including the highrise apartments on Pitt St. and the 6 businesses (not including all of the businesses on University Ave).
Again I like the idea and I am even willing to allow my taxes to sky-rocket (which they will) but I am not going to lose my house over it.
The only halfway decent marina in all of essex county on the detroit river is Lakeview. It is obvious that none of these mover shaker types spend any time actually on the water. There is zero safe refuge for any passing boater travelling lake erie to/from lake stclair on the canadian side. nothing in Aburg, Lasalle, Tecumseh
This canal is another half assed plan that actually does not go far enough. If you want people to enjoy a water feature from a sidewalk cafe - hellooooo!!! the river is there!!!!
Take this money and build a breakwall or 2 on the river, dredge up some slips - 200-300 of them and attract the boaters that we see travelling the river from near and all over the world - literally. There are boaters that travel from everywehere to cruise the great lakes and windsor doesnt welcome any of them, but rather, windsor gives a cold shoulder -- no fuel, no food, no provisions, nothing to see here!! - just move along please!!--
People are attracted to people. Allow there to be some boat and water activity at the river ( novel idea eh! ) and this will pay dividends forever.
This idea is stupid......I'm taking my ball and going home......pout!
(Sarcasm, once again)
Boy misery loves company, the negative excuses (which are not even proven/justified) and fyling left and right.
Ya, nobody will be able to use this area....ya.....residents won't be able to walk the canal, stop at a patio and have a drink, or at a restaurant along the cannal and have dinner, or have a glass of wine on the boardwalk.....no that wont be able to happen...could it?. Only the rich people can do that......C'MON!
Wait, wait,.....I want to say it also, it must make you feel good to say it, "This is stupid"...... HA HA! Its unbelievable!
At first glance this seems like a very good idea. People need to live downtown in order to get it going again. And who's to say that some of the remaining old-stock homes can't be fitted into the plan?
The point is that something needs to happen there in order to bring back downtown. It would bring an influx of cash into a depressed area of the city, make downtown walkable for a number of residents and generally be an improvement over the parking lots that make up the majority of the site.
On the other hand, I don't think it will ever happen given the 20+ year history of nothing happening on the site. And Eddie's seeming lack of ability to make any positive change in the city.
So everyone who doesn't nod their head enthusiastically in acceptance of this plan - which means 100 million dollars plus overruns of ratepayers tax dollars - is just a typical miserable ole Windsor naysayer? Got it! Why don't we all just not even bother thinking critically and sign over power of attorney over our bank accounts to city council and bypass that whole nasty process where the community interferes with thier unwanted input?
NEWSFLASH: The few in power are there to represent us, not the other way around!
ME,
I agree with all of your comments. Your concerns are valid and just. I too would not want to lose my home. But even you, who actually lives there and has a vested interest in the area, and actually HAS something to lose, if this gets developed, still sees the merits and "positives" of this "idea". You don't just start bashing it.
The plan would need to address existing businesses and residents, such as allowing existing businesses first choice of re-locating in the new commercial district. As for residents, at the top of my head, that is a more difficult nut to crack. Not sure about that one, of the top of my head. The point is, that these issues don't need to blow the idea up. They are issues that need resolution.
GRUMPY MAN,
Can you tell me where you read that this project will be a "100 million dollars plus overruns of ratepayers tax dollars". What document states that tax-payers are funding this? I would like to know. Hint: Don't jump to conclusions.
Also,
I am not just "nodding my head enthusiastically ". I am just giving the idea a chance to unfold and see where it goes. We have only been given a bit of the info on this proposal. Its only 1 day old.
You talk about "thinking critically "....how does being negative and only looking and one side of the story mean that someone is "thinking critically". "Thinking critically" means looking at the pro's and con's, and identiying the possibilites and constraints of an idea, not just dumping on it at the first chance you get. Take a moment, review the information as its made available, and then make your decision. Keep an open mind. Don't just dismiss it after looking at an artistic rendering and a couple of articles in the Windsor Star.
I like the concept- it is innovative and interesting- my late father-in-law Mayor Bert Weeks proposed something along this line in the late 70s for the cut at Cameron and Riverside rive...
I once owned a building down there as Andrew indicates in his slide show- I waited four years for something to happen in the Urban Village- the guy I bought it from waited nine year- the guy before him waited 6 years- and so it goes...
Bear in mind that this location has been the focus of many concepts- the guy piloting this latest one was part of the group that wanted the arena down there Killer Bs as they were called- (right- $65 million later and counting on the new arena that benefits Tecumseh more than Windsor- I guess we could really use that $60 million today to build this new concept!)
So call me cynical but I doubt this one sees the light of day...
If the city needs to move the houses in order to build the canals then I believe we should have the right to have the houses moved to where we want them or take the money offered. Personally I would like my house to be a part of the urban village. I am not asking for any more square footage of my property, nor am I asking for any extra monies. Just the fact that I want to be a part of this great endeavour. In other words, I am not looking to get "paid".
I think this has great potential and I will be interested to see the outcome of the study to see if it is feasible.
However, I believe that for this to work the city needs to stop the sprawl and start to look at the core. We cannot as it stands do both. The city is not large enough and not growing fast enough to do both sprawl and this type of construction.