So the track across Riverside Drive to Hiram Walker’s has bit the dust. The demolition of the waterfront silos are more than likely, and if they go, suddenly the long neglected Walker Power Building becomes a building with a waterfront view…
How many times have you looked at a building and imagined what you could do with it, if money was no object…
One of our regular readers Shane imagined exactly that scenario for the Walker Power Building.
Now keep in mind, there is no proposal on the table, and this isn’t any kind of official proposal… but if we had more people with Shane’s way of thinking, maybe our city wouldn’t have seen so many needless demolitions over the last half century.
Shane’s imagined plan calls for ground floor retail, with 2nd and 3rd floor residential lofts and offices, while the 4th floor becomes boutique hotel space.
A new road would be created on the South side of the building from Devonshire to Chilver. This would create street frontage to the retail on the South façade of the building.
Thanks for sharing these pictures Shane, we need more people with vision like this in our city. Hopefully the Walker Power Building sees new life if the silo’s bite the dust.
Shane also incorporated a street car stop into his plan, in case such a system should ever be implemented in the city again. 😉
Have a good weekend everyone! See you back here Monday.
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Shane... in addition to this design... I (and no doubt, others) would like to see inclusion of simple and affordable artists spaces for rent, ($300./mth, for example) with all utilities included, and 24/7 accessibility - adding in the creative element to this establishment. This building is a perfect location for this type of usage. The field just south of the building is perfect for a park to include community fairs and summer festivals. Thanks for posting Andrew.
Scott, there are places downtown that rent for that. I know of a few that have sequestered areas in buildings for that price.
Fausto, the Via rail station is already done. No use in wanting what isn't going to happen. It took them 50+ years to replace the piece of crap they had in Walkerville. I don't think a new station is coming any time soon.
I know how much goes on in that plant. I go there for work many times. Just because they invest in machinery doens't mean they can't pull it and move it elsewhere.
Thanks for all the positive feedback folks!
Scotty, you read my mind! The "Lofts" portion of the development would be smaller units perhaps even a live/work scenario. Defiantly geared toward artists, young professionals, etc. The vacant lot to the South makes a perfect public space, this is exactly why a created a new road along the South Facade. The idea would be to create a new square in the Walkerville area.
Dave. I hear you loud and clear.. Windsor does have an abundance of retail, however this part of Walkerville is at capacity. I strongly believe additional retail would not only be successful in the area, but add to the vibrancy of an already successful mixed use area. I soil contamination won't be the nail in the coffin for this building, there are many remediation and encapsulation methods used on heritage buildings all over the world. The city even offers grants for clean up of contaminated sites.
cdm, I used Google Sketchup in combination with Photoshop to create these images.
Here is a link to the building in its current state: http://internationalmetropolis.com/2010/10/13/walker-power-building/
Aaron.. You hit the nail on the head with the train station idea.. too bad we have a brand new quonset hut behind hiram walker's... A light rail station would be a perfect fit however.
Thanks again everyone.
a tremendous idea Shane.