Oh, help us all…the mayor has trotted out “the canal” proposal
Disclaimer: this post was written by James Coulter who is having trouble posting, it was very difficult to honor his request for help to post it.
Oh, help us all…the mayor has trotted out “the canal” proposal. Mark and I have had a few conversations about it and, I know that he really believes in its merits. I of course, have some reservations and, the story in the Windsor Star has done nothing to reconcile any of them.
I am far from convinced that we have maximized the value of our river front parkland. I can’t see the logic in creating more water features when the greatest water feature and its adjacent lands are still under developed. Starting at the east end, from Walker Road, how much new development has been proposed, taking advantage of the Walkerville legacy and the parkland and views of the Detroit skyline along the south side of Riverside Drive? The only new building, since the CN rail yards were removed is the Children’s Aid Society’s new office block. On the west side of Oullette the new Portafino condos have been built and many of the river view units are still unoccupied. In fact, just go to the Multiple Listing Services (www.mls.ca) website and you can find out for yourself just how many condo units and homes are available in the areas adjacent to the Detroit River and our 5.3km “Riverwalk”.
The removal of the CN rail yards should have started a process of improvement that should have benefitted property owners and the coffers of city hall. It has never happened. There are new million dollar homes being built along the river east of Coventry Gardens. These homes are shoe-horned in among other homes but, along the south side of Riverside Drive from Gladstone to Glengary there are plenty of vacant properties sitting empty. Why no new homes? With direct access to the “Riverwalk” and no obstructions to the view I should think that new homes, brownstones or condos would have been built long ago.
If Windsorites, realtors and developers were clamoring for more waterfront lands to buy, sell and invest in then I would say its time but, not yet.
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But James, isn’t it a flawed assumptions
to equate lands separated from a park by Riverside Drive to lands that are actually on a park.
to equate a riverfront park to a waterway with cafe’s and other commercial use.
Isn’t one simply a residential street adjacent to a busy roadway which is adjacent to a wonderful park vs. a true “Omni-use” development that would set a new standard for land use in our community
Thanks for posting this for me Mark, I do appreciate it.
Chicago’s Gold Coast is built along the Lake Michigan shore. The parkland and beaches are separated by a multi-lane road and yet, it is a desireable neighbourhood.
The canal and boardwalk shouldn’t be the first step. This project should be the icing on the cake. We haven’t maximized the use of our prime asset yet. Our “Riverwalk” is three miles of parkland. Start building the elements of the Senic Parkway from Glengary to Walker. Complete the construction of all the “Beacons”.
We are once again looking at a single project as the holy grail.
Difficult to honour? That is funny.
Call me cynical but I think it was a pretty picture posted for the public to get googly eyed over so the other items popping up won’t look so bad.
James has struck a chord with the sigle project - holy grail analogy.
It is going to take a combined effort by the developers and interested parties to change downtown, not city council and least of all a flustered mayor.
They have been trying for years with little chance of success and if you look at downtown there needs to be a lot more investment.
There is no business sense, no business concept and surely no business case as Eddie likes to ramble on about.
It is also pretty interesting to note that there is a verbal attack against the naysayers. If the project were that good, at the right time, and at the right cost, the “minority” naysayers wouldn’t be able to stop it.
If they can by reason, then the project was never any good anyway.
For the record, I like it.
It’s not the saviour Windsor needs.
I’ll see your cynical and raise you.
Look how excited we all are, talking about this grand scheme. By the way we sent the 400 Building audit to Toronto for a while.
One of the reasons the lands on the south side of Riverside east of the Casino have never ben developed is that the land speculators want way to much money for them.
Another reason is that condos do not hold value. Ask any real estate broker worth his/her weight in salt and they will tell you the same thing.
I still have to ask why hasn’t our riverfront been designed better. More specifically why isn’t the landscaping much better? Say to the degree of Conventry Gardens? I mean the park is nice but where is the landscaping? Mimles of burnt grass with a view of Detroit doesn’t get me all warm and fuzzy. Our riverfront could be much more.
As for the canal system. Who says we even need it why not build upscale row houses, mid rise condos (for those who like them) and get good incentives (not the legales ones we have now) to restore the existing homes? Why not try to cater to single people, family oriented people wh want an urban lifestyle, artists and seniors?
“I still have to ask why hasn’t our riverfront been designed better. More specifically why isn’t the landscaping much better? Say to the degree of Conventry Gardens? I mean the park is nice but where is the landscaping? Mimles of burnt grass with a view of Detroit doesn’t get me all warm and fuzzy. Our riverfront could be much more.”
This is my point exactly. No one is clamouring to live down by our river front. There is no demand for existing properties to be developed.
That’s one thing I noticed too, about the burnt grassed. My dog and I went for a walk from Great Western Park to Riverside Park (in front of Casino) and there’s hardly any shade and the grass is all dying. We sat on the mulch under one of the tiny trees along the waterfront. We also shared an ice cream at the new bike rental & ice cream place…I guess that’s a bonus that it’s there. I love the park and use them a lot and would like the city to just up keep them a little better before adding another one.
Forgot to add. I don’t see this proposal as a single, silver bullet to cure Windsor’s ails. What I see is the potential for density, and a new (and using an EXISTING) neighbourhood for the downtown area. Something the downtown needs to survive and thus the rest of the city.
It could also be done in phases so this isn’t the typical “aquarium”, shopping mall setting, arena one fit cures all idea. This is the best idea yet to come out of city hall. I just don’t think an EXISTING neighbourhood with an already decent demographic needs to be pulverized to accomplish it.
You already have two developers express interest in developing the city owned lands, (Dave Mady on Am800 and Farhi at the press conference) thats two public expressions of interest more than we’ve had on the city owned lands until now. I think that alone answers James questions.
As far as a single bullet, it is unfortunate that I’m contributing to the hype thats making it out to be that. I can’t help but contain my excitement that after 5 years of passing since the CIP a decision for a use might be made. Getting a decision made on the use of the city owned lands was also the #1 recommendation of a 2004 International Downtown Association Panel of Experts
As far as the naysayer attacks go. I think thats more of a built up resentment against them. They mainly only hear from their curmudgeon cronies on their blogs and probably don’t realize there’s a silent majority that is fed up with the cynicism. Why do you think we have a W.E. Believe Campaign.
I also think that people used to believe that it was best to ignore the cynics and now they’re trying my approach of full on engagement. I always have chosen engagement and have never had a fear of confrontation when I believe I am right. Its called fighting the Good Fight. I figure theres quite a few that don’t want to let me have all the fun verbally sparring.
Especially on an issue such as this which is the right proposal at the right time in the right location for a plethora of right reasons.
I would take everythig Farhi says with a giant grain of salt.
Don’t forget for his sweetheart deal for the arena lands, he got that vacant slab next to the art gallery. With that parcel within spitting distance of the river and the proposed Francis Creek, he’s got more to gain finacially than anyone one over this deal beming a reality.
Yes, granted It would be nice to be him, but he also knows that a developer would have to come up with an iron clad development investment to realize the infrastructure investment next to his land.
I’m assuming he’ll worlk harder than anyone knowing the alternative isn’t nearly as attractive
I am a Washington, DC attorney, have for many years spent a considerable amount of time in Windsor and am currently looking for a lot in the downtown to build a home. Windsor has an incredible riverfront adjoining a walkable downtown with tremendous potential.
I believe it is important to identify and work with an innovative developer with vision to begin putting together the pieces within an overall plan/strategy that is economically feasible and achievable within the existing economic, political and bureaucratic environments.
For example, U.K. based BioRegional Development Group (www.bioregional.com) specializes in new urbanist, scaling down modeling development on older, walkable neighborhoods. They also aim to build energy efficient, environmentally friendly, conservation minded projects. In my conversations with BioRegional, they have identified a few Canadian developers with whom they may partner for a Canadian project.
I think it would be worthwhile to have such a developer with creative vision evaluate the various options available for downtown development before the city commits to the current marina/canal proposal.
Jerry Simonelli,
Please email me via scaledown and they can forward it to me.
I know of one such property available (in the heritage district) and also I know of a beautiful brick rowhouse available (attached only on one side) that has been completely redone on the inside. It is a 3 bedroom with a fourth that could be a loft. All wiring, plumbing and foundation have been repaired andis in tip-top shape! I know the owner and he is motivated to sell because of the depressed economic state of the city. It is about 100 feet from my house which I am restoring.
The opportunities are immense for this area and all we need is a bit more gentrification and some people willing to take the plunge. The area has virtually no crime an dis a very quiet and quaint place that most people don’t even know exists.
I am not a real estate agent nor am I a developer. I am just one person who cares a lot about our city’s heritage, my neighbourhood and my city at large. I will tell you one thing; It is a great feeling to be a part of a growing trend where people want to gentrify and rebuild an existing neighbourhood. Let me know if you are interested in either site.
“economically feasible and achievable within the existing economic, political and bureaucratic environments.”
Amen.
Hi Jerry,
I have had considerable experience with the City center west lands. This area has received immense scrutiny over the years. The largest problem is that the city is holding on to 5 to 5 1/2 acres and will not make a decision on this land. The IDA panel that came to Windsor opined that the largest problem is that the surrounding 50-100 acres will continue to decline until the city makes a decision.
They also opined that the particular decision was of secondary importance to making any decision at all. That the stagnation of this area for over 2 decades was hurting downtown and the core far greater than whatever particular use was designated.
Am I rushing to support this, Hell yes, I’d rush to support any decision. ITs the decision making that is of primary importance.
Secondly this is the last option to leverage our riverfront into the core. It is the last option to not only densify the core but to make a dramatic enough statement to gentrify the core. In the U.S. Gentrify is a dirty word but in windsor it would be nothing less than a godsend
MArk contrary to popular belief the area hasn’t declined further. In fact a few houses on Caron Ave just south of University and on Park have seen rehad and landscpaing done. The houses affected by the new idea have had more investments and restoration than in recent years.
However, what has happened is that NEW GROWTH has not been seen. Full on restoration work has started and stopped with every new “idea” that has come along. What are people to do if they don’t have a say in the future of THEIR OWN NEIGHBOURHOOD? Imagine if we told people in the burbs and in South Windsor that they had no say in their neighbourhood? It would NEVER happen!
I stand corrected, I was speaking of the core in general which has lost 10% population
The fact remains that the city owns 5.5 acres and until they make a decision as to what to do with their property, development of the ancillary lands will remain at a standstill.
Remember, when I was on the City Center West CIP committee, I fully listened to the residents in that neighborhood who vehemently opposed an arena on those lands. There was no stronger support in the city of Windsor than me for an urban village and residential development of those lands.
I think that the part of the feasibility study should include a neighborhood meeting A.S.A.P. to alleviate the residents worse fears. Maybe that will come when they have the results of the feasibility study.
Keeping things in perspective, we’re talking 70-80 days left. When looking at 2 decades of indecision, thats not much to ask. Especially when someone wants to spend 60-120 million dollars to beautify your neighborhood. Hell if it works out that you keep your property, you’ll be the envy of almost every resident in the city.
However, I repeat that I believe that a residents meeting should be scheduled A.s.a.p. even if that means 1 week after the feasibility study is complete, you can still schedule the meeting now, or announce that you will schedule the meeting.
Beautify or destroy? Depending, of course, on what the city intends.
The idea of a meeting is already in progress to which a followup meeting is planned after the feasibility is released.
can we please just make sure whatever happens it is not 95% concrete and asphalt??
how about cobblestone or tiled roads and walkways?
example…with the bert weeks fountain…i cant even say i like it too much because it is just a sea of concrete.
I thought the Art Gallery, Police station’s looks border on Criminal, concrete and glass. Kunstler said once that the reflective glass in those bldgs mimics the reflective glass in prison guard sunglasses
concrete, reflective glass and chainlink fence should be exclusively used in prison yards and not allowed anywhere else
Concrete! There is plenty of that downtown with the new tree planters and those ugly pedestrian crosswalks. What happened to the decent looking stamped crosswalks that were put in for the western hemisphere conference we had in 2000? So much for “streetscaping” Windsor style (Windsor has no style whatsoever).
an all concrete art gallery….how artistic.
a perfect example of how if we are seriously going to move forward with this, DO IT PROPERLY!!! no taking the cheap outs, no shortcuts, etc.
Cobblestone walkways, large outdoor patios, large fountains (none of the concrete kind), brick buildings (not stucco or concrete blocks)…
and how about making it all sustainable? solar power, geothermal power, etc. i have always hoped Windsor would become the “Green” capital of Canada. Windsorites always say how bad the pollution is in our area so lets do something about it. TAKE ACTION for once.
Also, including a Light Rail Transit into this Canal equation would be perfect. Running it along Riverside Drive, into the core, out to the University, out to Tecumseh/Lakeshore, back to the Walkerville Via Station and start all over again on Riverside Drive. You could even include Amherstburg when bringing it out to the University. Work together with the surrounding communities (including funding) and bring it to fruition.
When I was in Amsterdam this past weekend walking around the core, I was amazed that 20 seconds wouldn’t go by at most before an LRT train would pass by. FIRST CLASS SERVICE. One reason why ridership for Transit Windsor is not there. The service is extremely poor.
Back to the canals….
Something needs to be done and quickly. Mark is right when he says indecision is the worst thing that could happen. However, I also agree with ME in pushing the canals just a tad southward preserving the few remaining historic brownstones left. Either that or keep them up and leave them as is in the midst of everything.