“AC”’s Bus Terminal Market Plans - a reprint
As many of you know, ScaleDown has been around for a few years. I don’t know how many of you have actually gone through our archives, but there are a ton of great ideas in there. Sure, you’ll have to brush away a layer of dust, but the effort will be well worth it. Or maybe I’ll do in the future as I am doing today, and republishing some of the old classics.
This is one that I’ve scoured the archives for, and I’m thrilled I found it. Way back on October 27, 2007, Adriano Ciotoli wrote to me with his ideas to transform the old Transit Windsor station that has been in the news lately. He’ll admit that his photoshop skills were pretty rudimentary back then (you should see his stuff now!) but I’m sure you can see through the graphics and understand that he was onto something big.
I think the Downtown Residents Association would agree, wouldn’t you? With council’s adoption of their plans to make the old bus station a farmers market, I am also sure that Adriano is ecstatic as well! Way to go, Adriano and the DRA! So here’s the old blog post…
Welcome to the Urban Design Idea Factory
I know that I am at my creative best when I’m surrounded by people who thrive on creativity and are not afraid to put their ideas out there on the chopping block of public scrutiny. The scariest thing in the world is to expose your thoughts and ideas to comment and ridicule. It is by far easier when you’re amongst others who take those chances right along side of you. That’s what SDW wants to be - your safe-haven for creative urban design comradery.
One of our regular readers, AC, sent me his thoughts and ideas regarding the abandoned Transit Windsor depot and has agreed to let me publish his plans here. I think he is on the right path when advocating for facilities for local artists and a permanent downtown farmer’s market. Let’s hear what you think. (Thanks to Andrew at International Metropolis for the original photo AC used in his work)
Click on the above image for a larger photo of AC’s plans for the depot.
- repaved lot to house outdoor market (including underneath overhang) to house fresh fruit & veggie vendors, fresh flowers, apparel, food vendors, etc.
-green upper roofs
-small outdoor restaurant on top of overhang, make it so that the fruits and veggies are fresh and only from the vendors in the market below
-overhanging lights between the tunnel ventilation building and the bus depot
-the rear of the building (west side) can be left vacant and used for loading and unloading.
-trees and benches line the “inner” walkwayIt could really be a boost for that area of downtown and even give a link between the casino and the main strip. After admitting that the tunnel stacks concentrate the pollution in that area, they possibly couldn’t turn down a green roof either.
So, get thinking of ways to improve this community yourself and send them in. We citizens can be the default planners for this community until our politicians find the testicular fortitude to start planning for a creative future.
Tags: Bus Station, Downtown, Downtown development, Downtown Residents Association, Farmers markets
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Thanks Chris!
Credit’s due, AC! It was (and still is) a great idea!
Yes. Hat’s off to Adriano! It was a great vision. And a whole bunch of scaledowners have been volunteering their time to get the market off the ground on July 4. So Scaledown deserves some props as well methinks. It won’t quite achieve Adriano’s vision on day one, but some seeds will have been planted…
it really is a great idea adriano.
Slowly things are changing all over the city.
Below is another example not related to the downtown:
Shops join forces for Thursdays Live
http://www.windsorstar.com/Entertainment/Shops+join+forces+Thursdays+Live/1730377/story.html
thanks everyone! i have plenty of other ideas, but, i’ll be holding those cards close to me until the time is right