The Greening of Pelissier
The night I bumped into the mayor at city Hall, he mentioned the Via Italia BIA had in depth proposals for creating an entirely new atmosphere on the street by covering up all of the Parking spots and turning them into Cafe’s. I inferred by his tone that he wanted the Downtown Windsor BIA (DWBIA) to get its act together to propose something similar instead of supporting proposals such as the temporary closure by the Pour House
I wish I could have reacted quicker to ask him if he had even seen the Pelissier street drawings that the DWBIA had submitted to the planning department a year ago. Why the DWBIA had not been consulted on these drawings and why those drawings were not adopted and put as part of the proposal for the Federal Funding Received.
I hope this is not a lost opportunity simply because of a breakdown in communication. Is it too late to consider these drawings?
There should not be any lost parking revenue as it should be recaptured by the parking garage on Pelissier.
This could become a signature street in our city.
I’m still having problems uploading to blogs, so try these links
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25119955@N02/3909677456/#preview
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25119955@N02/3908894867/in/photostream/
If you like these pictures, ask why they were not considered? From what I understand the only additional costs would be greenery and curb cuts which the Downtown WIndsor BIA would pay for.
This added greenery is consistent with the Mayor’s campaign platform of what he envisioned Windsor to be
Post Feedback
Ha! I love it! Traffic calming is a fantastic addition to any city street. Chicanes, textured crosswalks, etc. should the standard MO of streetscape designers. Way to go pushing this progressive design Mark.
BTW: If anyone is interested they can read the official traffic calming policy here. http://www.citywindsor.ca/DisplayAttach.asp?AttachID=3315
If you want that greenery, especially the trees, to survive then its going to cost a wee bit more than some “greenery and curb cuts”. You want large interconnected pits for the trees. And that is going to entail relocating utilities. I’m not opposed to this project just your characterization of the additional costs.
Vince, I’m proud to say that under my chairmanship the DWBIA voted to spend an additional $200,000 (approx) on Maiden Lane above and beyond its 25% share to increase the standard even higher and rough in a public fountain within the space.
I can’t speak for the board but its record shows over the past 5 years that the Board has always supported putting its money where its mouth is and funded items not normally funded by BIA’s.
The DWBIA had already ordered its own flowers when the mayor announced his initiative to fund planters. The DWBIA spent over $100,000 on decorative lighting to leverage the shared investment in street lighting above and beyond the 25% share.
The DWBIA funded new garbage cans and benches on Pelissier years ahead of the cities schedule.
The DWBIA offered matching funds for monitored security camera’s downtown when every other BIA in Canada had the city bear the sole expense. Ask how many times the police have reviewed footage.
I’m not a fan of the streetscape elements chosen by our planning department but I’m proud of the DWBIA’s record of giving the public a better bang for the buck.
Our BIA transferred approx $300,000 of funds from marketing to infrastructure and business recruitment incentives.
What frustrated us is while we did this the city paid for banners that promoted Red Bull and Superbowl that lasted 3 months instead of banners that promoted our own Downtown Brand that could have lasted 3 years for the same price.
Our BIA funds facade programs that are available in almost every city, funded by the city. Our BIA created design guidelines for Downtown for almost $50,000 that should be paid for and adopted by the city
The additional costs you mention are a pittance compared to what the Downtown BIA has invested on beautification above and beyond BIA’s in other cities.
I’m not sure what any of your reply has to do with my comment. I never questioned your chairmanship or what the DWBIA has invested to-date. Heck, I even said I wasn’t opposed to the project. Sometimes I don’t know why I bother responding to your posts.
Sure, greening up a street may cost a “pittance”. My point was that if you want that greenery to survive and thrive, then it’s wee bit more than digging a few feet down and planting a new tree. Those trees the City planted on Ouellette will have to be replaced in 10 years or less.
Relocating utilities is not a pittance. Hopefully they are located where the drawings say they should be located, but we all know that is not likely. Recall that when they were digging the holes for the Overhead Street Banner on Ouellette they ripped through a major telephone conduit that Bell Canada did not know was there. It was interesting to watch a worker reconnect each strand by hand - they even set up an umbrella to provide shade.
Just an example of doing the right thing by the DWBIA when it comes to infrastructure has never been a problem and never will be.
City sure talks the talk when it comes to doing the right thing while sparing no expense for GREENLINK.
Here’s an example of GREEN PELISSIER. Not for a few billion but for an extra couple of 10’s of thousands, with all the changes you describe maybe even as much as a few hundred thousand to have a Green pedestrian signature street
But maybe the city talks the talk when it comes to roads funded by the province and feds. THey really do show their true priorities when it comes to streets they have to fund
P.S. I’m not trying to toot my own horn here. Every initiative was approved by a full board that had the vision to know that marketing moneys spent on a flawed product was a waste and that dedicating that money to tangible improvements was more important
I do like these improvements but I gotta ask - have you every tried cycling down Ouellette?
It gets a little unnerving around those “humps” pictured in the pelissier street drawings.
I understand there is only so much space available, but surely we can come up with something that can encourage cycling through the core on the north-south corridors.
“Sure, greening up a street may cost a “pittance”. My point was that if you want that greenery to survive and thrive, then it’s wee bit more than digging a few feet down and planting a new tree. Those trees the City planted on Ouellette will have to be replaced in 10 years or less.”
Or sooner Vincent. The brain child behind those tree plantings saw nearly 90% of the trees die around the bus terminal and already on the north end of Ouellette, they are dying.
I saw them dump sand and gravel into the holes and then cover them up with a thin layer of top soil. Add in all that concrete and heat generation; I’m surprised anything other than cactae will grow.
Such a waste.
All valid points Chris, which is why I’d like to see it discussed before a shovel goes in the ground. Especially when the businesses are willing to foot part of a bill that benefits both them and residents
Same with Vince, sure you raise some good questions about a plan that will never be considered. The point I was trying to make was that when a group of private citizens has a proven track record of volunteering their $$ for beautification projects that benefit residents and business alike. Maybe a thank you would be in order before the fault finding.
If private citizens can make suggestions improving further upon this plan, thats great. Someone should ask why it was never considered for debate in the first place
Do do you or do you not want a tap on your back?
Fault finding? I just want something done right the first time. I’ve said I’m not against the plan. I’ve said that if we want trees and greenery to thrive then we need to make sure that they are planted correctly. Doesn’t the BIA and the various business want to maximize AND protect their investment?
I guess I’m just to defensive. Your response just sounded critical whe I think the admin are looking for reasons to not do this. If you give admin or councillors a reason to dismiss this project. They’ll gladly take it. It’s sic to think we’ll be stuck with 2nd Rate streetscape for 25 yrs because we won’t take a month to fix it
Just in case that wasn’t clear, it was an apology Vince