Panhandlers, Bag Lady’s and Wailing Sirens. Look at how one U.S. downtown cleverly played with these themes.

Come visit our downtown which has so many Panhandlers

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

See the Bag Lady’s walking in the streets

And Listen to the Wailing Sirens

Now I understand of course that we have to remain constantly vigilant to reduce the other types of these people but what a way to turn perception on its head and get people changing how they view  these items

In any event the Marketing seminar focused on how the businesses within it need to turn themselves into destinations. We already have Shanfields, TBQ sauce is pretty famous and some other establishments that have no comparisons anywhere else.

I liked the tone of the seminar as it took the focus off of what they called “Airport Marketing” where we create a brochure of a laundry list

One thing that will be controversial is that they recommend the socialist attitude of giving everyone the same attention. They only marketed the businesses that converted themselves into destinations or attractions. They assured us that everyone would benefit, and there was equality of opportunity not of marketing attention or whose owners promoted themselves as experts or local celebrities.

I think all local independant businesses in Windsor could learn from this not just downtown

Apparantly last night Thom Hunt said that I misinterpred the Q&A
Contained in PAC 1. Thet there was never any recommendation to
limit the building of new commercial space. I think you should
read the PAC 1 Q and A as I maintain and hope I did not
 misinterpret it.
(IF I did, so did Karl Tanner and probably you will too)- PAC 1
 will be attached here.

Please read PAC 1 and tell me whether I misinterpreted. pac1

What amazes me is the complete disgregard to the facts contained
in this report by ALL councillors other than Alan Halberstadt

- that it was quoted that these commercial developments do not
integrate into our neighborhoods,
- that we have one of the highest commercial vacancy rates in
Canada
- that actions need to happen to protect main streets

I’ll never understand how developers have some sort of Rasputin
like hold on our councillors, that the concern of how we’re viewed
 by the outside reigns paramount over the utter disregard of how
 we’re viewed by the people who actually live here and own small
 businesses here.

Its instulting to me that these same developers would never
consider living next to the developments they want us to have
in our cities and many don’t even live within Windsor’s limits.
They have the audacity to say that Limiting commercial growth in
Windsor wont’ work as long as lasalle, lakeshore and tecumseh
won’t cooperate while they actually live and have influence in
those same communities that are obstacles

I call on Alfie Morgan, chair of the small business taskforce
(whose only concern was red tape while big box plaza’s were
completely unaddressed) to debate and discuss this once again

Here is my speach but again -read PAC 1 and decide for yourself
 how much I “misinterpreted” or “misrepresented” the comments
by Thom Hunt and Urban Metrics Rowan Faludi

——————————

Before you this evening is the Official Plan Report - a document
 that exemplifies the very reasons that I chose to become a
communitarian, active involved in my community and scaledown.ca.
You have qualified analytical consultants and city administrators
confirming what Chris Holt, James Coulter and I have been saying
 day-after-day for the past 18 months. The question becomes .. NOW,
will you take a stand?

In clarifying my presence here tonight .. which “HAT” am I wearing:

Scaledown

Mission:           To promote the cultural identity, social fabric
and economic prosperity of Windsor, Ontario through open discussion
and grass-roots advocacy.

Vision:             To connect every Windsorite to their own
walkable neighbourhood that has its own public spaces, vibrant
local independent businesses and artists.

For several years, I have listened to and heard professionals
from the International Downtown Association, CEO’s for Cities,
Project for Public  Spaces and The Brookings Institute. All
of these experts have recommended that the key to revitalization
is to fix your core and create great neighborhoods 

It is now time to follow their recommendations. Many complain
about the costs involved in hiring consultants and experts,
 and the time spent preparing studies and developing long-term
plans. They’re only a waste of money if you ignore their advice.
 If you embrace and act on their recommendations, it can and
should be the best investment we’ve yet seen.

And then along comes the Official Plan Review. You now have
a choice. To ACT on it or not. To ADOPT and follow its
recommendations, or not. I tell you this, what you have before
you is nothing less than the choosing between right and wrong.
This may seem melodramatic but this
is about our future, this is about doing what’s right.

Very simply, the consultants, professionals, experts and
 the City’s own planning department have said:

1. “Infill residential development, no new greenfield sites.”
2. Residual Market Demand and Impact analyisis - freeze on
 commercial bldg until 2011 to protect main streets or until
commercial vacancy rates drop below 12% 

The only problem with this is that the target is so low due
to Windsor’s current and short-term economic climate. I understand
 and appreciate that our economy plays a major role. However,
 you need to at least acknowledge that other areas in Ontario
have set targets as high as 40%. In order to mitigate and address
 this issue, we need to get specific. We don’t need some vague
wishy-washy target of approximately 10% that affords us some
sense of satisfaction when we come close to achieving it.

What we need is specific unit targets - how many rental
 units created, how many vacant units filled, how many
 single unit development, and how many condominium units
created. And then we need to develop a critical path that
clearly indentifies the tactical deliverables necessary in
 order to achieve each individual target. That’s how successful
cities fulfill their objectives. Not by asking whether there
 are any consequences to missing the target, and in so doing
 implying that it’s not something we actually HAVE to DO but
just one of those projects that we need to approval ..simply, a
platitude. This is Windsor’s FUTURE, and every resident and
small business owner is counting on you. Their livelihoods
and quality of life depend on it.

2Residual Market Demand and Impact Analysis - No new commercial
building until 2011

Why? We need to scaledown our development. We need to create
density in our core. We need to protect the small businesses
 on our main streets such as Ouellette, Pelissier, Wyandotte,
 Erie, Tecumseh and others.

What is the biggest threat to these businesses? It’s the
decrease in population in the core areas and the creation
of new big box retail on the edges of our City. Is doing
 the right thing easy? Of course not, but as Councillors
your duty is to make the right decisions.

What are the challenges to doing the right thing? It’s simple,
 there are primarily three challenges.

Developers, Lawyers and Engineers . OH MY! 

You have developers in this City that will tell you that
you are costing jobs and that the economy will suffer. The
 answer to that is that the jobs created in these big box stores
 are simply transferred from the closing of businesses on our
 main streets. There is a zero sum gain. As far as the
economy goes, the fact is that 68 % of monies spent at small
businesses stay within our community versus 43% of monies spent
on big box. As you may have read in this report, big boxes
do not integrate into neighbourhoods.

You have the lawyers telling you that this will expose you
 to OMB challenges. Well the expertise of the consultants you’ve
hired will protect you from that. Also, just like our border
crossing, we need to do the right thing regardless of the legal
ramifications and costs.

You have engineers that will tell you that this will not work
 if it’s not a regional approach. Are we going to let towns
like Tecumseh, Lakeshore, Lasalle and Amherstburg dictate our
policy? If Windsor doesn’t show leadership in this region, are
we expected to wait for these smaller communities to lead the
 way for us? Are they the proverbial tail that wags
the dog?

But most importantly, your consultants and your planning
department have been faced with all three of these challenges.
 They did not perform their work in a vacuum. After they were
 confronted with all of these concerns and challenges they
decided to stick to their guns. Basically what leading
experts as well as your own planning department are saying is:

            We acknowledge that Tecumseh, Lakeshore and Lasalle
may not cooperate - stay the course

§  We acknowledge that new construction jobs will be
lost but in order to protect existing jobs on our main
 streets -stay the Course

§ We acknowledge that there could be OMB challenges
but our experts who can support their findings in
court say - STAY THE COURSE

You now know what you must do. Will you stand firm?
 Will you do what’s in the best interests of the residents,
 small businesses and main streets of our City? I call out
 to all small businesses and all residents to pay very
close attention to your actions on this report.

I’m asking you tonight to listen to the experts and
 your own planning department. Hear their recommendations
 and how they’ve addressed the questions put before them.
We’re not breaking any new ground on this issue.
We’re following the same direction as other cities
including Kingston, Ontario.

Infill residential development and protecting our main
 streets is what scaledown is all about. It’s the means in
 which to accomplish our mission and vision which I believe
 this Council shares. If there was ever any
misunderstanding or confusion about what our group wants
or promotes it’s sitting right in front of you in this Report.

I’m asking you tonight to THINK OUTSIDE THE BIG BOX.

Apparantly last night Thom Hunt said that I misinterpred the Q&A Contained in PAC 1. Thet
there was never any recommendation to limit the building of new commercial space. I think
you should read the PAC 1 Q and A as I maintain and hope I did not misinterpret it. (IF I did, so did
Karl Tanner and others)- PAC 1 will be attached here.

Please read PAC 1 and tell me whether I misinterpreted. pac1

What amazes me is the complete disgregard to the facts contained in this report by ALL councillors
other than Alan Halberstadt

that it was quoted that these commercial developments do not integrate into our neighborhoods,
that we have one of the highest commercial vacancy rates in Canada
that actions need to happen to protect main streets

I’ll never understand how developers have some sort of Rasputin like hold on our councillors, that the
concern of how we’re viewed by the outside reigns paramount over the utter disregard of how we’re
viewed by the people who actually live here and own small businesses here.

Its instulting to me that these same developers would never consider living next to the developments they
want us to have in our cities and many don’t even live within Windsor’s limits. They have the audacity to say
that Limiting commercial growth in Windsor wont’ work as long as lasalle, lakeshore and tecumseh won’t cooperate while they actually
live and have influence in those same communities that are obstacles

I call on Alfie Morgan, chair of the small business taskforce (whose only
concern was red tape while big box plaza’s were completely unaddressed) to debate and discuss this once again

Here is my speach but read PAC 1 and decide for yourself how much I “misinterpreted” or “misrepresented”
the comments by Thom Hunt and Urban Metrics Rowan Faludi

——————————

Before you this evening is the Official Plan Report - a document that
exemplifies the very reasons that I chose to become involved in my community
and scaledown.ca. You have qualified analytical consultants and city
administrators confirming what Chris Holt, James Coulter and I have been
saying day-after-day for the past 18 months. The question becomes .. NOW,
will you take a stand?

In clarifying my presence here tonight .. which “HAT” am I wearing:

Scaledown

Mission:           To promote the cultural identity, social fabric and
economic prosperity of Windsor, Ontario through open discussion and
grass-roots advocacy.

Vision:             To connect every Windsorite to their own walkable
neighbourhood that has its own public spaces, vibrant local independent businesses
and artists.

For several years, I have listened to and heard professionals from the
International Downtown Association, CEO’s for Cities, Project for Public
Spaces and The Brookings Institute. All of these experts have recommended that the key to
revitalization is to fix your core and create great neighborhoods 

It is now time to follow their recommendations. Many complain about the
costs involved in hiring consultants and experts, and the time spent
preparing studies and developing long-term plans. They’re only a waste of
money if you ignore their advice. If you embrace and act on their
recommendations, it can and should be the best investment we’ve yet seen.

And then along comes the Official Plan Review. You now have a choice. To ACT
on it or not. To ADOPT and follow its recommendations, or not. I tell you
this, what you have before you is nothing less than the choosing between
right and wrong. This may seem melodramatic but this
is about our future, this is about doing what’s right.

Very simply, the consultants, professionals, experts and the City’s own
planning department have said:

1. “Infill residential development, no new greenfield sites.”
2. Residual Market Demand and Impact analyisis - freeze on commercial bldg until 2011 to protect main streets
or until commercial vacancy rates drop below 12% 

The only problem with this is that the target is so low due to Windsor’s
current and short-term economic climate. I understand and appreciate that
our economy plays a major role. However, you need to at least acknowledge
that other areas in Ontario have set targets as high as 40%. In order to
mitigate and address this issue, we need to get specific. We don’t need some
vague wishy-washy target of approximately 10% that affords us some sense of
satisfaction when we come close to achieving it.

What we need is specific unit targets - how many rental units created, how
many vacant units filled, how many single unit development, and how many
condominium units created. And then we need to develop a critical path that
clearly indentifies the tactical deliverables necessary in order to achieve
each individual target. That’s how successful cities fulfill their
objectives. Not by asking whether there are any consequences to missing the
target, and in so doing implying that it’s not something we actually HAVE to
DO but just one of those projects that we need to approval ..simply, a
platitude. This is Windsor’s FUTURE, and every resident and small business
owner is counting on you. Their livelihoods and quality of life depend on
it.

2Residual Market Demand and Impact Analysis - No new commercial building until 2011

Why? We need to scaledown our development. We need to create density in our
core. We need to protect the small businesses on our main streets such as
Ouellette, Pelissier, Wyandotte, Erie, Tecumseh and others.

What is the biggest threat to these businesses? It’s the decrease in
population in the core areas and the creation of new big box retail on the
edges of our City. Is doing the right thing easy? Of course not, but as
Councillors your duty is to make the right decisions.

What are the challenges to doing the right thing? It’s simple, there are
primarily three challenges.

Developers, Lawyers and Engineers . OH MY! 

You have developers in this City that will tell you that you are costing
jobs and that the economy will suffer. The answer to that is that the jobs
created in these big box stores are simply transferred from the closing of
businesses on our main streets. There is a zero sum gain. As far as the
economy goes, the fact is that XX % of monies spent at small businesses stay
within our community versus XX% of monies spent on big box. As you may have
read in this report, big boxes do not integrate into neighbourhoods.

You have the lawyers telling you that this will expose you to OMB
challenges. Well the expertise of the consultants you’ve hired will protect
you from that. Also, just like our border crossing, we need to do the right
thing regardless of the legal ramifications and costs.

You have engineers that will tell you that this will not work if it’s not a
regional approach. Are we going to let towns like Tecumseh, Lakeshore,
Lasalle and Amherstburg dictate our policy? If Windsor doesn’t show
leadership in this region, are we expected to wait for these smaller
communities to lead the way for us? Are they the proverbial tail that wags
the dog?

But most importantly, your consultants and your planning department have
been faced with all three of these challenges. They did not perform their
work in a vacuum. After they were confronted with all of these concerns and
challenges they decided to stick to their guns. Basically what leading
experts as well as your own planning department are saying is:

            We acknowledge that Tecumseh, Lakeshore and Lasalle may not
cooperate - stay the course

§            We acknowledge that new construction jobs will be lost but in
order to protect existing jobs on our main streets -stay the Course

§            We acknowledge that there could be OMB challenges but our
experts who can support their findings in court say - STAY THE COURSE

You now know what you must do. Will you stand firm? Will you do what’s in
the best interests of the residents, small businesses and main streets of
our City? I call out to all small businesses and all residents to pay very
close attention to your actions on this report.

I’m asking you tonight to listen to the experts and your own planning
department. Hear their recommendations and how they’ve addressed the
questions put before them. We’re not breaking any new ground on this issue.
We’re following the same direction as other cities including Kingston,
Ontario.

Infill residential development and protecting our main streets is what
scaledown is all about. It’s the means in which to accomplish our mission
and vision which I believe this Council shares. If there was ever any
misunderstanding or confusion about what our group wants or promotes it’s
sitting right in front of you in this Report.

I’m asking you tonight to THINK OUTSIDE THE BIG BOX.

Apparantly last night Thom Hunt said that I misinterpred the Q&A Contained in PAC 1. Thet
there was never any recommendation to limit the building of new commercial space. I think
you should read the PAC 1 Q and A as I maintain and hope I did not misinterpret it. (IF I did, so did
Karl Tanner and others)- PAC 1 will be attached here.

Please read PAC 1 and tell me whether I misinterpreted. pac1

What amazes me is the complete disgregard to the facts contained in this report by ALL councillors
other than Alan Halberstadt

that it was quoted that these commercial developments do not integrate into our neighborhoods,
that we have one of the highest commercial vacancy rates in Canada
that actions need to happen to protect main streets

I’ll never understand how developers have some sort of Rasputin like hold on our councillors, that the
concern of how we’re viewed by the outside reigns paramount over the utter disregard of how we’re
viewed by the people who actually live here and own small businesses here.

Its instulting to me that these same developers would never consider living next to the developments they
want us to have in our cities and many don’t even live within Windsor’s limits. They have the audacity to say
that Limiting commercial growth in Windsor wont’ work as long as lasalle, lakeshore and tecumseh won’t cooperate while they actually
live and have influence in those same communities that are obstacles

I call on Alfie Morgan, chair of the small business taskforce (whose only
concern was red tape while big box plaza’s were completely unaddressed) to debate and discuss this once again

Here is my speach but read PAC 1 and decide for yourself how much I “misinterpreted” or “misrepresented”
the comments by Thom Hunt and Urban Metrics Rowan Faludi

——————————

Before you this evening is the Official Plan Report - a document that
exemplifies the very reasons that I chose to become involved in my community
and scaledown.ca. You have qualified analytical consultants and city
administrators confirming what Chris Holt, James Coulter and I have been
saying day-after-day for the past 18 months. The question becomes .. NOW,
will you take a stand?

In clarifying my presence here tonight .. which “HAT” am I wearing:

Scaledown

Mission:           To promote the cultural identity, social fabric and
economic prosperity of Windsor, Ontario through open discussion and
grass-roots advocacy.

Vision:             To connect every Windsorite to their own walkable
neighbourhood that has its own public spaces, vibrant local independent businesses
and artists.

For several years, I have listened to and heard professionals from the
International Downtown Association, CEO’s for Cities, Project for Public
Spaces and The Brookings Institute. All of these experts have recommended that the key to
revitalization is to fix your core and create great neighborhoods 

It is now time to follow their recommendations. Many complain about the
costs involved in hiring consultants and experts, and the time spent
preparing studies and developing long-term plans. They’re only a waste of
money if you ignore their advice. If you embrace and act on their
recommendations, it can and should be the best investment we’ve yet seen.

And then along comes the Official Plan Review. You now have a choice. To ACT
on it or not. To ADOPT and follow its recommendations, or not. I tell you
this, what you have before you is nothing less than the choosing between
right and wrong. This may seem melodramatic but this
is about our future, this is about doing what’s right.

Very simply, the consultants, professionals, experts and the City’s own
planning department have said:

1. “Infill residential development, no new greenfield sites.”
2. Residual Market Demand and Impact analyisis - freeze on commercial bldg until 2011 to protect main streets
or until commercial vacancy rates drop below 12% 

The only problem with this is that the target is so low due to Windsor’s
current and short-term economic climate. I understand and appreciate that
our economy plays a major role. However, you need to at least acknowledge
that other areas in Ontario have set targets as high as 40%. In order to
mitigate and address this issue, we need to get specific. We don’t need some
vague wishy-washy target of approximately 10% that affords us some sense of
satisfaction when we come close to achieving it.

What we need is specific unit targets - how many rental units created, how
many vacant units filled, how many single unit development, and how many
condominium units created. And then we need to develop a critical path that
clearly indentifies the tactical deliverables necessary in order to achieve
each individual target. That’s how successful cities fulfill their
objectives. Not by asking whether there are any consequences to missing the
target, and in so doing implying that it’s not something we actually HAVE to
DO but just one of those projects that we need to approval ..simply, a
platitude. This is Windsor’s FUTURE, and every resident and small business
owner is counting on you. Their livelihoods and quality of life depend on
it.

2Residual Market Demand and Impact Analysis - No new commercial building until 2011

Why? We need to scaledown our development. We need to create density in our
core. We need to protect the small businesses on our main streets such as
Ouellette, Pelissier, Wyandotte, Erie, Tecumseh and others.

What is the biggest threat to these businesses? It’s the decrease in
population in the core areas and the creation of new big box retail on the
edges of our City. Is doing the right thing easy? Of course not, but as
Councillors your duty is to make the right decisions.

What are the challenges to doing the right thing? It’s simple, there are
primarily three challenges.

Developers, Lawyers and Engineers . OH MY! 

You have developers in this City that will tell you that you are costing
jobs and that the economy will suffer. The answer to that is that the jobs
created in these big box stores are simply transferred from the closing of
businesses on our main streets. There is a zero sum gain. As far as the
economy goes, the fact is that XX % of monies spent at small businesses stay
within our community versus XX% of monies spent on big box. As you may have
read in this report, big boxes do not integrate into neighbourhoods.

You have the lawyers telling you that this will expose you to OMB
challenges. Well the expertise of the consultants you’ve hired will protect
you from that. Also, just like our border crossing, we need to do the right
thing regardless of the legal ramifications and costs.

You have engineers that will tell you that this will not work if it’s not a
regional approach. Are we going to let towns like Tecumseh, Lakeshore,
Lasalle and Amherstburg dictate our policy? If Windsor doesn’t show
leadership in this region, are we expected to wait for these smaller
communities to lead the way for us? Are they the proverbial tail that wags
the dog?

But most importantly, your consultants and your planning department have
been faced with all three of these challenges. They did not perform their
work in a vacuum. After they were confronted with all of these concerns and
challenges they decided to stick to their guns. Basically what leading
experts as well as your own planning department are saying is:

            We acknowledge that Tecumseh, Lakeshore and Lasalle may not
cooperate - stay the course

§            We acknowledge that new construction jobs will be lost but in
order to protect existing jobs on our main streets -stay the Course

§            We acknowledge that there could be OMB challenges but our
experts who can support their findings in court say - STAY THE COURSE

You now know what you must do. Will you stand firm? Will you do what’s in
the best interests of the residents, small businesses and main streets of
our City? I call out to all small businesses and all residents to pay very
close attention to your actions on this report.

I’m asking you tonight to listen to the experts and your own planning
department. Hear their recommendations and how they’ve addressed the
questions put before them. We’re not breaking any new ground on this issue.
We’re following the same direction as other cities including Kingston,
Ontario.

Infill residential development and protecting our main streets is what
scaledown is all about. It’s the means in which to accomplish our mission
and vision which I believe this Council shares. If there was ever any
misunderstanding or confusion about what our group wants or promotes it’s
sitting right in front of you in this Report.

I’m asking you tonight to THINK OUTSIDE THE BIG BOX.

The Richard Florida Interview
ScaleDown Radio, May 18
Noon ’til 1:00 PM CJAM 91.5 FM

(double click for full-screen mode)

In what I would call Scaledown’s tribute to Fireworks, Guest Host Andrew Foot and I debate the mayor led “Two Nation Destination” initiatives including events such as Grand Prix and the Tunnel Deal. I take the stance defending these initiatives fending off Andrew’s caustic and sometimes fierce rebuttals. You’ll want to tune in and listen to what I believe is Scaledown’s most contentious show yet.

On Scaledown Radio Today, I debate Guest Host Andrew Foot on the Mayor led “two nation destination” initiatives of Windsor’s Participation in Events such as Grand Prix, and the Tunnel Deal. While I give my arguments defending and supporting the initiatives fending off Andrew’s caustic and often fierce rebuttals. You’ll want to tune in today at noon on 91.5 to listen to what I think is Scaledown Radio’s most contentious show yet

In what I call a tribute to fireworks, listen today to the explosive  debate  between Guest host Andrew Foot and Mark Boscariol regarding the Mayor’s Two nation destination Initiatives. I take the pro side giving my arguments to defend and support the Mayor’s Grand Prix, Red Bull and Tunnel deal against Andrew’s caustic wit and often fierce rebuttal. You might want to tune in to what I think is Scaledown Radio’s most contentious show yet

The Good:

It started, this is a meeting thats been put off for no good reason, the fact that the process has begun again is a very good thing.

The level of conversation - Yes it has changed, no more aquariums or other silver bullet talk. Everyone knows that its about increasing residents and visitors and detail management. Jim Yanchula did a good job of articulating the split of issues between Management of downtown vs. Development of downtown even if I question how well that was receivved.

Percy Hatfields amazing list of area’s of improvement, It was the most thorough list I’ve heard at one time

Fulvio’s comments about who should be doing what. That the city should remain in the infrastructure business and that streetscape has had more of an impact than many give it credit to now that the streetscape has further been decorated with flowers and lighting.

The BAD

The fact that councillors felt that focusing on increasing residents or marketing ot visitors was somehow mutually exclusive. I inferred that there was some comments that were directed at the BIA’s 3am closure proposal that meant that the BIA was fighting the entertainment option when that is the complete opposite of the truth. Urban Rat sent me a great article about Modesto California’s decision to become an entertainment capital. The first step was to protect the residents so that the entertainment focus did not negatively affect the residents. A “first do no harm” policy is what is required before embarking on an entertainment industry. Council needs to “get” that. Everyone understands the natural position of downtown as an entertainment (and I mean entertainment for ALL AGES)  It just shouldn’t and doesn’t have to come at the expense of residents

Scope and Time- The fact that council wants to open end another strategy meeting with no specific agenda. When will they realize that the downtown issues are almost as numerous as the issues of the entire city. Could you imagine having a 2 hour strategy meeting for the entire city of Windsor. We need to have separate discussions for increasing residents, increasing retail, festival and event management, site specific development (Percy’s list), infrastructure and beautification

Contributors for next meeting - Look, no one respects what Erie and Walkerville have done for their BIA’s but those groups can only contribute on specific issues. They should be involved in issues such as transit between BIA’s, or something like  a very cool gateway between Via Italia and Downtown at the corner of Ouellette and Erie (boundary issues notwithstanding). WEBIAC is a far better forum for this thats not really being taken advantage of due to lack of leadership due to resources  and volunteers being over stretched.

Ignoring the To do list - They talked of the 1994 to do list with 173 items, how only 64 were partially or fully completed with 17 underway, 24 failures leaving 68 not even attempted. How about simply revising the list but attaching timelines, costing and resources this time. This ain’t rocket science

THE UGLY

It pains me to do this but I was very offended by the Mayor’s response. When anyone identifies an area or opportunity for improvement, an area where we are weak. The mayor labels them as being negative. If you want people tto change the conversation, you have to make them feel that they have been listened to so that they can move on. When can we grow up to believe that as much as someone like myself loves downtown, how I have poured my time, money, effort proving that belief. That I can love downtown but still identify certain aspects of it as wanting.

I love downtown WIndsor, The only way to make it better is to acknowledge what areas need to be focused on.

Many are ready to believe in downtown, the first thing that will put them off is if they think you are trying to sell them downtown as something more than what it is. Lets just be honest, starting with Councillor Hatfields list, don’t criticize him for presenting the list, instead why not actually deal with the list!

I officially protest my blog partners article about fiddling as I felt it as uncalled for. Coincidentally I had a private conversation with “Urbanrat” the same day about Modesto California

Their investment in Entertainment worked because the first step they took was to establish an entertainment commission which is essentially the same as the HRP I have supported for years and is only being held up by the lack of will by the current DWBIA chair as funding was approved. This commision protected residents so that they could move forward.

Welcoming Convention and entertainment is not fiddling, if it is not our future, it is at least part of the necessary economic transition that is needed until we get their (I.E. people graduate from an engineering school that hasn’t broken ground)

Caesars is taking this seriously and putting big bucks into drawing conventions. Tourism and the hospitality industry is a large part of our economy and the only fiddling that is going on is us fiddling with those jobs as a stepping stone instead of taking them more seriously as a carreer.

Mark Boscariol

Born on October 18, 1966, Mark Boscariol was raised in Windsor, Ontario. He attended Assumption High School and received his B.A. Economics from the University of Western Ontario.Early in his career, Mark managed and ran Rustshield Plating, an electroplating company that was sold in 1998 and is now known as Chromeshield Plating. He garnered significant experience in conducting Phase 1 and Phase 2 Environmental Studies, and was actively involved in the environmental clean up of the site. Rustshield Plating was the first company in Windsor to be awarded ISO 9002, QS 9000 certification.In 1994, Mark co-founded Bedroom Depot. The first store opened in Calgary in 1995, followed by the opening of a second store in the Maritimes later that same year. Within 10 years, Bedroom Depot had demonstrated significant growth and consisted of six stores ?? three in the Maritimes, two in Calgary, and one in Windsor.

In recent years, Mark dabbled in the hospitality industry having invested in Chanoso’s Restaurant when it relocated to Ouellette Avenue. The establishment has flourished and expanded to include two new exciting and unique restaurants, Oishii Sushi Lounge and Buda Global Bistro, The Room Nightclub and 255 Catering ?? offering patrons the ultimate dining experience.

Mark’s civic and community involvement is well-known and include:

• City Center West Community Improvement Plan Committee, Member
• City Center Security Enhancement Resource Team, Member
• Downtown Business Improvement Association, Past Chair
• Convention & Visitors Bureau of Windsor, Essex County & Pelee Island, Member of the Board of Directors
• Windsor West Federal Liberal Riding Association, Past President
• Windsor International Film Festival, Chair and Founding Member
• 48 Hour Flick Fest, Co-Founder

to contact Mark, send him an email at mark (at) scaledown.ca

Chris Holt

photo courtesy of John Stefani

Chris Holt has been actively studying cities for decades. After enrolling in the Architectural Technology program at Windsor’s St. Clair college, he decided that focusing on the microcosm of individual building design was too limiting and didn’t provide him with the opportunity to affect change on a large scale. He then moved up to study Urban Design at London’s Fanshawe College, where he was introduced to the ideas of macro-planning, and the impacts good civic design had on the human experience.

Chris has translated his civic inquisiveness to the realm of policy development at the municipal level. During a 14 year career as a tradesman in the automotive sector, he has always kept busy working with different organizations in forwarding the concept that good urban design is a major contributor to a healthy environment and stronger community bonds.  Chris has served on many boards in the city in an attempt to shape his community in a positive way; Windsor Bicycling Committee, Windsor Essex County Environment Committee, Citizens Environment Alliance and Windsor’s Ontario Public Interest Research Group to name a few. Chris has also been active on the political level, running as a candidate in both provincial and federal elections, as well as organizing local riding associations and managing other election campaigns.

Chris started the ScaleDown website while working on the plant floor, and has moved into the uncharted waters of multi-media production as the founder and host of ScaleDown Radio on CJAM 91.5 FM; the 2009 Jammy award winner for “Best New Show“.  Interviewing noted academics and media personalities such as Richard Florida and Steve Paikin, as well as a host of influential community leaders and politicians from around the globe, has proven itself an invaluable resource in researching the many options available in fixing our city.  ScaleDown has gone on to host many successful events and public information gatherings, bringing celebrated authors and academics to Windsor.  ScaleDown has also garnered significant media attention, and Chris has been the focus of national newspaper articles and international magazine articles.

These days you can find Chris enjoying his layoff by attending the University of Windsor in the interdisciplinary Environmental Studies program, while raising his two children in the highly livable, pedestrian-friendly neghbourhood of Olde Walkerville in Windsor’s core.

to contact Chris, send him an email at chris (at) scaledown.ca

Ron Drouillard

As a recent edition to the Scaledown family, cohosting Scaledown Radio with Andrew Foot and Chris Holt, Ron Drouillard has recently become more engaged in civic and municipal issues regarding the re-building of our community in a more sustainable and equitable way. While Ron’s past activities have focused primarily on macro issues related to his studies of both social justice and labour studies, he has co-founded Windsor based organizations such as the Windsor Workers’ Action Centre and the Fedup Community Gardening group.

Ron recently completed a combined Honours degree at the University of Windsor in Social Justice and Labour Studies and is will be attending graduate school at McMaster University in the Work and Society program. Ron also has a Labour Studies Certificate from the CAW/McMaster Labour Studies program. While attending the UofW, Ron served on many committees such as the Community Advisory Committee and was the president of the Labour Studies Student association. Ron also is on the board for the Global Resource Centre, president of both the Windsor Workers’ Action Centre and the Windsor Workers’ Education Centre, and has co-hosted the radio show All In a Day’s Work on CJAM 91.5FM for nearly 4 years of a show that has run for nearly 14 years and has interviews such stars as Sam Gindin and Jim Stanford.

As a former autoworker of 13 years, Ron has moved on to commit himself to creating a better and more sustainable community and world through the organizing of people, and community organizations. Ron’s motto has been: if you know of a problem, it is your responsibility to do something about it.

Ron will now be focusing his time on graduate studies and attending and speaking at conferences in relation to social justice, labour, and the rebuilding of our community from the bottom up.

Other Biographies to come

Mission: To promote the cultural identity, social fabric and economic prosperity of Windsor, Ontario through open discussion and grass-roots advocacy.

Vision: To connect every Windsorite to their own walkable neighborhood that has its own public spaces, local independent businesses and artists.

• Adventures In Urban Living
• All About Cities
• Bakfiets En Meer
• Bicycle Fixation
• Bird to The North
• CEO’s For Cities
• Cool Town Studios
• From My Bottom Step (London, ON)
• Project for Public Spaces
• Slow Home
• Street Films
• StreetsBlog
• The Spacing Wire
• The Where Blog
• This Place Is…
• Urban Planning Blog
• Web Urbanist Blog
• WindsorTalk! (local discussion forum)
• World Changing
• Great Lakes Urban Exchange (G.L.U.E) 

Apparantly last night Thom Hunt said that I misinterpred the Q&A Contained in PAC 1. Thet
there was never any recommendation to limit the building of new commercial space. I think
you should read the PAC 1 Q and A as I maintain and hope I did not misinterpret it. (IF I did, so did
Karl Tanner and others)- PAC 1 will be attached here.

Please read PAC 1 and tell me whether I misinterpreted. pac1

What amazes me is the complete disgregard to the facts contained in this report by ALL councillors
other than Alan Halberstadt

that it was quoted that these commercial developments do not integrate into our neighborhoods,
that we have one of the highest commercial vacancy rates in Canada
that actions need to happen to protect main streets

I’ll never understand how developers have some sort of Rasputin like hold on our councillors, that the
concern of how we’re viewed by the outside reigns paramount over the utter disregard of how we’re
viewed by the people who actually live here and own small businesses here.

Its instulting to me that these same developers would never consider living next to the developments they
want us to have in our cities and many don’t even live within Windsor’s limits. They have the audacity to say
that Limiting commercial growth in Windsor wont’ work as long as lasalle, lakeshore and tecumseh won’t cooperate while they actually
live and have influence in those same communities that are obstacles

I call on Alfie Morgan, chair of the small business taskforce (whose only
concern was red tape while big box plaza’s were completely unaddressed) to debate and discuss this once again

Here is my speach but read PAC 1 and decide for yourself how much I “misinterpreted” or “misrepresented”
the comments by Thom Hunt and Urban Metrics Rowan Faludi

——————————

Before you this evening is the Official Plan Report - a document that
exemplifies the very reasons that I chose to become involved in my community
and scaledown.ca. You have qualified analytical consultants and city
administrators confirming what Chris Holt, James Coulter and I have been
saying day-after-day for the past 18 months. The question becomes .. NOW,
will you take a stand?

In clarifying my presence here tonight .. which “HAT” am I wearing:

Scaledown

Mission:           To promote the cultural identity, social fabric and
economic prosperity of Windsor, Ontario through open discussion and
grass-roots advocacy.

Vision:             To connect every Windsorite to their own walkable
neighbourhood that has its own public spaces, vibrant local independent businesses
and artists.

For several years, I have listened to and heard professionals from the
International Downtown Association, CEO’s for Cities, Project for Public
Spaces and The Brookings Institute. All of these experts have recommended that the key to
revitalization is to fix your core and create great neighborhoods 

It is now time to follow their recommendations. Many complain about the
costs involved in hiring consultants and experts, and the time spent
preparing studies and developing long-term plans. They’re only a waste of
money if you ignore their advice. If you embrace and act on their
recommendations, it can and should be the best investment we’ve yet seen.

And then along comes the Official Plan Review. You now have a choice. To ACT
on it or not. To ADOPT and follow its recommendations, or not. I tell you
this, what you have before you is nothing less than the choosing between
right and wrong. This may seem melodramatic but this
is about our future, this is about doing what’s right.

Very simply, the consultants, professionals, experts and the City’s own
planning department have said:

1. “Infill residential development, no new greenfield sites.”
2. Residual Market Demand and Impact analyisis - freeze on commercial bldg until 2011 to protect main streets
or until commercial vacancy rates drop below 12% 

The only problem with this is that the target is so low due to Windsor’s
current and short-term economic climate. I understand and appreciate that
our economy plays a major role. However, you need to at least acknowledge
that other areas in Ontario have set targets as high as 40%. In order to
mitigate and address this issue, we need to get specific. We don’t need some
vague wishy-washy target of approximately 10% that affords us some sense of
satisfaction when we come close to achieving it.

What we need is specific unit targets - how many rental units created, how
many vacant units filled, how many single unit development, and how many
condominium units created. And then we need to develop a critical path that
clearly indentifies the tactical deliverables necessary in order to achieve
each individual target. That’s how successful cities fulfill their
objectives. Not by asking whether there are any consequences to missing the
target, and in so doing implying that it’s not something we actually HAVE to
DO but just one of those projects that we need to approval ..simply, a
platitude. This is Windsor’s FUTURE, and every resident and small business
owner is counting on you. Their livelihoods and quality of life depend on
it.

2Residual Market Demand and Impact Analysis - No new commercial building until 2011

Why? We need to scaledown our development. We need to create density in our
core. We need to protect the small businesses on our main streets such as
Ouellette, Pelissier, Wyandotte, Erie, Tecumseh and others.

What is the biggest threat to these businesses? It’s the decrease in
population in the core areas and the creation of new big box retail on the
edges of our City. Is doing the right thing easy? Of course not, but as
Councillors your duty is to make the right decisions.

What are the challenges to doing the right thing? It’s simple, there are
primarily three challenges.

Developers, Lawyers and Engineers . OH MY! 

You have developers in this City that will tell you that you are costing
jobs and that the economy will suffer. The answer to that is that the jobs
created in these big box stores are simply transferred from the closing of
businesses on our main streets. There is a zero sum gain. As far as the
economy goes, the fact is that XX % of monies spent at small businesses stay
within our community versus XX% of monies spent on big box. As you may have
read in this report, big boxes do not integrate into neighbourhoods.

You have the lawyers telling you that this will expose you to OMB
challenges. Well the expertise of the consultants you’ve hired will protect
you from that. Also, just like our border crossing, we need to do the right
thing regardless of the legal ramifications and costs.

You have engineers that will tell you that this will not work if it’s not a
regional approach. Are we going to let towns like Tecumseh, Lakeshore,
Lasalle and Amherstburg dictate our policy? If Windsor doesn’t show
leadership in this region, are we expected to wait for these smaller
communities to lead the way for us? Are they the proverbial tail that wags
the dog?

But most importantly, your consultants and your planning department have
been faced with all three of these challenges. They did not perform their
work in a vacuum. After they were confronted with all of these concerns and
challenges they decided to stick to their guns. Basically what leading
experts as well as your own planning department are saying is:

            We acknowledge that Tecumseh, Lakeshore and Lasalle may not
cooperate - stay the course

§            We acknowledge that new construction jobs will be lost but in
order to protect existing jobs on our main streets -stay the Course

§            We acknowledge that there could be OMB challenges but our
experts who can support their findings in court say - STAY THE COURSE

You now know what you must do. Will you stand firm? Will you do what’s in
the best interests of the residents, small businesses and main streets of
our City? I call out to all small businesses and all residents to pay very
close attention to your actions on this report.

I’m asking you tonight to listen to the experts and your own planning
department. Hear their recommendations and how they’ve addressed the
questions put before them. We’re not breaking any new ground on this issue.
We’re following the same direction as other cities including Kingston,
Ontario.

Infill residential development and protecting our main streets is what
scaledown is all about. It’s the means in which to accomplish our mission
and vision which I believe this Council shares. If there was ever any
misunderstanding or confusion about what our group wants or promotes it’s
sitting right in front of you in this Report.

I’m asking you tonight to THINK OUTSIDE THE BIG BOX.