[Symz]

Update on the Palace/Windsor Star reno. Including pics and a link to a video at the bottom.

It seems they brought in some large steel beams to accommodate some floor changes, with more steel beams going in on Thursday. After that they said they will make a few concrete pours and then following we should see more workers and activity on site.

source: http://www.windsorstar.com/Photos+Construction+Palace/6472312/story.html

http://www.windsorstar.com/6472361.bin?size=620x400s

http://www.windsorstar.com/6472359.bin?size=620x400s

http://www.windsorstar.com/6472350.bin?size=620x400s

http://www.windsorstar.com/6472352.bin?size=620x400s

http://www.windsorstar.com/6472351.bin?size=620x400s

http://www.windsorstar.com/6472354.bin?size=620x400s

http://www.windsorstar.com/6472360.bin?size=620x400s

http://www.windsorstar.com/6472357.bin?size=620x400s

http://www.windsorstar.com/6472353.bin?size=620x400s

video

http://www.windsorstar.com/videos/news/video.html?embedCode=9mZWVoNDpEIDISM3v0UhZm-X-eDbipYH

[RoseCityFreePress]

Good to see work walking along downtown.

[Chadillaccc]

Wonder when we will see the next tower proposed for Windsor?

Any rumours in the mill at present?

[RoseCityFreePress]

Non that I know of, I think we need a new hi-rise condo downtown to 1) help re-populate the core, and 2) provide an alternative to housing for folks with a higher income. No need to send them to the burbs or all the way out to south Windsor.

[north 42]

A new condo tower downtown would give people in the region an option to move to the core that they previously didn't have before, unless they wanted to move into an older existing building. With the popularity of the cluster of condos across from Reaume Park on the Drive, I'm sure there is demand for such an area downtown, with it's waterfront parks and beautiful skyline views. We just need someone with vision to get the ball rolling and test the waters.

[north 42]

I just read in the Star that The stucco exterior of the palace development will be torn down and replaced with the new all glass facade in June. Thank god that awful exterior will be gone before summer, it will make such a difference to that part of Ouellette, a much more modern, clean look.

[Symz]

A new condo tower downtown would give people in the region an option to move to the core that they previously didn't have before, unless they wanted to move into an older existing building. With the popularity of the cluster of condos across from Reaume Park on the Drive, I'm sure there is demand for such an area downtown, with it's waterfront parks and beautiful skyline views. We just need someone with vision to get the ball rolling and test the waters.

The condos across from Reaume Park are very popular, especially with retire-ees and empty-nesters. One of the main things the Riverside condo & Pillette village area have going for it is amenities close by such as pharmacies and clinics which is obviously important to this demographic. Shopping is not too far, but it could be closer. There are also a number of shops in the Pillette Village area and the Old Riverside Town Centre area is bouncing back slowly, mostly due to Pillette Village being more or less filled up at this point.

I think the lots on Riverside opposite the Bert Week's fountain, just west of Parent are prime for condo development. Especially considering now that that stretch of riverfront park has been redone. The area is a little out of the way in terms of walking for any kind of amenities though.

What do you build first? Do you build condos/apartments to attract people with few amenities & businesses close by, or do you promote the businesses etc to relocate there, but having no real population density to support it.

It's like a chicken & egg scenario.

[north 42]

The condos across from Reaume Park are very popular, especially with retire-ees and empty-nesters. One of the main thing the Riverside condo & Pillette village area have going for it is amenities close by such as pharmacies and clinics which is obviously important to this demographic. Shopping is not too far, but it could be closer. There are also a number of shops in the Pillette Village area and the Old Riverside Town Centre area is bouncing back slowly, mostly due to Pillette Village being more or less filled up at this point.

I think the lots on Riverside opposite the Bert Week's fountain, just west of Parent are prime for condo development. Especially considering now that that stretch of riverfront park has been redone. The area is a little out of the way in terms of walking for any kind of amenities though.

What do you build first? Do you build condos/apartments to attract people with few amenities & businesses close by, or do you promote the businesses etc to relocate there, but having no real population density to support it.

It's like a chicken & egg scenario.
I feel the downtown area sells itself when it comes to what it offers, from the view, to the festivals, the riverwalk, restaurants, etc. We just need someone with vision to design a development that is different and exciting, not just the usual, bland design.

[Symz]

I think downtown needs more retail to entice residential development.

[Blitz]

The university has unveiled renderings for its downtown campus set to open Fall 2014!



The preliminary renderings of the University of Windsor’s downtown campus were revealed Wednesday, April 18, by Dr. Alan Wildeman, President and Vice Chancellor, during a media conference in the Windsor Armouries.

“The University of Windsor is creating new spaces where our students, faculty and staff can be engaged in innovative teaching, learning and discovery, and where they can more effectively partner with the arts community and social agencies to make a difference,” said Wildeman. “Just as the new engineering building, innovation centre and the Odette School of Business will create a regional address for innovation at California and Wyandotte, our downtown campus will create an important cultural hub for our community, providing access to services and new ideas that speak to the quality of life, when it opens in the fall of 2014.”

The renderings were created by CS&P Architects Inc., the firm who will be working on all three historic projects; the Windsor Armouries, the Greyhound bus depot and the Windsor Star building. Craig Goodman, Managing Principal for CS&P said, “This exciting new downtown University precinct, based on a collection of three remarkable heritage buildings, is truly inspirational. Each of the buildings harbours a wonderful and unique character that speaks to the history of the city, and offers dynamic synergies for these new exemplary state of the art student environments.”

The Windsor Armouries will be transformed to become the home of the newly merged Schools of Music and Visual Arts. Ample skylights and a vertical addition on the south end of the 110-year old building are just a few of the many changes in store for this Windsor landmark.

The Film Production program will be relocated to the former Greyhound bus depot located directly across University Avenue from the Armouries. The original art-deco façade will be restored and a new one-storey addition will stretch the entire block north to Chatham Street. The Chatham Street Parkette, located on the north side will be recreated as a small outdoor performance and gathering space. Together, the Armouries and bus depot will create a sense of connectivity through shared space, giving students the opportunity to collaborate between the various programs and with the community.

The School of Social Work and the Centre for Professional and Executive Education will move into the Windsor Star building which will undergo a renovation unlike any other architectural design in Windsor.

“The Windsor Star building will receive a dramatic transformation that will leave the historic façades intact, but completely rebuild the structures into new teaching and learning spaces with convenient access for the community,” said Wildeman.

The brick façade of the 1918 apartment building on the south end of the complex facing Ferry Street will remain, and the interior floors will be removed and recreated as a landscaped courtyard that will be open to the sky. The historic limestone façade at the corner of Pitt and Ferry streets will also be left in its original state, but will see an entirely new building built behind it with a three-storey atrium and a rooftop terrace. The structure facing Pitt Street will be renovated into classrooms, offices and student lounge space featuring glass-paneled walls that open like garage doors.

The parking lot currently located at the northwest corner of Ferry and Chatham streets may be developed into a new building as future demand grows for these programs.

In addition to a provincial government investment of $15 million, the City of Windsor donated the Armouries and the Greyhound Bus Depot, as well as $10 million in funding to assist the University in creating its downtown campus.

The remaining funding for these capital projects, which are expected to total approximately $70 million, is separate from the University’s operating budget and will be supported through program revenues and fundraising. Dr. Wildeman explained, “We have taken a long time to develop a capital plan that will see us elevate our University to a new level, and does not burden our operating budget which of course continues to be constrained during these times of austerity.”


A bird's eye view of the armouries, the bus depot and the adjacent parkette:
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e211/mark_81/windsor-exterior-3-28-01-1.jpg

The exterior of the Windsor Star showing the corner view, which preserves the historic limestone façade and adds a completely new building behind it:
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e211/mark_81/windsor20Star-10-20-01_latest20from20Sam-lighter-1.jpg

The exterior view of the parkette also showing the Chatham Street façade of the bus depot:
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e211/mark_81/View01-1.jpg

The interior of the Windsor Star is brightened by a courtyard with a three-storey open-air atrium:
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e211/mark_81/UWS-View02-Final02Courtyard-1.jpg

The interior of the Windsor Star showing the open "garage door" space and span of windows along Pitt Street:
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e211/mark_81/UWS-View01-Final02Pitt20Street20interior-1.jpg

[Symz]

:previous:

Ok, found the site. Nice find Blitz! Pretty exciting actually. Add in the newly renovated Palace building ala Windsor Star and I think University and Oullette area is getting a huge boost! Same with the old Windsor Star building. Very nice.

[north 42]

Wow, these renderings look great, I can't wait for these renovations to begin. These renovated heritage buildings will really add some interest to the streetscape downtown, great stuff, the core will really feel quite different once everything is done.

[Jacob]

Now the question becomes, how long will all this development take to be completed? Hopefully, they are interested in having this completed as soon as possible. Does anyone know if the downtown Windsor Market thing is still going to happen?

[Symz]

Now the question becomes, how long will all this development take to be completed? Hopefully, they are interested in having this completed as soon as possible. Does anyone know if the downtown Windsor Market thing is still going to happen?

It's going to take some time before the Windsor Star vacates the property on Ferry street. The Palace renovations are just getting under way. I'm not sure when the other locations start either.

[RoseCityFreePress]

I like how the U will be building a whole new building next to the brick Windsor star Expantion to the south and from one of the renderings of the atrium, it looks like that brick building attached to the south side of the star will be torn down completely with just the facade remaining. It's looks like a really cool project and it save a little historical element of downtown.

[Symz]

I'm glad there is a lot of open glass on the Pitt street side of the building. Currently there are a number of old steel garage doors, coupled with poor street interaction of the back of the Cleary and Hilton buildings along Pitt that stretch of road is currently a pedestrian wasteland. It's a depressing stretch to walk down with literally nothing going on or to look at. I think the inclusion of large glass windows that open to the street will really liven up that stretch of downtown. It is much needed.

I'm also glad to see they're going to be filling out the the block at that location as well by building a glass addition to the south side of the Ferry street block, near Victoria. Currently there are 2 parking lots on that side of the block and it feels like a bit of a wasteland as well.

These are definitely good projects and I can't wait to see them start. They need to start SOON!!!!

For the Armouries you'll notice they are making a 1 storey addition on the south side of the building along Freedom Way, but close to tunnel BBQ. If there's a second entrance to the building here as well I think that will give a little more pedestrian street presence on Freedom Way.

It's all very exciting!

[north 42]

Now the question becomes, how long will all this development take to be completed? Hopefully, they are interested in having this completed as soon as possible. Does anyone know if the downtown Windsor Market thing is still going to happen?

They said that everything would be finished and ready for 2014 school year, so fall 2014.

I heard they are still working out the details on the market, so let's keep our fingers crossed that a deal can be made and signed soon.

[Blitz]

The university is purposely not building any cafes or food kiosks in these buildings (in order to force students and staff to support neighbouring downtown businesses).

[cbyrne2014]

Wonder when we will see the next tower proposed for Windsor?

Any rumours in the mill at present?

No rumours I can think of, but you would think Farhi is well positioned to initiate this kind of investment with the property he owns. Though, from what I have read in the London forums, he doesn't seem to be the guy to take a risk. There have been two recent London developments that have been very successful -- the Renaissance and the Harriston -- but neither were led by Farhi and if I remember correctly, before these developments were started, he was quoted as saying the downtown residential market in London was already saturated.

I think at some point in time he was quoted in the Windsor Star as saying he has big plans for his Windsor properties. But if all the good happening in downtown Windsor right now isn't enough to persuade Farhi to take a risk, I don't know that he ever will.

[Jacob]

and yet ANOTHER plaza for Windsor. This one will be an A&W restaurant and two retail stores:

Plans are in the works for a new A&W drive-thru restaurant, and two retail stores in front of Walker Road’s Canadian Tire.

AMT Walker Development Corporation is planning to construct a 140,145 square foot commercial plaza on vacant land that sits on the edge of Walker Road.

The new plaza will feature 13,587 square foot of landscaped space, 89 parking spots and will house 16,056 square feet of commercial floor area.

Construction is expected to get underway later this season

READ MORE: http://windsorite.ca/2012/04/new-aw-plaza-planned-for-vacant-land-in-front-of-walker-road-canadian-tire/

[Symz]

Jeeze, I posted about the plaza at the same time as you I guess. I posted it on a new page not knowing about your post because it had pushed me to a new page.

Anyways, yes, another plaza. Maybe if we're lucky all the empty undeveloped lots in the city will eventually get filled up? Then maybe they'll have to go downtown at some point. lol

[north 42]

Walked by the aquatics centre today and noticed that they were pouring cement in forms in the excavated area where the basement should be. I assume this means that The project is now in the construction phase. It'll be interesting to watch this one go up.

[Symz]

I'm not even sure the aquatics centre has a basement. I think they removed most of the basement to save costs because originally both proposals were well over the allotted budget so they took out the basement and a tornado type slide.

They may have been excavating the concrete tub the Italian stainless steel pool will sit in.

[Symz]

There's some activity in the old Shoppers building near me in Riverside. It has sat empty since a small grocery store 'Priced Right Foods' closed within a year of opening. It seems now the space is being divided and renovated into 2 potential businesses spaces.

[north 42]

I'm not even sure the aquatics centre has a basement. I think they removed most of the basement to save costs because originally both proposals were well over the allotted budget so they took out the basement and a tornado type slide.

They may have been excavating the concrete tub the Italian stainless steel pool will sit in.

Yeah, it wasn't a big area, I'm just happy to actual construction starting.

[Symz]

:previous:

I wanted to take a drive downtown while I was out today and try and snap some more pictures but it's cold and windy out today!

I'm really getting excited about all the projects for downtown, but I wish they would move faster! Like you said we won't see the exterior of the Palace :yuck: torn off until June. We won't see the university renovations for quite some time because the Windsor Star has to move out of their old place and into the Palace first. So it's all going to take time, but I think when everything is done downtown is going to feel quite a bit different!

[north 42]

:previous:

I wanted to take a drive downtown while I was out today and try and snap some more pictures but it's cold and windy out today!

I'm really getting excited about all the projects for downtown, but I wish they would move faster! Like you said we won't see the exterior of the Palace :yuck: torn off until June. We won't see the university renovations for quite some time because the Windsor Star has to move out of their old place and into the Palace first. So it's all going to take time, but I think when everything is done downtown is going to feel quite a bit different!

I know, I find it very frustrating to have to wait for these projects to start, I feel like a kids at Christmas waiting to open my presents. I'll feel much better once the Barn project gets started, I hate not knowing if projects will actually happen.

[Symz]

Dwight Duncan and the Liberals are floating around the idea of building a new, modern mega-hospital in Windsor to replace our 2 ageing hospitals.

Some links discussing the topic.

http://www.windsorstar.com/news/Does+Windsor+need+want+Mega+Hospital/6494968/story.html

A poll is located at this link
http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2012/04/20/poll-question-do-you-favour-merging-windsors-two-hospitals-into-one-mega-hospital/

http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2012/04/22/duncan-appeals-to-med-students/

[RoseCityFreePress]

Its a neat idea to have one massive hospital. It would probably be more cost efficient and provide better service but where would it go? how far would it be away from the east or west side of the city. and what would happen to the two remaining hospital.

[north 42]

Its a neat idea to have one massive hospital. It would probably be more cost efficient and provide better service but where would it go? how far would it be away from the east or west side of the city. and what would happen to the two remaining hospital.

This is also a concern of mine as well, It would have to built within city limits, not in the county. Then what to do with the two remaining hospital sites once the new one is built. We certainly don't need two more Grace sites in the city, slowly falling apart and not getting redeveloped. I do think a new, modern, massive regional hospital would be great for the whole Windsor-Essex region, especially with the medical school here and in trying to attract the best doctors as well.

[RoseCityFreePress]

the only places that i can think that a massive hospital would fit in city limits would be in the old rail yards. then again i donk know how much they are still used.

[north 42]

the only places that i can think that a massive hospital would fit in city limits would be in the old rail yards. then again i donk know how much they are still used.

If we could finally get that Zalev Brothers scrapyard moved and cleaned up, I feel that it would make a great new hospital site, a very central location right off the expressway. I doubt that will happen any time soon though.

[Symz]

If we could finally get that Zalev Brothers scrapyard moved and cleaned up, I feel that it would make a great new hospital site, a very central location right off the expressway. I doubt that will happen any time soon though.

:previous:

It's going to take a lot of money and political will to evict Zalev's and clean up that site. The site is a good size though and centrally located (within the city).

On the Windsor star website people are saying if it was built that it should be built out near Lakeshore/Tecumseh and I say NOT! It should be in the city.

[north 42]

:previous:

It's going to take a lot of money and political will to evict Zalev's and clean up that site. The site is a good size though and centrally located (within the city).

On the Windsor star website people are saying if it was built that it should be built out near Lakeshore/Tecumseh and I say NOT! It should be in the city.

Absolutely in the city. We are the major municipality in the region, so it should stay here. Plus, it should be close to the medical school, not out in the burbs.

It kills me when people flee the city for the burbs, then demand city services, as if they still lived in the city. Sorry, but you made the choice to move to the boonies, too bad.

[cbyrne2014]

I think a new, single mega-hospital would be fantastic for the community in Windsor, though the location is also a concern of mine.

I am a medical student in London and have gotten the chance to work in some of the brand new facilities here and they are outstanding for staff and patients alike. There are many problems with having two major hospitals in a city, particularly when they are governed separately as is the case with WRH and Hotel-Dieu. Duplication of services is one problem, but another is the lack of services when they are needed. Precious time is lost when the patient who requires neurosurgery or cardiac catheterization shows up to the emergency room at the hospital that does not offer the needed service.

I think it is easy to get caught up in the whole 'Windsor used to have four hospitals and now we're only going to have one' thing, but I encourage those naysayers to walk through some of the new facilities that have been built in the province if you get the chance. They are remarkable and no doubt improve patient comfort and safety.

[Blitz]

My first thought for location was Zalev's as well though cleaning that mess up would be an ordeal. There's no way in hell it should go anywhere but the city. Hospitals should be built taking population density in mind. Insane to hear some people think it should go in Tecumseh.

[Symz]

Take a tour of Windsor's newest fire station.

Fire station #7. Is a LEED certified building.

http://windsorite.ca/2012/04/photos-new-windsor-fire-station-7-is-in-service/

[Riversideguy]

Best options I can think of would be on Drouillard Road. It is located in a central area, alot of vacant land, and it might improve the image of the area.

I guess we will see. I do agree that it should not and I believe swill not be in tecumseh for the reasons of it will have to be on a bus route (and we all know that mess).

[north 42]

Best options I can think of would be on Drouillard Road. It is located in a central area, alot of vacant land, and it might improve the image of the area.

I guess we will see. I do agree that it should not and I believe swill not be in tecumseh for the reasons of it will have to be on a bus route (and we all know that mess).

There is already a hospital in the county in Leamington, so the new regional hospital should definitely be in the city. It would make no sense to have 2 hospitals in the county and none in Windsor.

[RoseCityFreePress]

what about the Glengerry Projects. I know its been an area that the city would like to improve. I think that whole area could fit a new hospital and the abandoned blocks around that area housing things such a parking granges. just a thought.

[Symz]

The aquatic centre may get some solar panels.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/story/2012/04/25/wdr-aquatic-centre-solar-panels.html

Windsor's new aquatic centre will have solar panels on the roof.

Coun. Drew Dilkens, who chairs the committee overseeing construction, said the city will spend $255,000 to strengthen the building's support to accommodate solar panels.

Dilkens said it won't add to the cost of the project.

"We found those savings directly as a result of some sewer work that we didn't have to undertake but was part of the budget," Dilkens said. "So at the end of the day, it doesn't increase the overall project cost."

That overall cost is $77 million.

[cbyrne2014]

what about the Glengerry Projects. I know its been an area that the city would like to improve. I think that whole area could fit a new hospital and the abandoned blocks around that area housing things such a parking granges. just a thought.

That would be something!

[Riversideguy]

what about the Glengerry Projects. I know its been an area that the city would like to improve. I think that whole area could fit a new hospital and the abandoned blocks around that area housing things such a parking granges. just a thought.


That to would be a great location and you can not get more central than downtown.

[north 42]

I honestly don't think that the Glengary site would be big enough for a new mega hospital, plus I don't know if there is the political will to make it happen. I would love for the entire Glengary complex to be demolished regardless though, putting a bunch of low income housing in one location, like Glengary is such outdated thinking.

[Symz]

I was bored today so while I was thinking about all the things that are going to be going on downtown I was thinking about how screwed up the road system downtown is going to be.

So I made a map. I marked the roads that are 1 ways green with arrows indicating their directions, 2 way roads are yellow, and I omitted sections of Pitt, Chatham, and Goyeau that are either already closed off permanently or will be (once the tunnel expansion starts).

I also marked off a few things for easier referencing and marked some of the new stuff that's going to be happening, but my main emphasis was to look at the road network in downtown Windsor.

This was my end result.
http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff452/Khenic2/Newdowntownroads.jpg

The more I look at it the more I think that getting around downtown is going to be reall screwy now, especially for someone not from here.

Some roads might be changing. I believe Park will become a 2 way between Ouellette & Freedom Way (currently it is a one way going left to Ouellette and a 2 way going right to Goyeau). Also it's possible City Hall Square will become a 2 way.

[north 42]

I was bored today so while I was thinking about all the things that are going to be going on downtown I was thinking about how screwed up the road system downtown is going to be.

So I made a map. I marked the roads that are 1 ways green with arrows indicating their directions, 2 way roads are yellow, and I omitted sections of Pitt, Chatham, and Goyeau that are either already closed off permanently or will be (once the tunnel expansion starts).

I also marked off a few things for easier referencing and marked some of the new stuff that's going to be happening, but my main emphasis was to look at the road network in downtown Windsor.

This was my end result.
http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff452/Khenic2/Newdowntownroads.jpg

The more I look at it the more I think that getting around downtown is going to be reall screwy now, especially for someone not from here.

Some roads might be changing. I believe Park will become a 2 way between Ouellette & Freedom Way (currently it is a one way going left to Ouellette and a 2 way going right to Goyeau). Also it's possible City Hall Square will become a 2 way.

Yeah, both Freedom Way and Park are both turning into two way streets, I read that in the Windsor Star.I mean City Hall Square, not Freedom Way.

[Symz]

Small update on the aquatic centre and the Palace/Windsor Star renovation

pics by me

aquatic centre

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff452/Khenic2/DSCF4921b.jpg

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff452/Khenic2/DSCF4924b.jpg

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff452/Khenic2/DSCF4926b.jpg


The Palace renovation. Still not much to see at the moment other than the hole in the side of the building is larger. If you look closely though you can see the new, levelled floor they are installing because the former theatre had sloped floors.

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff452/Khenic2/DSCF4931b.jpg

[RoseCityFreePress]

Its nice to see the Aquatic Centre with more heavy equipment on site and structure starting to form. Did the Palace project start before or after the aquatic centre?

[north 42]

Its nice to see the Aquatic Centre with more heavy equipment on site and structure starting to form. Did the Palace project start before or after the aquatic centre?

The Palace started first.

[Symz]

I'm really hoping at some point Windsor can see some downtown residential intensification much like downtown London is seeing. Residential is key.

[RoseCityFreePress]

I'm really hoping at some point Windsor can see some downtown residential intensification much like downtown London is seeing. Residential is key.

very true, When i think of The Barn turning into a mall/market i wonder if there are enough people in the area to make it lucrative enough for big name stores to open. someone who lives in south windsor or FG will probably not drive all the way downtown for shopping, this is where residential development in the core will be badly needed. At a minimum, i think that a new UWindsor/St.Clair downtown res building should be built.

[Symz]

very true, When i think of The Barn turning into a mall/market i wonder if there are enough people in the area to make it lucrative enough for big name stores to open. someone who lives in south windsor or FG will probably not drive all the way downtown for shopping, this is where residential development in the core will be badly needed. At a minimum, i think that a new UWindsor/St.Clair downtown res building should be built.

A downtown res for students would be nice. If I'm not mistaken though I think there is a lot of cheap rental units downtown already? Whether or not there's availability is the other question.

The U needs to figure something out in terms of students potentially having classes in both the downtown campuses and the core campus near Wyandotte W. A shuttle service would be nice.

[north 42]

very true, When i think of The Barn turning into a mall/market i wonder if there are enough people in the area to make it lucrative enough for big name stores to open. someone who lives in south windsor or FG will probably not drive all the way downtown for shopping, this is where residential development in the core will be badly needed. At a minimum, i think that a new UWindsor/St.Clair downtown res building should be built.

I read that the developers of the barn want to make it a regional attraction that will even draw people from the burbs and county. The wife said she want's to create a unique space that we don't have in Windsor, more on the line of St Lawrence market in Toronto, so I feel that if it is done right, it can bring in people from all over the region.

I agree though that we need new residential in the core to get things going, highrise and new brownstones.

[Blitz]

Something needs to be done about Glengarry, it's a huge cancer to that area and might keep the Barn from succeeding as much as it could. The difference in London is that there aren't really that many low income neighbourhoods around the core in London and there certainly aren't any gigantic housing projects like Glengarry nearby.

[Symz]

Something needs to be done about Glengarry, it's a huge cancer to that area and might keep the Barn from succeeding as much as it could. The difference in London is that there aren't really that many low income neighbourhoods around the core in London and there certainly aren't any gigantic housing projects like Glengarry nearby.

There are a lot of low income families in Windsor though.

[north 42]

There are a lot of low income families in Windsor though.

I think most of the low income families are located in the centre of the city. Windsor actually has a higher average family income than most cities in the province, and as such could support a high end market in the core, if we could only get them to come to the core and spend some of their money.

[Symz]

I think most of the low income families are located in the centre of the city. Windsor actually has a higher average family income than most cities in the province, and as such could support a high end market in the core, if we could only get them to come to the core and spend some of their money.

Right now there is not much desire for the people with money to come into the city and spend when they have a wider selection of stores/boutiques etc on either the fringes of the city or the outskirts of the city (Manning Rd, Walker Rd, etc). There's lots of free parking in these areas as well. No wonder downtown can't compete.

I go downtown all the time and I have high hopes for downtown but downtown has a long way to go. Sometimes I go downtown and think 'things are picking up' and sometimes I go downtown and think 'downtown is still in rough shape with nothing to offer'. I see more people walking around downtown during the day than I did 10 years ago but I still see the same number of empty shops.

[north 42]

Right now there is not much desire for the people with money to come into the city and spend when they have a wider selection of stores/boutiques etc on either the fringes of the city or the outskirts of the city (Manning Rd, Walker Rd, etc). There's lots of free parking in these areas as well. No wonder downtown can't compete.

I go downtown all the time and I have high hopes for downtown but downtown has a long way to go. Sometimes I go downtown and think 'things are picking up' and sometimes I go downtown and think 'downtown is still in rough shape with nothing to offer'. I see more people walking around downtown during the day than I did 10 years ago but I still see the same number of empty shops.

I feel the same way about downtown progress, at times it seems like it's getting better, and at other times I feel like it's going backwards. The only way the core will be able to compete with the suburbs and outskirts of the city is to offer something completely different to what they offer. I feel that if more bars and restaurants opened up more sidewalk patios that it would create a great vibe and bring in more people and traffic. The burbs can't offer the urban feel that the core can, and I think that is what will initially help kickstart the rebirth of downtown. It works every time there is a festival going on in the summer.

Too bad Festival Epicure is being cancelled this year, it's one of my favourite festivals in the city, and always brought in a nice, upscale crowd.

[Symz]

:previous:

Do you have any idea of why the Festival Epicure is cancelled this year? That's a bit of a surprise to me!

Combine this with the fact that there is no Windsor air show this year and there's a big dent in summer activities for this area.

[RoseCityFreePress]

it would be great if downtown could get two or three major retail stores to move in. Stores that would normally set up shop in malls. I think that could be a big turning point for retail development in the core.

[north 42]

:previous:

Do you have any idea of why the Festival Epicure is cancelled this year? That's a bit of a surprise to me!

Combine this with the fact that there is no Windsor air show this year and there's a big dent in summer activities for this area.

No, I didn't hear why it is cancelled, just that this year wasn't gonna happen. We defiantly need more festivals to keep things hopping downtown during the warm months, since we now don't have Epicure, Red Bull Air Races and the Air Show anymore. hopefully Epicure returns next year.

[Symz]

Some Breaking News

source: http://windsorite.ca/2012/05/breaking-news-mayor-eddie-francis-signs-deal-for-all-electric-buses-for-transit-windsor/

Some economic and environment breaking news late this Friday evening. Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis has signed a letter of intent to purchase up to ten, BYD 40-foot electric buses for Transit Windsor. This will make Windsor the first City in North America to launch long-range, all-electric buses.

This agreement also opens talks to bring manufacturing of BYD buses to the Ontario region in the near future. As well, because of tunnel bus service to Detroit, the launch into this market serves on both Canadian and United States’ roads.

“One of our primary goals was to position Windsor among the first cities in North America to pioneer the efficient use of electric buses within its public transit authority and to establish Windsor as a hub for the development, manufacture and commercialization of energy products including electric buses.” said Stella Li, President of BYD Motors.

Senior Vice President of BYD Ltd stated, “BYD has been delighted to see Windsor’s leadership, especially that of Mayor Eddie Francis and his Transit and Enwin Utilities team members. They truly have an understanding of the responsibility of government to drive not only economic recovery of our cities and Nations, but to do so while not harming the environment.”

The BYD Iron-Phosphate batteries used in these electric buses are the only rechargeable battery systems that contain no heavy metals, toxic electrolytes or use caustic materials in their production, making the BYD batteries the most environmentally friendly batteries available in the market. Additionally, BYD and Enwin are working towards having a master plan to repurpose the Windsor bus batteries into fixed Energy Storage Stations when the buses retire (in 12 to 15 years).

Mayor Eddie Francis stated, “One of our primary goals was to position Windsor among the first cities in North America to pioneer the efficient use of electric buses within its public transit authority and to establish Windsor as a hub for the development, manufacture and commercialization of energy products including electric buses.”


I believe these are the buses they will be purchasing.

http://image2.aving.net/2012/03/29/201203291944283640.jpg
pic source: http://us.aving.net/news/view.php?articleId=243293

This is interesting news. This doesn't quite translate yet into a bus factory that the mayor is trying to lure here, but it looks more like it's heading that way than when the story first broke 2 months ago.

[north 42]

it would be great if downtown could get two or three major retail stores to move in. Stores that would normally set up shop in malls. I think that could be a big turning point for retail development in the core.

That would be great, and would change the face of the core, but I don't see that happening anytime soon unfortunately. American Apparel was a failure when it set up shop on Pellissier St a few years ago because people didn't come down and support it. It had a loyal following, but not enough people were drawn there because of very little advertising and not many other stores around to be a big enough draw.
I'm sure if there were a few major stores downtown, it would be on the radar of more shoppers in the city. We need someone in the city working on bringing in retail to the core because I don't think it's gonna happen by itself.

[Symz]

We need someone in the city working on bringing in retail to the core because I don't think it's gonna happen by itself.

Didn't the mayor concoct another Retail Development Committee? I believe it was in his state of the city address.

It would be nice if we could enjoy the same successes in our downtown that London is enjoying. They're seeing urban intensification and residential development in their core. Two weeks Urban Outfitters announced they're opening a retail location in their core so that's a big boost for them! Windsor has a long way to go and the mayor and council need to work harder at reviving downtown and luring jobs to the city.

[north 42]

Some Breaking News

source: http://windsorite.ca/2012/05/breaking-news-mayor-eddie-francis-signs-deal-for-all-electric-buses-for-transit-windsor/




I believe these are the buses they will be purchasing.

http://image2.aving.net/2012/03/29/201203291944283640.jpg
pic source: http://us.aving.net/news/view.php?articleId=243293

This is interesting news. This doesn't quite translate yet into a bus factory that the mayor is trying to lure here, but it looks more like it's heading that way than when the story first broke 2 months ago.
Hopefully this will lead to a factory here for production of these buses, they look great, and hopefully will sell well in North America.

[Symz]

Hello U of W shuttle?

[RoseCityFreePress]

Hello U of W shuttle?

Let's hope

[Symz]

I'm surprised but not surprised. Everyone commenting on the Windsor Star has nothing positive to say about this story, nothing.

[north 42]

I'm surprised but not surprised. Everyone commenting on the Windsor Star has nothing positive to say about this story, nothing.

Most people commenting in the Windsor Star usually never have anything good to say about anything related to Eddie, so I'm not surprised. Their commenting section is always overtaken by trolls who have an agenda to bring down the mayor, so i could care less what they have to say, to be honest.

[Symz]

:previous:

Well someone did make a good point in saying that it seems Windsor is buying into this company as opposed to them buying into Wiindsor. We are purchasing 10 of their buses and letting them test their LED lights in the city which 'opens the doors to negotiations'. I thought we were already negotiating?

The point is, we are putting our necks out on the line, let's hope it pays off.

[cbyrne2014]

:previous:

Well someone did make a good point in saying that it seems Windsor is buying into this company as opposed to them buying into Wiindsor. We are purchasing 10 of their buses and letting them test their LED lights in the city which 'opens the doors to negotiations'. I thought we were already negotiating?

The point is, we are putting our necks out on the line, let's hope it pays off.

I have faith in Eddie Francis. If BYD doesn't end up working out, it would be a huge embarrassment for him politically.

I hope BYD has a legitimate North American business plan. Windsor has seen it's fair share of green energy businesses that rely far too much on government incentives.

[north 42]

I have faith in Eddie Francis. If BYD doesn't end up working out, it would be a huge embarrassment for him politically.

I hope BYD has a legitimate North American business plan. Windsor has seen it's fair share of green energy businesses that rely far too much on government incentives.

I have faith in Eddie as well, and he is making decisions in the best interest of the city and it's residents. Not every endeavor is going to work out for everyone, if you don't take risks, you don't get the big paybacks by being one of the first to get in early. I'm just happy that the mayor isn't just sitting back and waiting for industry to come calling like in the old days. He's aggressively going after investment, while at the same time selling the city to the world and changing the perception that has plagued us for decades. He knows what he's doing and I fully support him.

[Symz]

I have faith in Eddie too but he needs to start generating actual jobs since he is often talking about 'potential' opportunities. Myself I have a job and I haven't had to endure the agony of the high unemployment in this city but people are getting anxious and they want to see results from the mayor that talks a lot about 'potential' opportunities. The natives are restless and more and more every day I see people turning on the mayor and council for lack of job results and all the Tom Foolery going on in city council, AG, library board etc.

I talk to people who 2 years ago were 100% behind Eddie but now are beginning to have doubts and ask questions. I hope that BYD sets up shop here, but as of now with this announcement the only that is guaranteed is that the city is dishing out money to buy 10 electric buses.

[Symz]

A couple questions.

1. Does anyone know what is going on with the Paul Martin building renovation? They've had the side walk hoarding along Ouellette for over a year now and yet every time I'm downtown I NEVER see anyone working on the building.

2. Two years ago the local media announced that Investors Group was going to be moving into the downtown core occupying the long vacant first floor of the Chrysler building.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/story/2010/04/20/wdr-investors-group-chrysler-100420.html

Well, the 2 year mark has come and gone and I see no indication of anything happening in the building at all and yet we've had to look at stickers plastered on the windows saying 'Future Home of Investors Group' for 2 years. After all this time it's beginning to seem laughable as though it's not going to happen. I can't believe what a boondoggle that whole building has been. Going from a 32 storey tower (proposed to be the tallest tower in Ontario west of Toronto) to a little embarrassing stump that has sat half empty for almost 10 years and we had to sacrifice a well established city block for this building in which 3/4 of the area of the block is occupied by a dressed up parking garage.

So many developments in this city seemed half assed at times.

[north 42]

:previous:

I'm pretty sure that the hoarding is up now just to protect people from falling chunks. I'm not sure when work is supposed to begin again to finally fix the facade though.
As for the Investors Group, I'm pretty sure I read that they would begin construction sometime this year. I think it was in the Star a while ago.
I get frustrated too waiting for so many of these projects to get started. Hopefully this year will see most of them begin construction.

[RoseCityFreePress]

:previous:

I'm pretty sure that the hoarding is up now just to protect people from falling chunks. I'm not sure when work is supposed to begin again to finally fix the facade though.
As for the Investors Group, I'm pretty sure I read that they would begin construction sometime this year. I think it was in the Star a while ago.
I get frustrated too waiting for so many of these projects to get started. Hopefully this year will see most of them begin construction.

From what i understand the investors group is waiting for the lease on there current building to expire before moving downtown. if i remember right when the story broke in the star, IG still had about 2 years left on there lease, so it should be in this year that they start to get the move underway?

[Jacob]

The new electric buses will be really nice to see in Windsor and will really help the transit company's image. What i think Windsor really needs right now is more things like this to help our image. Currently Windsor is commonly believed to be the third most polluted city in the western hemisphere after Sao Paulo, Brazil and Mexico city, Mexico. This really isn't the case however, yet we still receive a large amount of negative publicity over this.

[Symz]

Currently Windsor is commonly believed to be the third most polluted city in the western hemisphere after Sao Paulo, Brazil and Mexico city, Mexico. This really isn't the case however, yet we still receive a large amount of negative publicity over this.

We are? This is news to me. I could think of other cities in the America's that would be more polluted than Windsor. Los Angeles off the top of my mind, or other cities in California like Scremento, even cities like Phoenix Arizona. How about a large city like Philidelphia or Pittsburgh, Cleveland or Cincinatti. How about cities in Ontario like Sarnia or Toronto? The Fraser valley in BC?

This is the first time I've heard someone lump Windsor in with cities like Mexico City. I think the buses might help the image of Transit Windsor but I'm unsure at this point how much they're really going to help transit Windsor overall in terms of ridership. I know that basically it seems like we're playing into this company buying some of their buses in the hopes they'll be nice enough to put a factory here and even then buying the buses doesn't guarantee us that, it just gets us 10 electric buses.

[Blitz]

There are a lot of low income families in Windsor though.

There are actually a higher percentage of low income families in London. What I'm saying though is that London has done a better job of planning such that low income areas are scattered all throughout the city. In Windsor, they are more heavily concentrated in huge projects.


Jacob, that statement about pollution is a bit outrageous to say the least. There are dozens of cities within a day's drive (especially in Appalachia) that are more polluted due to their type of industry, coal power plants, etc.

[RoseCityFreePress]

one of the big problems with trying to clear Glengerry is finding alternative housing. You cant really perform a mass eviction without creating a place for those people to move to. In order to clear out Glengerry for a Hospital or any other project the city or province will need to basically build a new low income housing project or subdivision elsewhere in the City.

[Symz]

There are actually a higher percentage of low income families in London. What I'm saying though is that London has done a better job of planning such that low income areas are scattered all throughout the city. In Windsor, they are more heavily concentrated in huge projects.



The Glengarry housing project may 'seem' big in terms of the space it occupies but it's not very dense. I don't even think it's that big personally but think that maybe due to it's location it seems big relative to the size of our downtown. I would find it hard to believe that a city like London doesn't have low income housing areas the size of Glengarry, there are only 12 buildings that make up the Glengarry block, 7 of them being single storey row houses.

Glengarry does not bother me like it appears to bother you guys as much. I generally find the area quiet and more or less well kept. There are other parts of downtown that look more trashy and run down in my opinion.

[Jacob]

I know windsor is not the most polluted in Canada, i'm saying it is quite commonly believed to be. We have the most smog days yes, but we still don't have the worst pollution, that award goes to Sarnia, ON. As for other US cities, they may have worse air pollution but we have that Detroit river over there :yuck: As for the buses, anyone that ever uses the buses in Windsor will know that some of our older vehicles are terrible, they are noisy, smelly and shaky. I see the bus buying deal in two ways, first, the city kissing BYD's @** and secondly, potentially ten nice new buses for Windsor :D .

[Symz]

@ Jacob: The new buses supposedly have 17 seats on them, do you have any ideas how this compares to the cities current buses in terms of passenger seating capacity? Some people are speculating that it's less seats than the current models, but I've seen the inside of some of the buses, especially the ones that are low to the ground and to me it seems like they'd probably have a comparable number of seats to these BYD electrics.

[Symz]

source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/story/2012/05/10/wdr-capitol-theatre-update.html


Renovation of Capitol Theatre a month away

The Capitol Theatre in downtown Windsor will close at the end of May.

It will then undergo $1.8 million dollars of repairs and renovations to get it ready for the Windsor Symphony Orchestra.

Symphony executive director Jeth Mill said they're working under a tight timeline. The first symphony performance is planned for late September.

"They include repairing the roof, repairing the west wall, which was damaged by water infiltration, repairing the heating and air conditioning units on the roof," Mill said. "And then, they're doing some re-modelling of the stage house area and the offices to make it more suitable for the use as a concert hall for the symphony."

The City of Windsor will pay for the renovations. The symphony will lease and run the Capitol for at least the next 10 years.

"I think this three-block area from the armouries up to Victoria is going to be an extremely vibrant part of downtown when you think about the school of music and art and film from the university moving into the armouries," Mill said. "With all that is going to be happening here at the Capitol, this is going to be the epicentre of arts and culture."

[Symz]

Aquatic Centre update, pics by me. There was also something going on at one of the condo buildings as well, possibly swapping out an AC unit or something that required a crane.

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff452/Khenic2/DSCF4940.jpg

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff452/Khenic2/DSCF4935.jpg

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff452/Khenic2/DSCF4937.jpg

You can see the empty Grace Hospital in the background of the last picture.

[RoseCityFreePress]

Has anyone driven by the W-E parkway lately? How is the excavation coming along?

[north 42]

Has anyone driven by the W-E parkway lately? How is the excavation coming along?

We drove by last weekend and there was quite a bit done already, some of the overpasses were done, and you could see the below grade roadbed under them was all dug out. Looks like things are moving quickly for this project.

[Symz]

Near Ojibway parkway you can see massive hills of dirt as they are getting ready to eventually build an overpass that will lead to the future bridge.

[Symz]

source:
http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2012/05/16/st-clair-college-plans-further-expansion-downtown/

St. Clair College is poised to expand its footprint in the downtown core with another announcement in the next couple months, said John Strasser, the college’s president on Wednesday.

While he was short on specifics, there have long been suggestions the college will take over the former TD bank building on the corner of University Avenue and Victoria Avenue which sits across the street from its Mediaplex.

“In the matter of the next 60 days you will be hearing more announcements in downtown core,” he said. “Because we have (the Mediaplex and St. Clair Centre for the Arts) it’s leading to other things.

“We want to create having more students in the same area we have them now. It will be staying within the footprint that we have now.”

Strasser refered to further expansion downtown while accepting a $50,000 from the Windsor Downtown Business Improvement Association (DWBIA) for the Mediaplex.

It was a previous commitment made by the DWBIA under its facade improvement program which led to such a lavish exterior being created during construction two years ago that includes a living foliage wall and extensive signage.

The Mediaplex opened two years ago after the college received a $5-million federal government grant and a free building (the former Salvation Army) from the city of Windsor.

More to come…

[Symz]

Palace -> Windsor Star conversion update

source: http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2012/05/16/concrete-dreams-take-shape-in-new-home-of-the-windsor-star/

http://postmediawindsorstar.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/1g1.jpg

http://postmediawindsorstar.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/1g3.jpg

http://postmediawindsorstar.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/1g2.jpg

Today we crossed the first big hurdle.

We poured 80 metres of concrete to level the existing sloped floors.

Tomorrow, we do Phase 2 of the pour along the North side of the building.

This is a huge step forward and we can now pick up the speed and get rolling on interior framing.

[north 42]

Can't wait for the tacky facade to come down and see what the materials and glass that replace it will look like. My client is the girlfriend of the developer and she said the city was wanting the materials upgraded for the exterior, so hopefully they're using top quality materials and not doing it on the cheap! After hearing that, I was a little worried, so I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

[Symz]

source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cityofwindsor/

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7219/7204628772_caf74bf296_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7082/7204629496_8b56f2a15d_b.jpg

[cbyrne2014]

Booster Juice to set-up shop in downtown Windsor. Hopefully a sign of things to come for the core:

Source: http://windsorite.ca/2012/05/opening-soon-booster-juice-in-downtown-windsor/

Popular smoothie franchise Booster Juice is planning a Downtown Windsor location.

Booster Juice will be moving into a spot previously occupied by Bright Side tanning on University Avenue across the street from the Windsor Armouries.

The Armouries are set to become the University of Windsor’s new school of arts and music.

http://cdn.windsorite.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DSC021741-640x426.jpg

[Symz]

:previous:

I was just reading this at Windsorite. It's a start!

[RoseCityFreePress]

:previous:

I was just reading this at Windsorite. It's a start!

It is a start! It's nice to see confidence in our downtown a company. Its also placed in a smart area. Right next to the armories and old bus depo. With the university moving in there it shows that some company's are paying attention.

[north 42]

This is great, I was thinking that this location would be a good one for a business catering to university students. Hopefully this is a start of more businesses opening up in the core in anticipation of a renewed and busier downtown.

[Symz]

My fiancee said there is also a taco place opening up next to Vermouth.

[north 42]

My fiancee said there is also a taco place opening up next to Vermouth.

Yeah, I saw the signs for that. Sushi California is also opening up a new Sake Bar and Grill in the old Mexican Grill Restaurant on Pitt St. below La Guardia. It's great to see some downtown establishments expanding and opening up more places in the core, and not expanding outside the core.

[RoseCityFreePress]

Hopefully this is the start we have been talking about

[Symz]

aquatic centre with new cell phone: Nokia Lumia 710

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff452/Khenic2/WP_000011b.jpg

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff452/Khenic2/WP_000012b.jpg