[South248]

I heard it's a Rexall.

Good stuff, I've been waiting for a Rexall in this end of the city. I know they had one planned for the corner of Lauzon/Little River a few years back, but then it was postponed for some reason or another.

[FenderStrat]

Nice to see the old camera shop downtown getting redeveloped, I just wish it was for the purpose of retail.

A lot of the vacant store fronts downtown seem to be starting to fill in. If you are hungry and want some dinner, downtown is a great place to go as you have literally dozens of great choices, but there's still almost no retail.

I lived downtown from 2002-2003. Back then, downtown was considered to be in rough shape, but at least there were still some interesting retail options even that recently, even after the Norwich block was gone (ie The Book Mark, Turek, Nut House, Freyja, just to name a few that are long gone).

Now days, what retail options are there that would actually draw people downtown? I guess BB Branded is fairly popular.

[Symz]

Good stuff, I've been waiting for a Rexall in this end of the city. I know they had one planned for the corner of Lauzon/Little River a few years back, but then it was postponed for some reason or another.

Lauzon & Little River now has a Guardian pharmacy.

[Symz]

Nice to see the old camera shop downtown getting redeveloped, I just wish it was for the purpose of retail.

A lot of the vacant store fronts downtown seem to be starting to fill in. If you are hungry and want some dinner, downtown is a great place to go as you have literally dozens of great choices, but there's still almost no retail.

I lived downtown from 2002-2003. Back then, downtown was considered to be in rough shape, but at least there were still some interesting retail options even that recently, even after the Norwich block was gone (ie The Book Mark, Turek, Nut House, Freyja, just to name a few that are long gone).

Now days, what retail options are there that would actually draw people downtown? I guess BB Branded is fairly popular.

For retail downtown there is BB Branded, Awesome (women's clothes), Shanfield's , a fur place on University, a nail shop, a salon, an eyeglass place, skateboard shop, some sort of a dollar store at Wyandotte & Ouellette, another dollar store,Shoppers, Dr. Disc, a clothing boutique in the Scotia Bank, some cigar shops, Pete's Pipes, Maxine's, some tattoo places, Cash Converters and some sort of a seed store?

Whew, I ought be forgetting something, there are also some dry cleaners downtown.


We do have some shops but ofcourse we could always do better and I would like to see some bigger branded stores locate in the city centre. I don't think we'll see a more recognizeable retailer for some time, not until there is a bigger critical mass of people downtown. The commercial tax rates are still too high and the residential rental vacancies too high as well.

I would like to see some sort of office supply store open downtown. My wife works downtown and says currently there is no such place to get office supplies in a pinch. With the arrival of the college and university downtown I think a store like this could be a nice fit. Also I think a hardware store would be good downtown for the very same reasons.

[South248]

Lauzon & Little River now has a Guardian pharmacy.

It does? I know Lauzon and Riverside Drive does now.

[Symz]

It does? I know Lauzon and Riverside Drive does now.

Sorry, that's what I meant to say.:yes:

[Symz]

Construction will be starting soon on St. Clair College's Healthplex.

source: http://windsorite.ca/2012/07/construction-to-start-soon-on-st-clair-college-healthplex/

Construction is about to get underway on the new St. Clair College HealthPlex at the Windsor Campus, with the facility scheduled to open in January 2014.

The new building will have a triple gymnasium, fitness centre, a walking track, classrooms and more.

Check out the virtual rendering of St. Clair College’s HealthPlex at South Campus below.

jyi7PyLUCSM

[Symz]

Structural steel is finally going up on the Aquatic Centre!

[north 42]

Structural steel is finally going up on the Aquatic Centre!

Yeah, I just saw that this morning when I was walking by. I also noticed a new business opening up in Victoria Park Place condominiums, a new jewellery store fronting Park St. Nice to see new retail opening up in the core.

[South248]

How's the redevelopment coming along at the former Zellers on Huron Church? I haven't been out that way in a long time, so I'm curious if FreshCo plans to keep the former K-Mart exterior that Zellers had, or if the front is changing completely.

[Symz]

How's the redevelopment coming along at the former Zellers on Huron Church? I haven't been out that way in a long time, so I'm curious if FreshCo plans to keep the former K-Mart exterior that Zellers had, or if the front is changing completely.

Drove past it the other day and it looks like the front is getting completely stripped down and redone.

[Symz]

A snapshot of the aquatic centre progress.

source webcam: http://www.citywindsor.ca/mayorandcouncil/Family-Aquatic-Complex/Pages/Family-Aquatic-Complex-Camera.aspx

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

[FenderStrat]

An interesting development involving the old GM plant on walker.

http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2012/08/03/gm-plant-sold-plans-for-200m-garbage-facility/

I have no doubt that the NIMBYS will kill this long before construction even starts.

What do you guys think?

[Symz]

:previous:

Unconfirmed at this time.

http://www.windsorstar.com/property+sold+company+says/7044953/story.html

General Motors Canada on Sunday issued the following statement with regard to a story indicating its 46-acre industrial property, which once housed the GM Trim Plant, had been sold to an Amherstburg demolition company:

Letter to the Editor of the Windsor Star

Re: GM plant story on August 3, 2012

The story published about the sale of GM's facility in Windsor is incorrect. The property has not been sold, although a number of parties have expressed interest in the site. Any speculation about one successful bidder is premature and inaccurate. GM is working closely with the City of Windsor and other local stakeholders to identify the best future use for the site and an appropriate purchaser.

Faye Roberts

Communications Director, GM Canada



Read more: http://www.windsorstar.com/property+sold+company+says/7044953/story.html#ixzz22hX84Pi9

[Symz]

Maybe some good news?

source: http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2012/08/15/48643/

http://postmediawindsorstar.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/hospital.jpg

A buyer is expected to sign documents closing the sale of the former Grace Hospital site and pay the city $1.2 million in back taxes, according to Tony Battaglia, president of Westpark Developments, which holds the largest mortgage on the property.

“The property is being sold under property of sale,” he said. “It’s an out-of-town buyer. The deal is scheduled to close on Friday at which point the city taxes will be paid in full.”

Battaglia said he is not at liberty to disclose the plans for the site. “All I can say is the buyer has plans to redevelop the site. Verbal indications were they plan to start immediately.”

The city listed the property for sale after the owner of the property failed to meet a June 30 deadline to pay the back taxes. The city listed the property for sale and will open the sealed bids on Tuesday. If Battaglia’s sale closes on Friday, the bids will remain sealed and returned to the bidders, according to city officials.

More than $880,000 in back taxes is owed on the hospital portion of the site and a further $360,000 on 10 residential development sites at the south end of the property.

The property’s owner, Windsor developer Lou Vozza, lost control of the lands due to financial troubles and the property fell into Battaglia’s control. Records show he supplied Vozza with a $1.2-million mortgage for the Grace site.

He has listed spending over $250,000 in cleanup efforts at the site.

Vozza no longer has any connection to the property or its fate, Battaglia said.

Should the Grace sale be finalized it will bring “mixed feelings” for Battaglia.

“I’m glad to see something finally happen,” he said. “But at the same time I know a lot of money has been lost by a lot of people on this, including myself. This is the best possible outcome given the limited time given to us by the mayor and the city.”

Grace closed as a hospital on Feb. 1, 2004.

Vozza was among a group who purchased the property soon afterwards. The Ontario Ministry of Health in 2007 selected Grace as the site of a $35-million, 256-bed long-term care facility with Vozza as the developer.

Vozza did not move forward with construction of the long-term care facility and the cavernous building became a dilapidated eyesore raising anger in the community.

After numerous delays and missed deadlines, the province in June 2011 terminated the contract with Vozza and the city put a lien on the property.

Schlegel Holdings is now building the long-term care facility on the grounds of St. Clair College.

More to come…

[Symz]

Pics by me taken a few days ago.

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff452/Khenic2/WP_000130.jpg

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff452/Khenic2/WP_000132.jpg

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff452/Khenic2/WP_000134.jpg

[Symz]

Hello?

Echo??

[north 42]

Yeah, pretty dead around here lately! :shrug:

[Symz]

We need to build more stuff. :tup:

[Riversideguy]

We need to build more stuff. :tup:

Hopefully we will get to see some action at the grace site soon.

Does anyone else wonder why Leamington and Essex got a Dollar Tree, but not windsor. HHHMMMM!!!

[Symz]

Well, it's apparent there is no movement on development of The Barn for now

source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/story/2012/08/23/wdr-hocket-at-windsor-arena.html


Hockey resurfaces at Windsor Arena

Hockey will resurface at the old Windsor Arena in September.

The University of Windsor men's hockey coach, Kevin Hamlin, said the Lancers will continue playing at the facility, commonly known as "The Barn", this season.

"We were fairly surprised. It's part of the problem when you don't own your own facility; you're at the mercy of the city. We feel fine wherever we are going to play," said Hamlin.

It was believed the 84-year-old arena saw its last hockey game March 2 when the Windsor Lancers were defeated by the Western Mustangs.

"For our purposes it's very difficult to create an atmosphere at 'The Barn' with fans, but we're just happy to have a place to play," said Hamlin.

The uncertainty will continue, he said, until the University of Windsor either purchases or builds its own hockey arena.

Hamlin said he was notified a month ago by senior university staff that the team may return to The Barn.

Urban mall still a possibility
Local developers James and Leigh Anne King announced they wanted to turn it into an urban mall with vendor kiosks, a butcher shop, a café and other retail spaces.

The city and the developers are still in talks about the urban mall, but at this point city officials said the developers are not ready to move forward.

Recreation and culture executive director Jan Wilson said some groups have expressed the desire to use the city-owned arena.

"The city and the Kings have not reached a final agreement yet. So, until such time as that's fully completed, we'll operate the rink for this season rather than have it be empty," said Wilson.

City CAO Helga Reidel confirms with CBC News the plans are still on the table.

"It has taken longer than we thought already and I wouldn't be in a position to put a timeline to it," said Reidel.

"It's a very important asset for the city ... I think everyone is being careful," she said.

The city said an ice rink will be in place by the first week of September.

Hamlin said training camp for the men's Lancers team starts Sept. 4.

I was hyped up for this development. :(

[north 42]

Yeah, I'm not too happy that this project is on the back burner. I wish everyone involved in this development would do everything possible to make this happen, we need this badly. It would make such a huge difference in the core to have a nice, big market again. I would love to know just what the problem is in getting this started. I have heard that parking was an issue, but I wonder if there are any other issues that we haven't heard about yet.

[Symz]

This is a duplicate post from the Construction sites in your city thread that I made.

Here is the new South West Detention Centre that is replacing Windsor's current jail which was built in 1926.

http://www.windsorstar.com/entertainment/7136488.bin?size=620x400s

http://www.windsorstar.com/entertainment/7136487.bin?size=620x400s


The new Windsor Star building that is taking over the old Palace theatre downtown. They've gutted the building and are recladding it.

http://www.windsorstar.com/7060146.bin?size=620x400s

http://www.windsorstar.com/life/7133108.bin?size=620x400s

Windsor's new aquatic centre

http://www.windsorstar.com/entertainment/7136492.bin?size=620x400s

http://www.windsorstar.com/entertainment/7136491.bin?size=620x400s


The Windsor Essex Parkway

http://www.windsorstar.com/entertainment/7136526.bin?size=620x400s

http://www.windsorstar.com/entertainment/7136532.bin?size=620x400s

http://www.windsorstar.com/entertainment/7136531.bin?size=620x400s

http://www.windsorstar.com/entertainment/7136525.bin?size=620x400s

http://www.windsorstar.com/entertainment/7136523.bin?size=620x400s

http://www.windsorstar.com/entertainment/7136519.bin?size=620x400s

http://www.windsorstar.com/entertainment/7136517.bin?size=620x400s

Source: www.windsorstar.com

[RoseCityFreePress]

This is just a passing idea I had of developing some under used lands in windsor so better connect the city in terms of personal transportation. Now before anyone jumps at this, this is an idea if money was not a big issue. I think this would have the smallest impact on the people around it. In some cases around the rail yards it would bridge central and west windsor. Something that most Canadian cities had problems with is building highways the connect the downtown core of major cities to the outer edge of town or the the trans-Canada. This idea would connect the west end of downtown to EC Row, which in turn connects it to The W-E parkway and the New Bridge. What do you think, is there a better way to do this?
http://s9.postimage.org/abz53iu8b/Highway.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/abz53iu8b/)

[sa230e]

This is just a passing idea I had of developing some under used lands in windsor so better connect the city in terms of personal transportation. Now before anyone jumps at this, this is an idea if money was not a big issue. I think this would have the smallest impact on the people around it. In some cases around the rail yards it would bridge central and west windsor. Something that most Canadian cities had problems with is building highways the connect the downtown core of major cities to the outer edge of town or the the trans-Canada. This idea would connect the west end of downtown to EC Row, which in turn connects it to The W-E parkway and the New Bridge. What do you think, is there a better way to do this?
http://s9.postimage.org/abz53iu8b/Highway.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/abz53iu8b/)

Well the Dougall and Howard interchanges on E.C. Row are already spaced way too close as it is. There's no way you'll fit a major freeway-to-freeway interchange in there (unless you do a MAJOR reconfiguration). And even if you did the route seems to cut right through Zalev's, no?

[RoseCityFreePress]

Well the Dougall and Howard interchanges on E.C. Row are already spaced way too close as it is. There's no way you'll fit a major freeway-to-freeway interchange in there (unless you do a MAJOR reconfiguration). And even if you did the route seems to cut right through Zalev's, no?

yes, and hopefully that means it gets to disappear forever :)

[FenderStrat]

I don't quite understand this proposal. You propose to eliminate both the CP Rail yard as well as the CN Rail yard because they are "under utilized."

How are our cities remaining rail serviced industries supposed to ship their product?

Hundreds of Chrysler minivans per day are loaded onto trains in the CP Rail yard. Major industries such as ADM in West Windsor rely heavily on railroads to ship grain, etc.

How does adding hundreds more trucks to our streets by eliminating railroad infrastructure solve any problems?

I don't mean any disrespect to you in my argument, but I don't understand how on one hand, many people tout mass transit systems, light rail, etc, but want to eliminate all of our freight rail lines. Our manufacturing industry may be in a slump right now, but one way to guarantee that it never recovers is to eliminate our rail infrastructure.

I know that freight trains are "ugly" but they are FAR more friendly for our environment than hundreds of individual trucks shipping everything. Just imagine how much nicer it would be if all the freight travelling down the 401 every day was being shipped by rail.

[Symz]

:previous:

I have to side with Fender on this in some ways. I know some time was spent on this project but I don't see it feasible or necessary in any way. I've never found driving downtown from the expressway via Dougall to Ouellette a major problem. According to Google maps from Dougall & West Grand (as close to the expressway offramp as I could get) to the Chrysler building at the foot of Ouellette and Riverside is only 5.6km. So it's not really that far of a trek before you are as far downtown as you can go.

I will agree that the fact that the train lines are there do serve to sort of sever the west side of the city from the central and eastern part of the city but that doesnt' mean they don't still serve an important purpose being there.

The biggest transportation issues in Windsor have usually been moving from East-to-West and vice versa, hence the expressway. Wyandotte is a big commuter road (which by the way needs road work, looking at you Mr. Mayor). Riverside is always jammed with cars at commuter hours as well. Tecumseh is Tecumseh, a major east-west arterial with a bulk of our commercial businesses on it. Cabana I would say needs to be widened it's entire length (go take a drive around St. Clair College during school especially in the morning, or check out the eastern end at Lauzon during rush hour).

As for north-south in this city, well, they are widening Walker from the expressway to Cabana which is a good thing. As it stands right now there are no turning lanes for Walker in that stretch and there are a lot of commercial businesses there so that will bring relief.

Huron Church will eventually have less trucks (or no trucks) on it when the new bridge is built (if). Lauzon-Lauzon Parkway now moves people very efficiently north-south through the eastern edge of the city.

Lauzon Parkway does need to be extended and connect to the 401 which is the intention as the city has already done studies on this potential project.

Jefferson & Pillette are both busy roads and still move people pretty well but suffer from awkward grading at the rail tracks at both ends of South National.

Coinciding with your ideas I think that maybe both Howard and Dominion/Campbell could be bulked up to move traffic north-south in the central part of the city as both roads narrow as they approach the downtown.

When it comes to roads honestly right now I'm more concerned with the core of the city and how the Aquatic Centre now cuts off both Pitt & Chatham streets downtown and yet the western portions of those streets will still be one ways which I think is no longer needed since they are now severed from the core and that stretch of those streets is only 2 blocks long.

I'm also concerned with the cutting off of Goyeau downtown for the tunnel. I think getting around downtown is going to be a bit of a pain in the ass after these 2 projects are done and I have my concerns for those blocks west of the Aquatic Centre once they're cut off.

[Symz]

There was a recent article about the Pitt for Pasta is closing. :( It turns out the restaurant's owners lease is up and there is a new owner for the building and I guess they couldn't come to terms on a lease agreement. My guess is the rent is going up..

There are no plans revealed for this location yet.

Anyways, what a shame, I hope they can reopen somewhere else and they keep the establishment downtown instead of a rumoured move to Tecumseh (from a subsequent article).

The part in this article that caught my attention is bolded at the bottom. It turns out the former Million Dollar Saloon on Chatham will be turned into a Pharmacy on the ground floor and Physiotherapy upstairs.

source: http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2012/08/30/former-strip-club-owners-buy-downtown-building-pitt-for-pasta-to-close/

Former strip club owners buy downtown building; Pitt for Pasta to close

Owners of the former Million Dollar Saloon have purchased the downtown Chatham Street building which is home to the Pitt for Pasta restaurant and Koko Pellies bar.

John and Kim Vangeloff of Windsor, plus a Toronto partner, are the new owners, but did not want to comment on their plans when contacted on Thursday.

“We will announce something in about a month,” said John Vangeloff. “We have no comment right now.”

The new owners have already put a For Lease sign up at the Pitt for Pasta restaurant whose owners have announced they will shut down for business Sept. 22 after seven years at its current Chatham Street location.

The long-time downtown restaurant originally operated a block away on Pitt Street West for five years during the 1990s, but was displaced with the construction of the Candarel building. The Italian eatery was also briefly located at the Quality Suites hotel, also on Chatham Street.

The restaurant’s co-owner George Kircos was shocked by the sudden sale earlier this month and said Thursday an agreement on the rent could not be reached with the new owners, forcing it to shut down.

“There are new landlords and the rent is going up considerably,” Kircos said. “We believe what we were paying was a fair downtown price and couldn’t reach a new agreement.

“We are shocked and disappointed that this has all happened so fast. We are very grateful to our customers who have been supporting us for years.”

His partner Chris Vassilliou is planning to retire, while Kircos said he will review his options over the next month or two to determine whether he may reopen Pitt for Pasta elsewhere or go into another restaurant venture.

The owner of Pause coffee shop a few doors away on Chatham Street called the news disappointing.

“The Pitt for Pasta has built up more of a mature, upscale clientele,” said Ryan Smith.

He is among those who have heard rumours the building will be converted to a strip club. The Vangeloff brothers still hold the strip club license from the Million Dollar Saloon which apparently can be transferred to another location as long as it’s within a short distance, he said.

The Million Dollar sits two blocks away on Chatham Street East and closed in 2009 after over 20 years in business as an adult entertainment venue.

Should the building be converted to an adult entertainment venue, it would be two doors away from Cheetah’s – another strip club.

“It’s just a rumour right now and anything is better than a For Lease sign,” Smith said. “But I’d rather not have then both on one block. Right now, there is a good mix of bars, restaurants and clubs. I like the mix. You don’t want too much of one thing in the same block, no matter what it is.”

But Kircos doesn’t believe the new owners will convert the building into a strip club.

“The owner of Koko Pellies still has another year on his lease and they can’t just run him out,” he said. “I think they just believe they can get higher rent and wait until they get it.”

Meanwhile, plans are in the works to convert the former Million Dollar building at 38 Chatham St. E. – which has largely sat idle since closing as a strip club – into a pharmacy on the lower level with physiotherapy offered in the upstairs portion of the building, which in its previous life was the offices for CAW Local 98.

[Blitz]

After living in London for several years, I have no complaints at all about Windsor's road network.

[north 42]

I agree, our roads have had many improvements in the last ten years, and our mayor and council are to thank. We are light years ahead of where we were, and all this was accomplished in very tough economic times.
I do feel that eventually an LRT route going from DT to the far eastern suburbs would be successful with all the growth out that way. We need to plan now get things going, much like K-W is doing.

[Symz]

After living in London for several years, I have no complaints at all about Windsor's road network.

I always hear getting around in London is a pain.

[Blitz]

It's easy to poke fun at the expressway as the design isn't that great but at least we have a crosstown expressway - and there's ample room to expand to 6 or 8 lanes when needed. I think the province should play more of a role in maintaining it and bringing signage up to standards...but that's wishful thinking.

[Symz]

Ice Park update

source: http://ctvwindsor.ca/
x_7rovLEGqU

[sa230e]

It's easy to poke fun at the expressway as the design isn't that great but at least we have a crosstown expressway - and there's ample room to expand to 6 or 8 lanes when needed. I think the province should play more of a role in maintaining it and bringing signage up to standards...but that's wishful thinking.

They probably could, it is a 7000 series road so it's still under their jurisdiction, isn't it? And of course the portion between Huron Church and Ojibway Parkway will be totally rebuilt with the Windsor Essex Parkway project.

[Symz]

Here's an update on the Aquatic Centre, screenshot taken from the city's webcam.

source: http://www.citywindsor.ca/mayorandcouncil/Family-Aquatic-Complex/Pages/Family-Aquatic-Complex-Camera.aspx

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

A small update on the the new Windsor Star hq downtown as well.

source: http://www.windsorstar.com/Updated+Photos+Star+building+takes+shape/7060133/story.html

http://www.windsorstar.com/7238803.bin?size=620x400s

These 2 photos are by me

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff452/Khenic2/WP_000154.jpg

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff452/Khenic2/WP_000157.jpg

I'm eager to see this big screen they're supposedly installing on the corner. I hope the corner will still have the ticker sign that was shown in the render.

The poles will be either painted or clad to match the new colour scheme of the building.

[north 42]

So those are gonna be two big screens on the corner? I really hope so, it would add so much life to that intersection. I thought that they were only gonna be large Windsor Star signs. I'm pretty sure that the ticker tape is still going to wrap around the building along that strip on the bottom. Can't wait to se it finished, they said it should be done by November sometime.

[Riversideguy]

Here's an update on the Aquatic Centre, screenshot taken from the city's webcam.

source: http://www.citywindsor.ca/mayorandcouncil/Family-Aquatic-Complex/Pages/Family-Aquatic-Complex-Camera.aspx

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

A small update on the the new Windsor Star hq downtown as well.

source: http://www.windsorstar.com/Updated+Photos+Star+building+takes+shape/7060133/story.html

http://www.windsorstar.com/7238803.bin?size=620x400s

These 2 photos are by me

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff452/Khenic2/WP_000154.jpg

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff452/Khenic2/WP_000157.jpg

I'm eager to see this big screen they're supposedly installing on the corner. I hope the corner will still have the ticker sign that was shown in the render.

The poles will be either painted or clad to match the new colour scheme of the building.

I gotta tell you every month when I get the Business Windsor Magazine there is an ad for space lease and it does not have the scroll. It also looks perfect to what you see them doing. Check out the mag.

[Symz]

A photo tour of the open, yet still under construction University of Windsor's Ed Lumley Centre for Engineering Innovation.

photos courtesy of: http://windsorite.ca/2012/09/photos-first-look-inside-new-uwindsor-centre-for-engineering-innovation/

It’s the first day of class for students at the University of Windsor’s brand-new, state-of-the-art, $110-million dollar Ed Lumley Centre for Engineering Innovation and windsoriteDOTca joined students to take a look at the now-open, but still under-construction building.

Laboratory facilities opened for Engineering students this morning and the remainder of the building, including classroom space, is expected to see its first day next Monday, September 24th.

Construction crews are putting the finishing touches on the inside of the building. Terazzo floors have yet to be installed, electricians are working on finalizing fixtures and outlets, glass railings have yet to be installed and are secured with plywood placeholders and furniture is being set up in classrooms.

http://cdn2.windsorite.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/DSC04623-640x426.jpg

http://cdn2.windsorite.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/DSC04624-640x426.jpg

http://cdn2.windsorite.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/DSC04625-640x426.jpg

http://cdn2.windsorite.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/DSC04626-640x426.jpg

http://cdn2.windsorite.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/DSC04627-640x424.jpg

http://cdn2.windsorite.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/DSC04628-640x960.jpg

http://cdn2.windsorite.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/DSC04629-640x426.jpg

In this picture you can see the site of the planned parking garage and new visitor's centre across the street.
http://cdn2.windsorite.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/DSC04631-640x426.jpg

http://cdn2.windsorite.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/DSC04632-640x426.jpg

http://cdn2.windsorite.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/DSC04633-640x426.jpg

http://cdn2.windsorite.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/DSC04635-640x426.jpg

http://cdn2.windsorite.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/DSC04637-640x686.jpg

http://cdn2.windsorite.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/DSC04638-640x426.jpg

http://cdn2.windsorite.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/DSC04639-640x427.jpg

[realcity]

Those curved hallways are cool.

I want to know, as an outsider, what is the word around town about closing the casino?

I think imo that the OLG is making huge mistakes, closing Windsor and Fort Erie, cities that need the casinos, just to get out of the business of horse racing. To a tune of 200$billion, that the gov needs for all-day day-care, kindergarten.

[north 42]

The casino isn't closing, the racetrack and their slots have closed. I have a hard time believing that Caesars will close, although their revenue has fallen over the last few years. They still have a fairly healthy business, and are voted #1 consistently out of the local casinos here and in Michigan.

[Riversideguy]

"OK". I stand corrected. City Council will be discussing the new LED Scroll, Digital TV, and Stationary sings for the new Windsor Star Building. They must decide tonight if they will be willing to make some changes to the sign bylaw to alow it. Item 11 on tonights agenda.

[Symz]

An interesting article popped up in the Windsor Star today talking about the Paul Martin Building on Ouellette. There has been scaffolding surrounding the building for years now indicating that there is work being done there, but no, there is no work being done to it and the feds have the scaffolding up so as to protect passers by from falling limestone. Everything regarding the building is now in limbo and supposedly the feds are considering selling the building..

source:http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2012/10/05/67977/

http://postmediawindsorstar.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/1z1.jpg

http://postmediawindsorstar.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/1z3.jpg


Paul Martin Building reno on hold while feds ponder selling

Downtown watchers were upset and surprised to learn Friday that the scaffolding surrounding three sides of the federal Paul Martin Building for the last two years is not a temporary measure needed for renovations, but a safety precaution to keep deteriorating limestone panels from crashing down on pedestrians.

A major and expensive rejuvenation – which involved removing some of the thousands of limestone pieces, cleaning them, chipping off the mortar, installing new backing on the building and then reapplying them – has been put on hold while the government decides whether to sell the landmark 1933 building, Meeta Gandhi, the regional communications manager for the government landlord, Public Works and Government Services Canada, told The Star.

She wouldn’t say who may be interested in buying it. “All options are being considered.”

And there’s no timeline for when a final decision will be made. In the meantime, the needed work on the building remains in a holding pattern. She didn’t have a dollar figure for the work.

“It would be considerable, and so in order for us to invest that kind of money on three sides of a building, when we haven’t made a final decision on what we are doing with the building, that wouldn’t be prudent.”

Downtown business people don’t like how these scaffold tunnels mar the downtown’s streetscape and discourage pedestrian traffic, but they’re tolerated because they signal that good things – renovations and construction – are happening, said Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association chairman Larry Horwitz.

“We assumed there was construction going on, you kind of bear with it, but if there isn’t construction going on … it’s kind of ridiculous,” he said.

“If it’s just staying there, it’s an eyesore and it’s not fair for the merchants around it because it creates a dead zone all around that structure.”

People don’t want to walk under it, so they stay away, he said.

The scaffolding covers all of the limestone facade on the building’s Ouellette Avenue, Pitt Street and Chatham Street sides.
Once the city’s main post office, it is now home to Revenue Canada employees, plus Canada Post workers in the rear of the building. It’s named after the late Paul Martin Sr., the legendary Windsor MP who served as an influential cabinet minister and was the father of former Prime Minister Paul Martin Jr.

“It’s a major block and a major building,” said Horwitz. “This is the federal government. Something has to be done, it’s not like they don’t have resources.”

Joan Shanfield, whose Shanfields-Meyers Jewelry and China store is located across the street from the building, has been asking herself: “Why is it taking so long?”

Learning that there’s no work being done or even approved for the building, she expressed frustration. “It’s a fiasco, it’s an eyesore, it’s ugly,” Shanfield said of the scaffolding.

Mayor Eddie Francis did not return telephone messages left Thursday and Friday, seeking comment on whether the city is interested in buying the building.

Coun. Fulvio Valentinis, who represents the downtown area, has been hearing complaints about the length of time the scaffolding has been up and the lack of progress at the site.

“This is our main street and this is a very prominent building,” Valentinis said. He’s heard rumours that the government may be disposing of the property, an issue that cropped up as early as 2004 when the building was on a list of 365 federal properties the government was looking at selling and then leasing back.

But he added that the downtown is in the midst of lots of construction activity. The new aquatic centre’s being built, the former Palace Theatre building is being transformed into the new home of The Windsor Star and plans are afoot to renovate the current Star home, the old Greyhound station and downtown Armouries building into University of Windsor locales.

“I think we’re going to have to put some pressure on the federal government to get moving on this,” Valentinis said.

MP Brian Masse (NDP – Windsor West) said the length of time the scaffolding has surrounded the building – with no activity – is getting outrageous.
He said people have become so used to seeing the scaffolding they don’t think about it as a downtown eyesore.

“Walls are crumbling and their solution it to put a tent up and leave it for us as a community – frustrating,” Masse said.

He said his office would be investigating what’s happened to the project. “It’s not fair to the downtown merchants.”

The government spokeswoman, Gandhi, she said there has been no instances of limestone falling from the building, and that inspections are conducted monthly.

“Ultimately, we take the safety of people who work in the building and the people who visit the building into serious consideration and we want to make sure there is some preventative measure should there by any kind of issue with the limestone.”

The initial work on the building’s outside began in 2009 as part of a $1.9-million makeover. But only one side of the building was part of that work, which was completed in 2010. The three other sides were part of a new project which was put on hold last year, according to Gandhi.


I'd like to see this building restored.

Secondly, isn't it ironic that Shanfield's is taking stabs at the feds for the state of the building when Shanfield's itself is a blight on the downtown.

See the link here where we discussed the ugliness that is Shanfield's.

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=193569&page=10

[Symz]

Update on the new Windsor Star/Palace renovation. It looks like the developers restored one side of the old Palace sign and it will be hung up inside the Windsor Star's new newsroom.

The Windsor Star is also in the process of reusing one of their old crabtree printing presses as a focal piece in their new offices. You can see it starting in the second picture they are mounting it in the middle of the main stairwell.

source: http://www.windsorstar.com/news/Updated+Photos+With/7346593/story.html

http://www.windsorstar.com/news/7346592.bin?size=620x400s


crabtree printing press

http://www.windsorstar.com/news/7340081.bin?size=620x400s

http://www.windsorstar.com/news/7340068.bin?size=620x400s

http://www.windsorstar.com/news/7343717.bin?size=620x400s

http://www.windsorstar.com/news/7343716.bin?size=620x400s

http://www.windsorstar.com/news/7340079.bin?size=620x400s

http://www.windsorstar.com/news/7343711.bin?size=620x400s

[Symz]

Here's a snapshot update of the Aquatic Centre from the webcam on top of the art gallery. They are starting to pour the footings for the eastern (water park) portion of the building finally. Last week the Myrtha pool was delivered.

source:http://www.citywindsor.ca/mayorandcouncil/Family-Aquatic-Complex/Pages/Family-Aquatic-Complex-Camera.aspx

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff452/Khenic2/AquaticCentreOct2012b.jpg

[Riversideguy]

Hello all.

I noticed some reno's taking place at the old Shoppers in the Riverside Plaza between Giant Tiger and Dollarama. Any info as to what will be going there?

[Symz]

Hello all.

I noticed some reno's taking place at the old Shoppers in the Riverside Plaza between Giant Tiger and Dollarama. Any info as to what will be going there?

Yup. The Pet Value store currently located on Lauzon @ Little River Blvd is moving into one half of the old Shoppers in the east Riverside plaza and a video rental store is moving into the other side.

The new pharmacy converted from a Mac's is more or less finished @ Wyandotte & Prado.

I also noticed a little further east on Wyandotte near some older 9 storey apt buildings on the north side of Wyandotte an old vacant bush lot that long stood for sale is now being cleared and leveled for something, dunno what though.

There's also some new shop under renovation in the eastern part of the olde riverside town centre, near Mrs. Jones Cheesecake, a few doors west of there.

[Riversideguy]

Yup. The Pet Value store currently located on Lauzon @ Little River Blvd is moving into one half of the old Shoppers in the east Riverside plaza and a video rental store is moving into the other side.

The new pharmacy converted from a Mac's is more or less finished @ Wyandotte & Prado.

I also noticed a little further east on Wyandotte near some older 9 storey apt buildings on the north side of Wyandotte an old vacant bush lot that long stood for sale is now being cleared and leveled for something, dunno what though.

There's also some new shop under renovation in the eastern part of the olde riverside town centre, near Mrs. Jones Cheesecake, a few doors west of there.

Thanks a lot good info nice to see a movie store move in. A lot of work in the area going on. Noticed they demolished some homes next to Jannise Towers on Wyandotte eash near Metro.

Now I just wish somthing would go into the Old Mac's at Riverside and Lauzon.

[Symz]

University of Windsor's new parking garage & visitor's centre going up next to the new engineering building.

source: http://windsorite.ca/2012/10/towering-steel-structure-rises-over-campus-for-new-uwindsor-parking-garage/

If you’ve been at the University of Windsor campus lately, you may have noticed that a new, multi-level parking garage is starting to take shape — seven stories above ground.

Newton Parking Structures Ltd started building the parking garage and adjoining Innovation Centre in July and only last week did it become apparent to pedestrians that the building is destined to be of a great height.

Originally announced last December, preliminary work commenced on the project in May and construction crews built foundation and ramps for the main floor of the parking garage.

The parking garage will consist of 1,055 spaces and displaced an existing Faculty and Staff surface lot. Two separate buildings will be constructed as part of the complex and will be connected by a second-storey pedestrian bridge from the Innovation Centre to the parking structure.

The Innovation Centre will front Wyandotte West and will become the new home of Campus Community Police, Parking Services and other campus services. The University plans to centralize some of the existing surface lots on campus into the new parking structure, making the campus a much friendlier pedestrian area.

The new parking garage will add approximately 300 spaces to campus and will bring the total amount of parking spots available up to 3,000.

Both buildings are planned to be completed by Summer 2013.

http://cdn2.windsorite.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/DSC05072-640x431.jpg

http://cdn2.windsorite.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/DSC05073-640x718.jpg

[Symz]

Looks like the city is going to close the intersection of Provincial and Cabana soon for a month. Let the mayhem begin

source: http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2012/10/23/city-to-shut-down-busy-intersection/

http://postmediawindsorstar.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/traffic2.jpg

One of Windsor’s busiest intersections will be shut down to traffic for a month in order to complete road work before the onset of winter.

“We need the public’s patience — this is our only chance of getting it done,” said city engineer Mario Sonego.

The intersection at Cabana and Provincial roads is undergoing an $12.4-million upgrade intended to end the years of daily traffic bottlenecks.

Because of work delays, Sonego said the choice was between shutting down traffic completely in order to rush completion of the project, or shut down the project for the winter and complete it by next summer.

The intersection will close Nov. 1.

“The longer we push this back, the more costly it gets,” said Mayor Eddie Francis. “If we push it through now, it can be done by Dec. 1.”

Sonego said about 35,000 vehicles cross that intersection in an average day. Limited traffic flow has been allowed to continue through the construction period which began in the spring, but there was a previous one-week traffic shutdown in the summer that triggered “chaos” for commuter traffic.

“Now, you can snake your way around the construction — but that’s being cut off,” said Sonego. Francis said it will be “one month of pain.”

The problem, said city officials, began with scheduling delays in getting the complicated pre-construction utilities and service work completed. Francis said contractor Coco Paving Inc. was to have begun its $8.2-million roadwork portion of the project by June 1, but wasn’t handed control of the site until July 18. Union Gas is being blamed for that delay.

“Scheduling is an important part of the job,” said Francis. “It takes a lot of co-ordinated effort by the city, the contractor and the service providers … it’s why (the start of) this was delayed by a year and a half,” he added.

There will be continued vehicle access to adjacent businesses. Traffic signs indicating detour routes will be going up in the next couple of days.

And then the return to traffic chaos and commuter horror begins in earnest on the morning after Halloween. Sonego said the contractor will be “pushing pretty hard.”

And when it’s over, “it will be an immense improvement” for motorists using that intersection, said Sonego. Some work will probably still have to wait until the new year, including sidewalks and landscaping, he added.

Part of the reason to go all-in for the next month is also to stave off any potential litigation in the event of a winter-long holdup.

“Could there be claims against us? Yes,” said Sonego.

[SignalHillHiker]

Greedy U.S. billionaire urges Michigan voters to reject FREE bridge to Canada (http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/10/23/greedy-u-s-billionaire-urges-michigan-voters-to-reject-free-bridge-to-canada/)

Interesting look at an issue I only learned about tonight. :)

[Symz]

Greedy U.S. billionaire urges Michigan voters to reject FREE bridge to Canada (http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/10/23/greedy-u-s-billionaire-urges-michigan-voters-to-reject-free-bridge-to-canada/)

Interesting look at an issue I only learned about tonight. :)

This has been going on for almost a decade!

[north 42]

He's a horrible man who thinks he can buy anyone and everything. He is willing to destroy the State of Michigan by holding back this very important piece of infrastructure that is so badly needed by both countries. I hate this evil person so much, I reuse to ever go on his bridge again.

[Blitz]

Can you believe the absurd commercials you're seeing about it? Unbelievable that they can get away with spreading so many lies. American politics is insane.

[Symz]

Matty Maroun is getting hit with a lawsuit for selling non-compliant gas at his duty free plaza.

http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2012/10/25/75496/

[Symz]

Work has begin on the tunnel plaza expansion downtown.

source: www.windsorstar.com

http://www.windsorstar.com/7442455.bin?size=620x400s

http://www.windsorstar.com/7442452.bin?size=620x400s

Gotta love the classic Pontiac in this pic
http://www.windsorstar.com/7442453.bin?size=620x400s


Here's a pic from a few weeks ago when they had the mason who built the mural at Wyandotte & Goyeau dismantle the mural to be relocated at a yet to be decided new location
http://www.windsorstar.com/7317021.bin?size=620x400s

[Symz]

Here is a recent article talking about the opening of the new downtown St. Clair student centre {St. Clair College TD Success Centre) located in the former TD Bank building at Victoria & University. Apparently the college is looking to aquire more property in the downtown core.

http://postmediawindsorstar.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/1bag.jpg

http://postmediawindsorstar.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/student_success_centre.jpg?w=460&h=364

http://postmediawindsorstar.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/student_success_centre-2.jpg?w=460&h=307

source: http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2012/11/02/st-clair-unveils-new-downtown-student-centre/


St. Clair College hopes to take over another downtown building

Another downtown building is being targeted for a St. Clair College takeover, with hope for at least a couple of hundred more students coming into the core by next fall.

The college is looking for the city to donate the unidentified building, according to college president John Strasser, who hopes the city and college can hammer out a deal in the coming weeks.

“We already know where the building is, it’s just a matter of having the right deal,” Strasser said.

The deal needs to be done by around Christmas so the students in a particular program can start using it next fall, said the president, speaking after the unveiling of the college’s latest downtown addition, the TD Student Success Centre, a former TD Bank building at University and Victoria avenues.

Donated by TD and renovated and furnished for between $750,000 and $1 million, it provides 87 computer terminals, a cozy upstairs lounge, a kitchen, tutoring space and meeting rooms for the 1,000 college students already located in the core.

They are located in buildings also provided by the city – its former Cleary Centre (now the St. Clair College for the Arts) and the former Salvation Army building (now the MediaPlex) at University and Victoria.

The student centre is something Strasser wanted ever since he first contemplated a downtown campus more than five years ago.

“And it’s just part of it, it’s not the end of it, with the university coming on board (the U of W is bringing about 1,500 students and faculty to three renovated downtown buildings by 2014), and the college looking for more places in the downtown area,” he said.

The total number of students in the downtown will reach well over 2,000, which Strasser believes is the “critical mass” needed to kickstart downtown revitalization as shops, restaurants and housing flood in to service those new customers.

“Once you get past that 2,000, it’ll explode by itself, I truly believe it will,” he said.

Mayor Eddie Francis confirmed he and Strasser have been working on a deal. “We’re not there yet, we’re getting close,” he said.

He also wouldn’t identify the building the college wants.

“We do own some space, that space is something the college has looked at and I’ve now heard back from the college this morning,” he said Friday. “So I’ve got some work to do on my end. We’ll get there.”

What building the city and college are talking about is a bit of a puzzler to downtown watchers. In the area around the educational cluster that includes the college’s St. Clair Centre and MediaPlex, and the university’s future locales – the Windsor Star building, the downtown armouries and the former Greyhound station- the only nearby city-owned buildings they could think of are parking garages with retail space on the ground floor.

Other possibilities are either farther afield (the main library branch, city hall, the downtown Enwin building) or owned by other levels of government, such as the federally owned property at 441 University Ave. W. and the federal Paul Martin Building, which Strasser said is not being considered.

But downtown business improvement association president Larry Horwitz said if the two sides can work out a downtown deal, “I’m 100 per cent behind the city giving them any building they own.”

More students and faculty creates a buzz and increases pedestrian traffic, he said.

“It’s extremely important that they do this because the downtown has been known as a party town, sin city, a place you go to get drunk, and this is one of the most dynamic, most important changes to the fabric to the downtown.”

The city should fill up every building it has with students, he said. “We’ll go from a sin community to a smart community that easy.”

With about 1,000 students in the core already, Horwitz said there’s already been a gradual flow of small businesses opening up recently, including a women’s resale shop, a juice shop, a cafe, a jewelry store and a burger joint. The BIA loses money when the college moves into a building previously occupied by a business because the college doesn’t pay a BIA levy, he said.

“But what we get in return – pedestrian traffic, shoppers, residential, a reason for people to open up shop – more than compensates.”

The students arrived about five years ago, and have now surpassed 30,000 student months, Strasser said. “I believe that’s a significant boost to the city’s core.”

Francis recalled sitting down with Strasser, U of W president Alan Wildeman and Finance Minister Dwight Duncan when they were initially planning this downtown education cluster by moving tacks around on a downtown map.

Now you can look to the north (from the student centre) and see the MediaPlex, and to the east to see the revitalized Capitol Theatre, the soon-to-be renovated armouries, and the new home of the Windsor Star at Ouellette and University.

“You can see the vision now coming to life,” the mayor said. “And that vision was made possible because of the college.”

When the university opens it's 3 new downtown locations in the next few years there is going to be quite a significant surge of students in the core.

[cbyrne2014]

Fantastic news!

I really get his sense that downtown is starting to turn a significant corner.

Back home for the first time in couple months today. Was downtown earlier this afternoon and am impressed the progress.

It's fun to see this transformation take place before our eyes and I cannot wait to see how things shape up once the university moves in.

[north 42]

:previous:

I feel the same way about downtown finally starting to turn the corner. New smaller businesses are starting to open up, and there seems to be more foot traffic as well.

I'm super curious about what city building St Clair wants, And what they intend to do with it. Hopefully it's something creative in nature. I really think that once the University and College campuses are open and filled with faculty and students, we really will see the core transform into a much more revitalized area, with new shops and residents too.

[Symz]

Windsor Star has posted a cool little time lapse video of work that is still being done inside the new Star building.

http://www.windsorstar.com/Moving+Windsor+Star+office+time+lapse/7499696/story.html



Speaking of time lapses, here is another cool time lapse done of the intersection of Ouellette & Park from a few months ago

http://www.flickr.com/photos/zapruderfilms/7812941094/in/faves-7507447@N06/

[Symz]

I noticed a few weeks ago there are 2 new Farhi signs located downtown. One is on the property adjacent to the Riverside Inn hotel (the former Docherty hole property) and the other is on the property adjacent to the Art Gallery at Riverside and Bruce.

I have high hopes, but I've never heard of Farhi doing much, although he is trying to develop something in London which could potentially lead to a new tallest tower for London, but I'm not holding my breath.

[cbyrne2014]

Dough Schmidt tweeting that the mayor will announce a waterfront development tonight.

[north 42]

^
I can't imagine what that could be. Guess we'll find out.

[cbyrne2014]

Waterfront parkland expanding ...

Source: http://windsorite.ca/2012/11/more-parkland-coming-to-the-riverfront/

A section of land to the west of the Hiram Walker plant that had been occupied by railway tracks until this past summer is set to become park land.

Monday evening at Windsor City Council Jim Stanski the Vice President of Operations at Hiram Walker’s told council that the rail tracks were removed this past summer because 100% of the grain used is locally source and the need for the rail line to the riverfront was no longer needed.  The land is owned by the city, but Hiram Walker’s paid for the removal of the tracks.

Improvements will be made to soften the grade to the rives edge from the top of Riverside, currently it is close to an eight foot drop down, before the land is opened up for public use.  The city hopes to have it complete by next summer.

[north 42]

Ah, ok, I was thinking condo development or something, figures.

[Symz]

Ah, ok, I was thinking condo development or something, figures.

Nope, an extra 500 ft of park which has basically sat as unused land surrounded by rusty fencing. It's a modest gain for the city and in some ways the last piece of the puzzle for the riverfront park lands.

In all honesty, the riverfront park is doing great. The efforts of many before us have paid off and we have a jewel of a riverfront, now the city has to do what it takes to spur development along the south side of Riverside and as well downtown. Tax rates are still too high in this city.

[Jacob]

Tax rates are still too high in this city.

Windsor has some of the lowest tax rates in the country.

[Symz]

Windsor has some of the lowest tax rates in the country.

You sir are wrong.

A recent article where the Windsor Star spoke with the owners of The Squirrel Cage quoted the owners. They said they are paying 3 times the commercial taxes on their $100,000 property than they were paying for a property worth near $750,000 in Yorkville! They said the tax rates here are very high and if they came down they believe that would help downtown.

If you think the tax rates in Windsor are soo low why do you think we've seen downtown struggling for so long and yet business is booming in commercial areas like Manning Rd in Tecumseh and Malden Rd in Lasalle. The taxes are lower in these outlying municipalities.

Not only that but we are being back taxed through our water rates. The water rates have gone up astronomically in the last 5 years. In turn Enwin pays a dividend to the city. It's back door taxation on top of high taxes.

Do you even own a home? Where do you get the idea our taxes are 'the lowest in the country'?

1 more thing, are you sure you're not getting property values confused with taxes? Windsor is well known for low property values, but not low taxes.

A recent Windsor Star article said Windsor ranks 14th out of 16 cities compared in Canada in terms of tax competitiveness.
http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2012/09/25/canadas-tax-competitiveness-helps-windsor/

Have you ever even heard about how some of the city's largest industrial companies have appealed their tax rates in the last few years because they have been too high and have won in the courts costing the city millions in lost revenue it thought it could easily count on?

I could go on and on Jacob, I think you're misinformed. BTW do you yourself own a home and pay taxes?

I currently pay $2800 a year on our 1100sq ft 1 1/2 storey bungalow, that breaks down to $233.33 per month for my property taxes..

Here is a quick example. Compare the 2 Residential Total columns

Look at the tax rates in Lakeshore, see residential. The rate shows 0.0115649
http://www.lakeshore.ca/media/files/2012%20TAX%20RATES%20July%2016.pdf

The same residential tax rate for Windsor is 0.01814146
http://www.citywindsor.ca/cityhall/Taxes--and-Assessment-/Pages/Tax-Rates.aspx

It's funny, but sad, the City of Toronto gives an example tax rate for a house valued at $447,090 to be $3,447.95 for the year.
http://www.toronto.ca/taxes/property_tax/tax_rates.htm

So I pay $2800 a year for my $138,000 house in Windsor but a house in Toronto that's worth $309,090 MORE than mine pays only $637.95 more per year than I do.......

[north 42]

Our taxes are too high, but that's the fault of all the former mayors and councils who made some very bad decisions.

Thank god for our mayor who has froze property taxes 5 of the last 7 years. Water rates are rising everywhere, not just Windsor, this is not back door taxation, it's something that has to be done in order to bring our aging infrastructure up to date. Too many councils deferring this work is the problem we now face.

It's a hard road to get the city competitive again when it comes to taxes, but we are on the right path with everything the mayor and council have achieved so far. We are in far better shape now than we have been in a long time, and we need the leadership of the mayor to continue on this path. I shudder to think where this city would be had Eddie not ran for mayor, and we were still controlled by labour unions who got everything they wanted at all of our expense!

[Symz]

Here's a quick snapshot from the aquatic centre cam. Work is coming along and footings are coming on for the eastern portion of the building. I think we lost a few days there last week because of the poor weather.

source: http://www.citywindsor.ca/mayorandcouncil/Family-Aquatic-Complex/Pages/Family-Aquatic-Complex-Camera.aspx

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff452/Khenic2/aquaticNov2012.jpg

[Symz]

Let's hope in the coming years we'll be able to post pictures of the new bridge being built!

:fireworks

[Jacob]

1 more thing, are you sure you're not getting property values confused with taxes? Windsor is well known for low property values, but not low taxes..

Actually, I think I did get that confused, not sure why, my bad. Water is way too high also, something has gone wrong there.

[Symz]

Prefab parking rises at U of W

The latest project, built by the Guelph-based Newton Group, will eventually grow into a 7 1/2-storey, split-level garage, housing 950 parking spaces.

The completion date for the $23-million project, including the garage, a two-storey “innovation centre” to house security, campus police and parking services and a pedestrian bridge to link the two, is slated for next September.

see full story here:http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2012/11/07/prefab-parking-rises-at-u-of-w/

http://postmediawindsorstar.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/1u_of_w_parking_garagemain.jpg
Construction continues on the University of Windsor parking garage on Sunset Avenue in Windsor, Ont. on Wednesday, November 7, 2012. (JASON KRYK/ The Windsor Star)
http://postmediawindsorstar.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/1u_of_w_parking_garage-1.jpg?w=460&h=713

[Blitz]

It's a hard road to get the city competitive again when it comes to taxes, but we are on the right path with everything the mayor and council have achieved so far. We are in far better shape now than we have been in a long time, and we need the leadership of the mayor to continue on this path. I shudder to think where this city would be had Eddie not ran for mayor, and we were still controlled by labour unions who got everything they wanted at all of our expense!

Agreed, the unions ran the city into the ground for years. Eddie was a godsend.

[Symz]

A photo update of the Windsor Star's move into their new building the former Palace theatre.

http://postmediawindsorstar.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/star6-main1.jpg

http://postmediawindsorstar.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/star8.jpg?w=690&h=396

Click the link for more pics

http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2012/11/13/photos-update-on-the-stars-big-move/

[Symz]

A weekend trade centre is planned for Walker road in the old GM plant. It will be like a mini Gibraltar Trade Centre in Detroit.

source: http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2012/11/12/trade-centre-planned-for-gm-h-building/

http://postmediawindsorstar.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/windsorexpocentre.jpg

A Toronto group that has been advertising for flea market vendors since the summer is preparing to open a weekend trade centre in a former General Motors building on the east side of Walker Road, says a spokesman.

“We’re expecting big traffic in this place, plus there will be a variety of vendors,” said Alex Alshamma, one of the partners in the Windsor Trade Market.

Booths are under construction in part of the Windsor Expo Centre, at 1508 Walker Rd., and the trade centre could open as early as Dec. 7. If not, the opening will likely be delayed until March, Alshamma said. “We’re working around the clock to make it happen in December.”

There are 160 interested vendors, of which 75 per cent have existing businesses in Windsor, Essex County and Chatham-Kent, said Alshamma, who recently moved to Windsor.

The goal is to have at least 220 booths to create a Friday-through-Sunday market similar to Dr. Flea’s Flea Market in Toronto and the Gibraltar Trade Centers in Michigan, he said.

Alshamma and his partners are renting 40,000 square feet of the Windsor Expo Centre and converting it into booths from which it is expected vendors will be selling furniture, home accessories, electronics, clothing, shoes and other new merchandise. The operators have all the permits required, he said.

“It’s an exciting concept,” said Doug Lepain, who manages the expo centre for Toronto owner Malik Khalid.

The operators will be spending “a significant amount of money on renovations, including cubicles, lighting, flooring, walls and painting. It’s become a major project and it’s exciting to see it coming together,” Lepain said.

“The goal is to offer local vendors and small business owners a venue to sell their merchandise and to give local residents a place to find new, quality merchandise at a reasonable price.”

The Gibraltar Trade Centres were established in 1980 and in addition to selling merchandise, the centres stage trade, wellness, autograph and entertainment shows throughout the year.

[north 42]

Neat, I used to work with her sister in the 80s when she and her sister had shops next to each other, where Phog is now. One was a salon and the other a clothing shop.

See below

[Symz]

post deleted, it was a duplicate

[Symz]

The city has bought the Grace Hospital site.

http://postmediawindsorstar.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/hospital.jpg

source: http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2012/11/23/city-buys-grace-site/

City buys the Grace Hospital site

The City of Windsor has purchased the former Grace Hospital site and intends to take “immediate action” to clean up the eyesore, The Star has learned. City council agreed unanimously to the approve the deal in a hastily-called in-camera meeting Friday morning. The deal for the closed hospital — long an embarrassment for the city and area politicians — closed late this afternoon. Details are expected to follow shortly.

The CBC is reporting the city paid $2.3 million as seen in this link
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/story/2012/11/23/wdr-windsor-grace-.html

[RoseCityFreePress]

I Hope after the building is gone that they do something good with the sight that will make the value of that area better.

[Symz]

I don't have pictures at the moment, but here's a small update of some of the bigger construction projects in the area at the moment.


W-E Parkway
New Windsor Jail
Downtown Aquatic Centre
Schlegal Villages long term care home at St. Clair College
New Windsor Star HQ
Detroit - Windsor Tunnel plaza expansion (permanent closure of 2 blocks of Goyeau)
St. Clair College Sportsplex
New HMCS Hunter building in Sandwich
University of Windsor School of Engineering
University of Windsor Visitor's Centre/Campus Police with parking garage

[Jacob]

The empty lot (http://goo.gl/maps/2TaQz) near the intersection of Park and Oullette now says SOLD.

[Symz]

The empty lot (http://goo.gl/maps/2TaQz) near the intersection of Park and Oullette now says SOLD.

That is good news but I'm not holding my breath. There are a few other properties that have had a SOLD sign in their window for the better part of a year and yet are still empty. :\

I'm glad to hear it's sold though, let's cross our fingers.

[Jacob]

The former TD Building (https://maps.google.com/?ll=42.314134,-83.036695&spn=0.000572,0.001321&t=h&z=20&layer=c&cbll=42.314134,-83.036695&panoid=sGFIUKuSkIcd6QA8Jr53NQ&cbp=12,13.61,,0,-11.79) downtown says SOLD as well.

[north 42]

:previous:

The guy who owns 500 Ouellette bought that building. Unfortunately I heard that there's a Cash Money going right in the prime corner spot. How many of these parasitic money shops can this corner handle? There's about 6 right in that immediate area. So lame!

[Blitz]

There must be a market that can sustain them (i.e. poor people). We need some type of catalyst to get wealthier people to move to the core. It's working in London with the building of large decent residential towers.

[north 42]

The best site for a high end residential highrise would be the lot next to the Art Gallery, great view, away from the noise of the strip, and surrounded by well kept properties. I'm sure if there was a choice like this, it would prove to be popular, especially with all the new happenings DT and an increasing pedestrian presence.

[Symz]

The best site for a high end residential highrise would be the lot next to the Art Gallery, great view, away from the noise of the strip, and surrounded by well kept properties. I'm sure if there was a choice like this, it would prove to be popular, especially with all the new happenings DT and an increasing pedestrian presence.

And the fate of that lot rests in Farhi's hands...

[Jacob]

And the fate of that lot rests in Farhi's hands...

The signs say "build to suit" So he's waiting for someone to show interest before doing anything. Maybe someone will build a nice, high end condominium or rental place there. It would bring the more wealthy people that this city needs in the core. But to attract these people, we need better retail in the area, more high end stores like clothing stores and better grocery options.

And we need a stronger transit system. Maybe a BRT service with signal priority and dedicated lanes. There are too many full buses and it takes far too long to get across the city using transit.

I'd really like to see this building (https://maps.google.com/?ll=42.314018,-83.036127&spn=0.001144,0.002642&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=42.314072,-83.036892&panoid=KEmvEILZlN8R5qWd4EMTYw&cbp=12,321.79,,0,1.84) ripped out and replaced with something like this (https://maps.google.com/?ll=43.640082,-79.394653&spn=0.00896,0.021136&t=h&z=16&layer=c&cbll=43.640285,-79.394493&panoid=chHF-wbDM_AlxQg-SWZpkA&cbp=12,34.54,,0,-9.69). There is a very sprawling parking lot surrounding it that is really unsightly, like any surface parking lot for that matter.

[north 42]

:previous:

That would be awesome for a building like that to go on that corner, but I actually don't mind the one there now because it's renovated, and is home to one of the city's successful hi tech firms, which we need more of DT.

[Jacob]

:previous:

That would be awesome for a building like that to go on that corner, but I actually don't mind the one there now because it's renovated, and is home to one of the city's successful hi tech firms, which we need more of DT.

What if that firm ended up in the old TD building instead of "cash money"?

[north 42]

Anything is better than another Cash Money, but they bought that building, so I doubt they would move if they didn't have a good reason.

[Symz]

Are you guys talking abut the old TD building on the corner of Ouellette and Wyandotte? Cash Money is going in there?

[north 42]

Yes, unfortunately,that's what I heard. Such a prominent spot. For such a shitty business!

[Symz]

Yes, unfortunately,that's what I heard. Such a prominent spot. For such a shitty business!

I thought Cash Money was already located along Ouellette kind of kiddy corner to that intersection in this area. Ooops, sorry just realized I was thinking of Money Mart. Is that still located at that intersection?

[north 42]

Yup, now we'll have them on both corners!

[Symz]

City building permits are up this year.

source: http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2012/12/05/building-permits-spiking/

Continuing to be fuelled by a large increase in government and institutional construction, building permits issued by the City of Windsor are more than $100 million ahead of last year’s pace with one month remaining in the year.

So far, there have been $161 million in government and institutional permits issued, helping drive the overall 11-month total to $277,456,230, compared to $175,411,954 a year ago. Last year, there were $45 million in government and institutional permits issued.

Four projects account for $135 million of that government and institutional total.

Residential permits have increased from $55.4 million to $73.2 million and commercial permits have edged up slightly from $29.2 million to $31.9 million while industrial have fallen from$45.6 million to $11.3 million.

Among the large projects listed for November are construction of two office buildings at 1375 Huron Church Rd. for a total of $1 million, interior fit-outs for an LCBO store at 7470 Tecumseh Rd. E. for $900,000, construction of a 3,057 sq.ft. addition to Chrysler’s Windsor Assembly Plant at 2199 Chrysler Centre for $750,000, interior alterations to a Pricewaterhouse Coopers office at 245 Ouellette Pl. for $500,000.

Nice to see finally something is going up on the lot where A & W once stood on Huron Church.

https://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ll=42.290117,-83.059537&spn=0.00086,0.001334&t=h&z=20&layer=c&cbll=42.290222,-83.05986&panoid=9yeFtiWo3O7wkmVzEdRumg&cbp=12,276.74,,0,1.31

lol, notice the Cash Money sign?....

[north 42]

That's right too, I forgot they were moving into that spot too once it's built. Enough of them already!

[Jacob]

That's right too, I forgot they were moving into that spot too once it's built. Enough of them already!

Even their name makes my skin itch. It's time something worth visiting opened up downtown; it's a bit depressing to go down there.

[north 42]

It's not nearly as bad as it was 5 years ago, the DT has made progress, much cleaner with the street scaping, less kiddie bars, St Claire College campus, the soon to be University campus, the new aquatic centre and even new restaurants and stores, although not much retail. I live and work DT and love it, things really are finally progressing, and I think most people will be pleasantly surprised with the core we will have in the coming years.