WINDSOR | Construction - News and Development

[upinottawa]

Costs balloon for beautification of Oullette Avenue

Craig Pearson, Windsor Star
Published: Thursday, November 02, 2006


Sprucing up Ouellette Avenue is growing costlier and upsetting at least one city councillor in the process.

The street beautification, running from Pitt to Wyandotte streets, may end up costing almost double the city's 1998 estimate -- ballooning from $3.3 million to $6.2 million -- according to Windsor Coun. Alan Halberstadt.

"It makes me quite upset because I don't believe that council knew," Halberstadt said Wednesday. "I certainly didn't know that we're looking at costs that might be double what we were told.

"If that's the case, that's the case. But I think we should be told up front what the situation is before they start digging."

RISING COSTS

City officials are scheduled to meet at noon today to discuss rising costs of the project -- and who pays for what. So far, only two blocks are under construction, between Pitt and University streets.

But Halberstadt, who wrote about the issue on his blog, said he took his numbers from extrapolations made by the Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association, which could be on the hook for some extra costs.

The formula requires the city to pay 75 per cent of the bill and the DWBIA to pay 25 per cent, though Halberstadt thinks Enwin Utilities should cover some of the underground utility tab.

Jim Yanchula, the City of Windsor manager of urban design, said original estimates were based on 1998 numbers but were only presented to council three years ago.

"Generally, costs go up," Halberstadt said. "But this seems way out of whack from what we were told."

John Zangari, project manager for Dillon Consulting, which oversees the streetscaping, said no final numbers have been set -- although he acknowledged costs will rise above 1998 figures.

"We're almost nine years from the estimate, so I would anticipate that the numbers are going to be higher," said Zangari, adding that work has also expanded since it's more cost-effective to improve underground infrastructure with a street already dug up. "The project includes replacement of the water main and a new pavement structure, and neither of those costs were included in those original estimates."

The first two blocks will open again to traffic this year, Zangari said, but will not be complete till spring. He said the beautification "from building face to building face" will include: new pavement, curbs, lighting, benches, waste receptacles, and more trees.

"It's going to look quite nice," he said. "Some of the areas around the casino, where similar improvements have been made, give you some idea of what it might look like."

© The Windsor Star 2006

[Blitz]

^ That's too bad about the cost ballooning but it's a necessary project. After all the work Detroit has done enhancing their downtown in recent years, it makes Windsor's look tired.

[upinottawa]

1000 jobs is certainly good news, but for some reason I cannot get that scene from Roger and Me out of my head. You know, the one where the Taco Bell manager complains that the out of work autoworkers cannot keep up with the diverse and fast paced taco assembly operations....

As far as the space next to Radisson is concerned, I would hope that the city has a plan for the immediate area (I understand that this lot is not part of the urban village plan). Unfortunately, there are quite a few vacant lots around the lot in question. As it currently stands, that lot might be a tough sell for retail -- the Clearly creates a definite dead zone on Riverside Drive. However, with the college students moving into the Clearly there might be a demand for more retail options on that strip.

I think it would be great if the Radisson and Hilton both had patio restaurants for the nice weather months. That could help draw people down towards the Art Gallery.

[upinottawa]

I remember how impressive McDougal looked after the Casino related streetscaping. I expect Ouellette to look very similar.

Blitz, I agree that Woodward looks better now than it has at any other time during my life. Windsor does not want to look like Detroit's dirty little cousin.

[Border City Boy]

i've often thought that it would be cool to develop some sort of riverfront retail presence by combining and exploiting the (struggling) ground floor retail in the existing hotels with whatever goes up on this corner.

I couldn't agree more. However, if you've never been inside the hotel next to the hole (the name currently escapes), go inside and take the escalator to the second floor.

There is a creepy unused "mall" in there. Now it's home to some offices in the vacant storefronts, but it's clearly a mall. There are benches, and trees and everything.

Very strange.

[upinottawa]

^ For "unused malls" you should check out London's Galleria. During my first year at UWO the mall was busy, but after Eaton's collasped and the Bay pulled out, the department stores were turned into a call centre and the public library. Almost all of the big chains starting pulling out. The place is a ghost town that takes up two city blocks downtown!

[upinottawa]

^^ Who even shops at hotel malls? I could see people shopping there (or at least browsing) if the hotel was the Chateau Frontenac, but Windsor's Radisson is hardly a marvel or a tourist attraction. Really, if you are not staying there, there is no reason to enter that building.

[arnold]

^that's what i mean, with a little push and some creativity, they might be able to actually make a proper little shopping district out of all of these failed (and struggling) stores. combine these (theoretical) stores with the new (theoretical) corner development and the retail at the DCX building and you might be able to draw enough foot traffic to make the whole area a little more vibrant.

and i had walked through the 'abandoned' mall in the raddison(?) a few years ago and it was a truly bizarre experience. the tourism board had their offices down there at the time and they had an awning facing pitt street inviting people in... except that the place was deserted. not exactly the kind of venue that inspires confidence in the downtown...

[Border City Boy]

Arnold, they are still in there...

I'll have to grab my camera and see about getting some shots.

[Border City Boy]

(double post)

[upinottawa]

Is there space for out door cafés or restaurant (re: non-kiddie bar) patios in front of the Cleary, the Hilton and the Radisson? That might attract people to walk down there, especially if there was something interesting at the corner of Riverside and Ferry.

I am not sure if the driveways for the Hilton or Radisson would permit this. I also realize the logistics would be tough for the restaurants.

[upinottawa]

^ when I said something interesting at Riverside and Ferry I meant something interesting in addition to the AGW!

[arnold]

^hey upinottawa, thats an interesting idea...

what if they moved all of the driveways and main entrances for the hotels around back to pitt street (if at all possible) and made riverside a solid, pedestrian friendly cafe promanade? that place would be packed in the summertime...

[upinottawa]

^ Unfortunately, I cannot imagine that the hotels would go for it. Hotels are really big on the front door pick up, drop off, thing. That being said, there could still be room for patios if the driveways were properly configured (maybe).

I wish those big hotel towers had been built one block to the south, with 4-5 story buildings (mainly retail) fronting Riverside. The hotels provide spectacular views, but they also limit what can be done with the area of town.

[Blitz]

Construction begins next month on a Fairfield Inn by Marriott hotel on Windsor's east side. It'll be 4 floors in height located on Banwell Road north of the expressway.

[FenderStrat]

Originally Posted by Blitz

Construction begins next month on a Fairfield Inn by Marriott hotel on Windsor's east side. It'll be 4 floors in height located on Banwell Road north of the expressway.

Thats good news, although it falls right in line with the fact that Windsor's future seems to be a big sprawling mess. I hope that a proper overpass/ramp system is built for banwell some day, as traffic at as EC Row's Banwell, Lesperance and Manning intersections are becoming quite a traffic mess.

[upinottawa]

^ Really, the Tecumseh portion of EC Row (I believe it is called County Road 22 when it gets to Tecumseh) should be made into an expressway complete with ramps etc.

[Blitz]

^I'd agree with that as well. I have no problem with the new motel, it's been a long time coming (Windsor has no motels east of Walker Road).

[upinottawa]

Casino may take hit if Ohio votes for slots
2,000 slot-machines just across Michigan-Ohio border 'could have a considerable impact'

Dave Hall, Windsor Star
Published: Monday, November 06, 2006

More than US$20 million has been spent in recent weeks in an attempt to convince Ohio voters to approve slot-machine gambling when they head to the polls for mid-term elections Tuesday.

Though it could take as long as three years to implement the initiative if it passes, it's likely to have an eventual impact locally, according to an industry analyst.

"I don't know how many Ohio residents visit Windsor for the slots, but putting 2,000 machines in Lucas County just across the Michigan-Ohio border could have a considerable impact on slots revenue in Windsor," said Jacob Miklojcik, president of Michigan Consultants.

"It's just another choice for the gambling public and there could be an impact at all of the Detroit-area casinos, not just in Windsor."

Casino Windsor is watching the campaign, said spokeswoman Holly Ward.

"We've been following the issue because 80 per cent of our customers are from the U.S., and a good portion of those are from Ohio," she said.

"But we're not going to speculate on its possible impact. It's not a new issue for Ohio and it's failed in the past so we'll see what happens."

If the ballot issue passes, slots would be placed in the state's seven racetracks as well as at two independent sites in Cleveland.

The issue has been defeated twice since 1990 but, with Ohio gamblers now spending an estimated US$900 million annually at casinos in Indiana, Michigan and West Virginia, supporters believe the time is right.

"The states around us don't want this to pass," Cuyahoga County commissioner Jimmy Dimora told the Cleveland Plain Dealer recently. "This gives us a fighting chance to keep up with the competition."

Owners of the tracks have contributed between $500,000 and $2 million each to the effort while those opposing the initiative have raised less than $700,000, according to a recent report in the Plain Dealer.

Supporters point to job creation and the positive economic impact on communities hosting slots while detractors claim the jobs are low-paying positions and the impact of addiction outweighs any economic advantages created by slots.

It's been estimated that slots gambling would generate 56,000 jobs in the state, producing several billion dollars in spinoff revenues.

More than 50 per cent of those revenues would go to track and slots operators and six per cent would pay for bigger purses at Ohio's tracks. Another 30 per cent would be used for college grants and scholarships, eight per cent would flow into economic development coffers and one per cent would be used to fund addiction programs.

And while supporters have placed the financial impact at $2.4 billion annually from 31,500 slot machines, opponents say the figure would be closer to $1.08 billion because the state could only support about 10,000 machines.

[email protected] or 519-255-5777, ext. 408.

© The Windsor Star 2006

[fastcarsfreedom]

The Radisson "mall" of which you speak is technically called City Centre.

If you looks at the Riverside Drive signage--it still reads Radisson & City Centre...with the City Centre portion still being in the original (Compri) font.