WINDSOR | Construction - News and Development

[Symz]

Some small updates

The new U of W parking deck which will be attached to a new visitor's centre combined with campus police is coming along

source: http://windsorite.ca/2012/12/new-university-of-windsor-parking-garage-shows-its-towering-might/






And construction has started at the old A & W lot on Huron church. Supposedly the article states it has sat empty for a decade.

source: http://windsorite.ca/2012/12/construction-starts-at-former-huron-church-and-tecumseh-aw-property/

Construction has started at a parcel of property on Huron Church that has sat vacant for over a decade.

Located on the corner Huron Church and Tecumseh Road West, this land parcel was once home to an A&W fast food restaurant, but had sat empty since the restaurant was closed and demolished.

Modern Property Management is building a one story retail and financial building. The site plan calls for one 3,500 square foot building and another 4,000 square foot building.

Green space that is part of the property will be used for parking.

Here's a quick webcam snap from Dec 3 of the aquatic centre


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

[Jacob]

Originally Posted by north 42

I think most people will be pleasantly surprised with the core we will have in the coming years.

I hope so, I am not pleased with the core now, though it isn't so bad as long as you stay on Oullette Avenue. I really would be happy if some new (more expensive) residential buildings were put up in City Centre West and maybe a new, larger office building on Oullette. The residential I could see happening any time, but there is little to no demand for office in the city at this time. I have a Google map of places that, if developed, I believe would boost the area. I'm not saying all at once, just possible places.

[Symz]

The aquatic centre from the other day.

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

[north 42]

Nice to see the waterpark section finally being started, I was under the impression that they were going to start it after the competition section was completed.

[Riversideguy]

Wondering when the flashy signs will go up on the new Windsor Star Building. I was hoping they would be up and running for Newyears Eve.

[Symz]

source: http://windsor.ctvnews.ca/traffic-flow-set-to-change-in-downtown-windsor-1.1127753

Traffic flow set to change in downtown Windsor

Part of Goyeau Street is set to become a dedicated entrance to the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel on February 11th, and will no longer provide access to local roads.
In a press release Mario Sonego, a city engineer, said “The expanded tunnel plaza entrance moves right up to Wyandotte, with Goyeau Street between Wyandotte Street and Park Street no longer being a through street. Drivers will need to adjust to accommodate the changes.”
The traffic change will be put in place after the completion of improvements to the Canadian Plaza of the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel.

[Symz]

A picture of downtown Windsor and the aquatic centre construction posted over the weekend.

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

[Jacob]

Lovely picture, looks very nice and an interesting perspective on the city centre. Needs more skyscrapers though.

[Symz]

A recent article giving more information about the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel plaza expansion here in Windsor. Included is a video from the city talking about the changes to traffic in the core.

source: http://windsorite.ca/2013/01/goyeau-stre...-to-local-traffic-forever-february-11th/

• Video Link

Goyeau Street is set to close for good between Wyandotte and Park as construction of Windsor’s new tunnel plaza kicks into high gear in mid-February.

The City of Windsor has released a new video on their YouTube channel detailing exactly how traffic will flow, and how you’ll soon only be able to access the tunnel from Wyandotte Street — with future plans for an entrance at Park and Goyeau.

Beginning Monday, February 11th, 2013, travellers to the United States will access the tunnel via Goyeau Street at Wyandotte Street only. Goyeau Street between Wyandotte Street and Park Street will be used for tunnel access only and no longer for traffic access to local roads.

Work on Windsor’s new tunnel plaza has been underway for months and the first signs of the new layout are starting to be visible to commuters. Workers are presently building the new plaza’s future maintenance building, a structure which is located close to Wyandotte Street.

The new plaza’s finalized design will include a queueing area when traffic wait volumes increase and an entirely landscaped area.

The project primarily includes:

new car access routes
new plaza buildings for Canada Border Services Agency and a tunnel maintenance building
additional car inspection lanes and Nexus lanes
landscaping
moving a City of Windsor Permit Parking lot to the location of the old Beer Store
Outside of the plaza work includes:

Closure of Goyeau Street between Park Street and Wyandotte Street (to become part of the extended plaza area)
Reconfigure City Hall Square to two-way traffic
Reconfigure Park Street to two-way traffic between Goyeau Street and City Hall Square
Reconfigure ‘Lot 10’ Permit Parking (southeast corner of Park Street and Goyeau Street)
Gateway landscaping at the main access at Goyeau Street / Wyandotte Street

[Chadillaccc]

New towers! Now!

[Symz]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

New towers! Now!

When people actually start moving to Windsor again and then maybe wanting to live downtown, MAYBE.

I will probably be ready to retire by the time I see new towers built in Windsor.

[Symz]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

New towers! Now!

From a recent article talking about living in Windsor. This also explains why we're not seeing towers pop up in Windsor.

Windsor is hands down the most affordable city in Canada to buy a home, so it's not surprising that values on our properties, as assessed by the Municipal Assessment Corporation (MPAC), are buried in the dumpster. MPAC, as it does every four years, has updated the values of nearly five million properties across Ontario. The most recent cycle kicked in on January 1, 2013, calculated on values in the new base year pegged on January 1, 2012. MPAC reports that average residential values in Ontario increased 18% since the last assessment update in 2008. The assessed value of Windsor's single family homes, by comparison, decreased by 2.67%. In the commercial sectors, the average province-wide increase was 15.3%, while plummeting 9.8% in Windsor since Jan 1, 2008. In the general and large industrial sector, the province enjoyed a 12.43% hike, while Windsor dropped 7.11%. Windsor's multi-residential values experienced the greatest discrepancy, sinking 7.23% versus a province-wide spike of 25.27%. This makes sense when you consider there are no apartment buildings under construction here while they can't put them up fast enough in the greater Toronto and Ottawa markets.

source: http://www.bizxmagazine.com/issues/February-2013/#p=10

So basically housing values are so low here people choose buying a house with a yard, driveway, garage etc., over renting because it costs almost the same. Why rent when you can own and have those things right?

We are left out of the urban style growth you see happening across the province and country.

[Jacob]

I hope this trend changes soon, i don't like any of the highrises in downtown Windsor, but i want to live in an urban area (real urban, not Windsor suburban)

[north 42]

I wish they had built the Portofino condos right downtown instead of just outside the Core's western boundary, you would have an even better view, and be that much closer to DT amenities. Oh we'll, too late now!

[Symz]

Downtown Wellness Centre planned

source: http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2013/02/12/downtown-wellness-centre-planned/

Owners of the former Million Dollar Saloon are turning the former strip club into a health services building.

John Vangeloff, who owns the building with brother Kim Vangeloff and a Toronto partner, said the Chatham Street Wellness Centre is expected to be open by April or May.

Vangeloff said the centre on Chatham Street East will include a full-service pharmacy, chiropractors and massage therapists as well as other medical professionals.

Click source to read full article.

[north 42]

Thank god something is going into that ugly ass building. It was such an eyesore to look at, hopefully they put a decent facade on it. That section of Chatham St. will look great once the new University campus is up and running.

[Jacob]

I absolutely hate looking at that every Saturday. I always walk past Ouellette from the transit terminal to get to CKS. the amount of people in the area seems to be rising now, making me think, Wow, downtown is getting better" then see this place. needless to say, i am very excited this place is being redone.

Now that i think of it, i wonder if we could do more with CKS during the summer, it just seems like a waste; just tables and some potted trees.

[north 42]

Edit

[north 42]

Interesting proposal for the old Grace Hospital site, hopefully it will go ahead.

http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2013/02/15/church-could-replace-grace/

http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2013/02/17/concept-greek-orthodox-community/

[Symz]

Originally Posted by Jacob

I absolutely hate looking at that every Saturday. I always walk past Ouellette from the transit terminal to get to CKS. the amount of people in the area seems to be rising now, making me think, Wow, downtown is getting better" then see this place. needless to say, i am very excited this place is being redone.

Now that i think of it, i wonder if we could do more with CKS during the summer, it just seems like a waste; just tables and some potted trees.

It's 'Charles Clark Square', not CKS.

Originally Posted by north 42

Interesting proposal for the old Grace Hospital site, hopefully it will go ahead.

http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2013/02/15/church-could-replace-grace/

http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2013/02/17/concept-greek-orthodox-community/

I read about that proposal. I'm not sure how to feel about it yet. The downtown definitely needs something to rise in place of Grace Hospital, I'm not sure if this is the best fit, there are already 4 or 5 churches along University Ave. W.. I'd rather see something else Commercial in nature or hey, here's an idea, some infill residential to boost population in this ward of the city. Or a part of me is desperate enough to wish for something; anything to replace that 8 year old eyesore.