Windsor talk

[Loco101]

Originally Posted by Blitz

So true...the damn unions ran the city for so long but Eddie sure put a stop to that!! I wouldn't be surprised at all if his brother Fred becomes our next mayor.

I don't live in Windsor so I just wanted to ask: How did the unions run the city? Which unions and how did they have so much power?

[Blitz]

The CAW would endorse politicians in the local elections and those endorsed would often win because of their huge organized base. For years (decades, really) municipal taxes rose way above provincial averages, city hall became bloated, municipal debt was out of control, little attention was paid to infrastructure or economic development (since presumably we always had the auto industry to rely on), city workers were given very generous pay and benefits since politicians feared losing the labour vote, and it all just became unsustainable.

Everything changed in 2003 when Eddie Francis was elected mayor. He was only 29 years old at the time and did not have labour's endorsement (but he had experience in running a small business). He ran on the ticket of "running the city like a business" and that's what he did during his entire 11 years in office. Holding the line on taxes, city beautification, infrastructure, and making city services more efficient all became priorities. It culminated in a 101 day strike by city workers in 2009. But even when the grass in the parks was 6 feet tall and garbage was piling up everywhere he still did not back down and the workers eventually caved.

That strike was a huge turning point in our history because it symbolized that labour no longer controlled Windsor politics. Francis was easily re-elected in the years after but the labour community in town absolutely despises him - and his predecessor, our current mayor Drew Dilkens (who Francis endorsed). Windsor is the only city in Canada and possibly North America that has had zero tax increases for the past 8 years and we now have one of the lowest per capita municipal debts.

[north 42]

^^^ So true! That historic strike was the turning point for Windsor, when it finally broke the unions control over the city. And I think it's funny that the unions turned the city's citizens against them, with their outdated, militant tactics that they forced ordinary citizens to endure. They were just so out of touch with the reality of the time, and it did them in.

[Symz]

Windsor is still a basket case of a city after the Francis years. So take what was said above with a grain of salt.

[north 42]

This city would still be a disaster without Francis, anyone who thinks different is just sour grapes!

[Loco101]

Interesting responses!! And thanks.

I'm pretty sure that Windsor has it much better than Timmins does when it comes to your municipal government.

[Symz]

Originally Posted by north 42

This city would still be a disaster without Francis, anyone who thinks different is just sour grapes!

I think the Francis years are still up for debate with a lot of Windsorites. Just because you think he did a great job doesn't mean he did a great job, opinions are subjective.

[Blitz]

This is what we're talking about...Francis was so polarizing because he was such a strong leader who backed down to nobody. But only a strong leader could have taken on the unions (and get all of city council behind him, no less). Something had to change and he knew it.

[Symz]

Go figure, the aquatic centre is turning into the giant under performing money pit that everyone thought it would become.

http://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/questions-floated-as-red-ink-flows-at-adventure-bay

[Odyssey]

Hey, what do you guys think of the new hospital and its planned location? do you guys think it should be more towards the city centre? I think the location is perfect because it could start development in Sandwich South.

[Blitz]

It should be in a more urban area. The location behind Home Depot near Tecumseh and Lauzon seemed ideal. The proposed location will only promote sprawl especially since a few thousand people work at the hospital and will be commuting there daily.

[Odyssey]

Originally Posted by Blitz

It should be in a more urban area. The location behind Home Depot near Tecumseh and Lauzon seemed ideal. The proposed location will only promote sprawl especially since a few thousand people work at the hospital and will be commuting there daily.

Yeah, that's a good location aswell. though it's kind of close to Windsor Regional Hospital.

[Odyssey]

Man, every time I pass that abandoned (former) Rona near Walmart in East Windsor I just cringe, they need put something there.

[Blitz]

I heard a rumour a while ago that Costco was looking at that property. I think metro Windsor would be able to support two Costcos...for people living in the eastern half of the city it can be a hassle going to the Walker/Provincial area.

In other news the old Travelodge Hotel downtown is becoming a Holiday Inn Express after it undergoes millions of dollars in renovation. The TownePlace Suites Hotel (the old Quality Suites) is opening downtown in Spring after a complete renovation as well. Even with 700 rooms the vacancy rate at Caesars averages only about 5% nightly so there's good news all around for the local hotel industry.

[north 42]

Windsor should definately have a second Cosco, the current one is always way way too crowded. With a population of 400,000 in Windsor and Essex County, it just makes sense.

It's also nice to see those two hotels being renovated and changing ownership, they were getting tired looking. Also I like that they're painting the old Travel Lodge in shades of grey, covering up that horrible brownish/red house brick.

[Odyssey]

Originally Posted by Blitz

I heard a rumour a while ago that Costco was looking at that property. I think metro Windsor would be able to support two Costcos...for people living in the eastern half of the city it can be a hassle going to the Walker/Provincial area.

that would be awesome. hopefully they don't leave it after 2 years like Rona did...

[Odyssey]

So apparently an exact replica of the Norwich Block is to be built in Tecumseh...

When the Norwich Block was torn down to make way for the steel and glass One Riverside Drive West and to get rid of that pesky architectural charm that Windsor once had many people objected to its destruction. After the block’s demise, many thought that these buildings were lost forever. That is until one Tecumseh man took it upon himself to construct an exact replica of the historic block on some property he owns. “I used brick, wood, glass and other period construction materials when I built my replica of the Norwich Block,” said Mario Profaci, electrical engineer and hobby craftsman. “I love the way it’s turned out. I’m really happy with the result.” Profaci has already fielded a massive amount of calls from interested business owners who are, in his words, “Chomping at the bit” to get a spot in the new Norwich Block, which is in the middle of a former corn field outside of the Town of Tecumseh.
“Right now the whole ‘Urban Chic’ thing is really popular,” said Nicole Hastings, financial adviser and expert on business trends. “People want the urban shopping experience, but they don’t want to do it in an actual city. Cities are dangerous, loud, and they smell bad. People want an authentic urban experience without all the fuss and without the risk of being stabbed.” Already, work has begun on a massive parking lot next to the new Block, and on the fringes, other buildings are being built – some rumoured to be fast food restaurants and a used car dealership. “This is the greatest day of my life,” said stucco installer Greg Morin. “Every business on the outlying fringes of this parking lot will be clad in stucco. They want to use bright pastels and burnt Southwestern colour schemes. The New Norwich Block will have stucco on it within 10 years, you’ll see. It’s too expensive to maintain brick – or at least that’s what I’ve heard, I don’t know.”
The first tenant will be local narcotic dealer Tim Horton’s, with other businesses following suit. “I have at least 45 businesses on a waiting list,” said Profaci, “and I want to sell to the highest bidder, so I hope they are prepared for a bidding war. It took me a hell of a long time to carve those columns myself.” When the original Block was in the process of being sold off and dismantled, many citizens loudly objected to this destruction of historical property. The news of this new Norwich Block being opened is bittersweet for the former leader of Save The Block, John Humphrey. “We fought for a long time for the Norwich Block to be saved, but in the end it wasn’t,” said Humphrey. “The fact that this new Block was built is great, but couldn’t they have built it, oh I don’t know, in the actual city rather than in the middle of an old corn field? It’s like a Disneyland version of urbanity.” Responding to this accusation, Profaci was in partial agreement with Humphrey’s assessment. “Yeah, that’s actually a great way to put it. I think that’s how I’ll market it. It’s an urban theme park. I was going to build a replica of Boblo next to it anyway.”

[Symz]

I think the new hospital location sucks, I think it's promoting sprawl and will partially gut other parts of the city, I would like to see it in a more urban location.

I think it's good that the hotels have changed hands and are getting a much needed refresh.

Can Farhi do something to the old Ramada building already??? It needs a new.
coat of paint or something, jeeze.

[Odyssey]

Originally Posted by Symz

I think the new hospital location sucks, I think it's promoting sprawl and will partially gut other parts of the city, I would like to see it in a more urban location.

I think we should agree to disagree, I think it will promote people to build in Sandwich South and beyond and expand the region. If they build in an already urban area (like East Windsor), then there will be no other expansion in the area beyond the new hospital. I think the current location will make there be a new hospital plus a new neighbourhood after awhile with access to the airport and a hospital, it will expand the city population wise and new businesses will start building along County Road 42 (which will probably get a name change).

[Blitz]

Hm, that Norwich block thing sounds interesting...even though it's in Tecumseh. What's the source on that?

The Sandwich South area will grow whether or not a new hospital goes in there. The Tec/Lauzon Pkwy location was rejected only because it cost a couple more million dollars - it's absurd to base a decision this big on that tiny amount. It's better for a city to grow upward rather than outward especially when there is room for infill in the urban core.

Which one is the old Ramada building? I know the Holiday Inn on Ouellette used to be a Ramada...does Farhi own that hotel too?