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  #1  
Old Posted Aug 31, 2011, 10:51 PM
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Windsor talk

I thought I'd take the liberty of starting another Windsor thread to see what people have to say about Windsor.

As you can tell Windsor doesn't have it's own subsection probably because development in Windsor is slow and/or because there could be a low number of people from Windsor on these boards, I'm guessing it's both.

Over the years I've noticed in the Windsor & Essex-County area that Windsor has a bad reputation and there's soo much hate directed towards the city from both it's own residents and county residents. I just thought I'd pick people's brains a bit and ask you guys why you think this situation currently exists? The success of the city and the county are tied together, so why is there soo much loathing for the city in the area, it seems the city is plagued with this stigma, even though the city has been trying to clean up it's image and position itself for a better future.

What does you guys think?

Also how many people on these boards are from Windsor, or have been there enough to legitimately comment on what they think of the city?

P.S. I feel a slight connection to The London forums because at least you guys have your own subsection and you're a city that is slightly larger than Windsor, but still under 500,000 and you're far enough away to not be lumped into the GTA.

If you feel that development in London is slow at times, just drive down the 401 for a few hours. Aside from a casino what has been built in downtown Windsor in the last 20 years? Not much, courthouse, Daimler stumpy building on the old norwhich block, but besides that nothing of significance.
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Old Posted Aug 31, 2011, 10:55 PM
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Just to add to the previous post.

Windsor is always talking about turning a corner, and I can see the city trying, but it seems still we're having trouble attracting private development, sure Schmuel Farhi has bought some prestigious pieces of riverfront property that are still sitting empty, but what does that do for us? I've heard some mixed things about this developer.

It always seems that Windsor is always talking about turning a corner and that corner never comes, but maybe the Windsor-Essex Parkway is that corner?

Last edited by Symz; Aug 31, 2011 at 11:19 PM.
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  #3  
Old Posted Sep 1, 2011, 5:45 PM
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I think a while back they tried a Windsor subforum but it failed because there just aren't enough people here to support it. So all the Windsor talk was confined to the Windsor Construction thread.

Regarding your question, I don't think there's proportionally more "hate" directed toward the city at all. I've lived in Windsor, London, Winnipeg, and Brandon. In each of those cities, people have had the exact same attitude towards their city....they always think the grass is greener somewhere else. They're always quick to point out the negatives rather than the positives. On the flip side, I know many people who love Windsor and would never live anywhere else.

One issue in Windsor is the way that the city and suburbs constantly bicker. The best solution to this would be if the provincial governement would force Windsor to annex its suburbs...but they haven't because they're afraid of losing votes. Regardless, Windsor has a lot going for it when you consider the waterfront, the transportation network, the geographic location of the city, etc.

Part of Windsor's problem is that people from the rest of Canada don't even give it a chance - they automatically assume it's an extension of Detroit when in fact the two are so different. But the reality is, until Detroit seriously turns around, we're going to be stuck with dealing with their fallout.

The lack of development in town is a direct result of the recession and is nothing to be concerned about. Look back through Windsor's history - when the economy is down, it's really down. But when the economy is up, it's really up. Overall, I'm really happy with the job the mayor and city council have been doing and it looks like the city has a bright future for sure.
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Old Posted Sep 1, 2011, 9:00 PM
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I am not one of those Windsor residents that always puts our city down, quite the opposite actually. I see amazing potential now for the whole region, city and county. We have the best mayor this city has ever seen, and I give him much of the credit for changing the way the city does business. These next few years will really change this city forever, and i'm excited to live here and enjoy the transformation from blue collar auto city to a modern diversified economy. Change is in the air everywhere, slow now, but picking up steam.
Just in the last year alone, there have been a cluster of new hi tech businesses set up in our downtown, which I find very exciting. I hope more people in town and from other areas start seeing all the changes taking place. Great things are coming.
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  #5  
Old Posted Sep 1, 2011, 9:38 PM
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I also see the City and County starting to really work together now more than ever. I would love to see the entire region amalgamate and become one, which would make for better planning of new growth, saving agricultural lands and natural areas.
We can compete better against other cities as one strong region, as opposed to competing with eachother, as well.
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  #6  
Old Posted Sep 2, 2011, 1:11 AM
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Hey guys, thanks for responding. If these only 3 of us here to have these Windsor conversations then so be it! Our conversations can be more constructive than the discussions at windsorstar.com (those conversations usually quickly degrade to nothing constructive).

I read a few months ago in a Wndsor Star article that a high rise residential tower has not been built in downtown Windsor in over 35 years! (Portifino does not count as it's not in the core).

I understand Windsor is a boom or bust town, but development downtown has been slow. I never really understood why the city has never blossomed, you would think there's soo much potential for this city to be something more significant.

I also agree that we have a good mayor at the moment, but others would disagree. I am glad he is getting things done, instead of just spending money on studies etc. That never bear any fruit. Get it done Eddie!

What do you guys feel will be the impact of the downtown aquatic centre? I think Schmuel Farhi (sitting on the riverside property next to the art gallery) I think he is sitting on that land waiting to move on it after the centre is built.

How do you guys feel sbout the university coming back downtown? I think this will be great, as the core needs more ppl and foot traffic downtown.

Also, where do you think the downtown market should go? I think Pelissier is a fine spot, bupt others don't.

I think Blitz is right in saying the region competes with itself too much, there's too many strips malls and big box stores in the outskirts of the city or in the outlying county and it deters from downtown development.

A lot of ppl view downtown as having too many drunks, panhandlers and beatniks, they always say there isn't enough parking and not enough for families to do. (hopefully the aquatic centre will give families a little something to go down there for).

Always, thanks for the chat guys.
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  #7  
Old Posted Sep 2, 2011, 3:40 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Symz
Hey guys, thanks for responding. If these only 3 of us here to have these Windsor conversations then so be it! Our conversations can be more constructive than the discussions at windsorstar.com (those conversations usually quickly degrade to nothing constructive).
Oh, now I see where you're coming from. Yeah, those comment boards are full of trolls. Dude, if you listened to those comments, Eddie Francis would've had no shot in winning the last election! Just goes to show that the people who comment there do not at all represent the majority and it's best to ignore them. The comment section on the London Free Press and many other newspapers is exactly the same....full of braindead trolls.

I'm excited for the aquatic centre and library and the university downtown. Just look at what a university campus has done for downtown Brantford over the past decade. That downtown used to be horrific. Not sure what do with the market although Pelissier Street looks pretty decent after its makeover so that might be a good spot.

I want to see more highrise residential downtown too but apparently they're not being built because the rents are too low in Windsor for large apartment buildings to be feasible for the developers right now.
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  #8  
Old Posted Sep 2, 2011, 7:36 PM
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That quote about no highrise construction downtown in 35 years was in ferrerence to rental appartments, not condo or office towers. 75 Riverside w went up about 20 years ago or so, as well as waterplace condos on Riverside Dr across from the pumping station. Also our very underwhelming Chrysler "tower".

The University coming downtown and college expanding are great news, bringing new, young people to study and hopefully live and play as well. I work on Pelissier St and live in a condo on Ouellette, so the market being anywhere in the central core would be great.

The aquatic centre will be a great addition downtown, and will add some much needed density to the core.
I also think that with more people moving here to retire, and work in our improving economy, highrise condo developement will finally be feasable, as many retired people and younge workers will want to be downtown where everything is consentrated.

As for the Star forums, I can't even read the bullshit that goes on there, with all these paid trolls taking over with their anti everything posts. I wish the star had a better way of allowing conversations to happen without them being hijacked by idiots.
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  #9  
Old Posted Sep 2, 2011, 7:58 PM
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Originally Posted by north 42 View Post
As for the Star forums, I can't even read the bullshit that goes on there, with all these paid trolls taking over with their anti everything posts. I wish the star had a better way of allowing conversations to happen without them being hijacked by idiots.
The Windsor Star should force people to log in using their Facebook account and I think that would cut down on the trolling dramatically.

As for people living downtown, well, don't get me wrong I'm no windsor hater, but everyone I've talked to says that there is no appeal to even go downtown, let alone live there.

My fiancee and I frequent downtown, we enjoy it, she works down there above Starbucks. We feel it's essential for us (though I know we're only 2 people) to go down there atleast a few times a month and support the downtown, which at this point is relegated to eating (and paying for parking), we also visit the art gallery from time to time, and ofcourse the usual walks at the river and down and around through the core.

Honestly though living downtown though does not seem appealing. Alot of the apartments 'seem' cheap, there are some sketchy parts of downtown, and dealing with the bar crowd and the noise could be an issue (the downtown residents association is always barking about the noise, and the rowdiness). The appeal for people to move downtown just isn't there, the stigma of being a bar town is still strong and it's going to take a long time to really get people with any kind of money to move there. Also there are not enough ammenities down there for the people that do live there.

Downtown for the most part, (weekend night time aside) just 'feels' dead and until the city can harness that vibrancy of a city I just don't see people moving to the core.

I want the city to become vibrant with bustling streets like in the old days, when Oullette had more on-street parking (before the mall opened too), but watching the city get there is like watching molasses in winter time. It feels like most of the country is experiencing either a boom or modest growth and we're still stuck in the boom or bust cycle (bust atm).

Btw, did you guys read Rosati is starting on that new commercial/industrial business park at the old van plant location on Pillette, so that's good!

Something needs to be done about the Grace hospital site now, man what an eyesore (and I was born there *sniffle*).

Oh and Investor's Group can't move into the ground floor of Canderel soon enough, I'm tired of looking at all that vacant space and remembering the historic block we tore down for it.
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  #10  
Old Posted Sep 3, 2011, 6:05 AM
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I think downtown would be a neat place to live. I currently live in a highrise in downtown London and the noise isn't too bad but it is something that you have to deal with on weekend nights - comes with the territory.

In Windsor, there are too many low income residential buildings downtown and I think this scares wealthier people from living there. The Glengarry housing projects nearby don't help either. In London, the neighbourhoods surrounding downtown are generally wealthier whereas the poorer areas are scattered around the city better.

Yeah, I was born at Grace too. What a mess, it'll probably be demolished eventually.
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  #11  
Old Posted Sep 3, 2011, 2:43 PM
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I love living downtown, with having so many choices of places to go eat and walking along the riverfront park trails. Sure it gets noisey on the weekends, but that's part of the charm of living in a city centre. As for the sketchy element, most larger cities have the same problem. For the most part, I have never been bothered. The core is slowly getting less dead, with new businesses moving in. The streetscaping has really done wonders for making it look clean and bright with all the trees and flowers planted.

I truly feel that in the next few years, Windsor will finally take off and boom, due to a renewed and diversified economy, good planning, healthy finances at city hall and great leadership. It looks like hi tech companies will play a major part in this renaisance, as well as green energy, as long as the green energy act is still around.

All the new wineries out in the county will also do wonders to change the perception of the region. We have 15 already here with 3 more to open in the next few years. Also if we keep getting new festivals here, that can only be a plus.

Btw, I was also born at Grace, I hope they at least domolish the site and open it up to some sort of smart developement.

I wish Windsors skyline would get a bit more respect on here. It is often overlooked when comparing canadian city skylines. I know it's not spectacular or super dense, but we have some great height with the casino tower and Victoria Park Place, the casino and one London Place are the same basic height, much taller than anything in K-W, Regina, Hallifax, Saskatoon, Victoria or St Johns.
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  #12  
Old Posted Sep 3, 2011, 6:12 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by north 42 View Post
I wish Windsors skyline would get a bit more respect on here. It is often overlooked when comparing canadian city skylines. I know it's not spectacular or super dense, but we have some great height with the casino tower and Victoria Park Place, the casino and one London Place are the same basic height, much taller than anything in K-W, Regina, Hallifax, Saskatoon, Victoria or St Johns.
Agreed. Windsor has a decent skyline that can compare with the cities you mentioned (minus Halifax and Victoria though imo). I like the Casino towers, which are better than some of the crap in Niagara Falls. They certainly add some great height and style. I also really like your chrysler building. It's quite sharp looking.

As for the fact that not much has been built downtown in the last 20 years, I wouldn't be too worried. Sure, London has built recently, and continues to build residential towers downtown, but have you seen what they look like?


http://www.flickr.com/photos/mark81/page69/


http://drewloholdings.com/apartments-for-rent/london/

(Sorry Blitz!)


http://www.youronlineagents.com/stev...83&office=true



Hopefully downtown Windsor can reinvigorate iteslf (a process that London is still desperately working towards, despite the presence of these buildings) with the help of some nice, glassy and well integrated low and highrise buildings!

Just a thought, eh?
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  #13  
Old Posted Sep 4, 2011, 4:00 AM
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London now has a former Windsorite Jim Yanchula working for them.
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  #14  
Old Posted Sep 4, 2011, 5:49 AM
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haha, I've lived in the first two buildings that you posted pics of. They're not much too look at but they're very nice inside and maintained well. I'm just happy to be living in the core where I can walk everywhere and not deal with stinkin London traffic everyday.

Windsor has built some nice glass condos along the waterfront over the past few years but they're not downtown. Check em out:






http://www.flickr.com/photos/23056733@N05/2824751827/
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  #15  
Old Posted Sep 4, 2011, 1:17 PM
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^Wow, those are pretty nice. I had no idea Windsor had those. London's suburbs are still building giant commie block slabs.
Maybe it's the "waterfront" mentality that attracts these more pleasent looking designs.
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Old Posted Sep 6, 2011, 3:31 PM
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I find it frustrating that we build all these beautifully designed condos along the riverfront, but have nothing like them on our downtown waterfront skyline, except for the one in the last photo, but that's even just outside our downtown border.
Those condos are all within the city's border, just not in the downtown.

Our skyline would look so much better if we had these buildings in the core, as opposed to residential areas. I'm sure with a strenthening economy, if they built these types of condos in the core with a view of the Detroit skyline, they would be very popular and sell well. Hopefully Fahri dives in and builds one on the property he owns next to the art gallery. I'm not holding my breath though, just hopeful.
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Old Posted Sep 6, 2011, 10:21 PM
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Farhi is waiting for the Aquatic Centre, that's my bet. His property is right next to it's future location.
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  #18  
Old Posted Sep 6, 2011, 10:27 PM
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I saw the new VIA station taking shape yesterday. They have structural steel up. It's bigger than the old station and reminds me of the new bus station downtown.
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Old Posted Sep 6, 2011, 10:29 PM
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@Simpseatles, I think the buildings in the second photo look alright.
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Old Posted Sep 7, 2011, 7:11 PM
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This funny video about Windsor was in a story in the Windsor Star a while back, I thought it'd be fun to add a link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmpsc...layer_embedded
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