Bits and Bites
This is what you call a “Dogs Breakfast”. It’s clearly not the clever prose you’re used to coming from my keyboard, but nonetheless…
Downtown Residents Association meeting
General Meeting
Where? St. Clair Centre for the Arts
Whe? Wednesday, September 17 @ 5:00 PMMeet the organizing committee of the DRA Meet other concerned downtown residents Become involved in the developmet of our downtown community Stay informed of all that happens in our city core Displays and Round Tale discussions Join the DRA. Free membership for 2008
For further information, call 519-973-0766
Transit Windsor Community Consultations
The objective of these public consultations is to improve public transit in the City of Windsr by increasing service schedule frequencies and reducing passenger seat time through the implementation of a simplified grid pattern route system. This is an initiative based on the Transit Master Plan and could introduce Bus Rapid Transit and other Travel Demand Management and Intelligent Systems in the future.
With rising fuel costs, citizens are looking for alternative forms of transportation.
Tuesday, September 16th
Devonshire Mall (near Jacob’s)
3100 Howard Ave.
9:30 A - 9:00 PMWednesday, September 17th
University of Windsor (Outside the CAW Student Centre)
11:00 AM - 3:00 PMThursday, September 18th
St. Clair College (near the Student Centre)
2000 Talbot Street West
11:00 AM - 3:00 PMTecumseh Mall (near Zellers)
7654 Tecumseh Road East
9:30 AM - 9:00 PMFriday, September 19th
Windsor International Transit Terminal (WITT)
300 Chatham Street West
7:00 AM - 9:00 PMAlternately, Transit Windsor welcomes you to email your comments to [email protected]
One proactive SD reader suggested “How about making the Crosstown 2 a “free” / no fare bus route?
While a totally free transit system is a bit utopian, I don’t think it is unreasonable to offer one (1) route free. And that one route - the Crosstown - basically services all the critical urban areas the city is looking to revive. Added bonus is that it goes to the WFCU Arena which may just the next “downtown” in its own right.
What better way to get urban residents out on the bus and maybe even rediscovering it for the first time than to make the most important route in the core free? Even if this is done on a promotional (time limited) basis I think it would help.
I realize there are other routes that go in/out of the core and other urban areas partially but the Crosstown is the “401″ of them all.”
I couldn’t agree more!
Is the Windsor Star On Board?
For our out-of-town readers, or those of you who have all but given up on our local, daily rag, I thought I would point you in the Windsor Star’s direction because the last couple of days they have been co-opting ScaleDown’s message, which is fine by us…
City Pushes Urban Renewal
With a number of neighbourhoods across the city starting to look tired and in need of a boost, city council will explore introducing financial incentives to encourage upgrades (read the rest by clicking here)Urban Growth
Finding a template the works…Decreasing property values, store vacancies and a wave of plant closures are expected to cut the city’s tax revenue by millions, which, coupled with rising labour and fuel costs, means the city will be forced to do more with less or mull further property tax hikes.
At the same time, homeowners are fleeing Windsor’s traditional neighbourhoods for newer homes on the outskirts or in Essex County. This exodus is a reaction to Windsor’s high taxes and limited services that compounds the problem by further eroding the tax base. (read the rest by clicking here)
Post Feedback
Great post Chris. The last article you posted from today’s Windsor Star, “Urban Growth”, lays out a great approach to developing sustainable neighbourhoods and WHERE the priorities should be. Here are the couple of paragraphs I’m speaking of:
“The city has long placed too much emphasis on improving the downtown when other areas — like Erie and Ottawa Streets and the Pillette and Riverside areas — have struggled in the face of political neglect and fallen far short of maximizing their potential.
With the price of gas expected to remain high, these neighbourhoods have an inherent advantage over those in the suburbs. The city can best exploit that natural and significant edge by offering competitive taxes and quality services.”
These ideas get at the root of revitalizing the existing established neighbourhoods and not spending the majority of time focused on the downtown itself. There are many areas in the older parts of the city that deserve the same attention as the downtown gets. Creating great walkable places and neighbourhoods where residents WANT to live is essential.
After today’ editorial I’m not sure the star is on board
They talked about too much emphasis on downtown.
I’d equate talking about stuff without doing anything to “emphasis”
How about completing the CIP’s, Streetscaping. Sure we did 80% of the work towards downtown CIP’s but are we going to conclude that thats enough “emphasis” so now we can move on when nothing tangible was realized?????
Downtown, Erie, Ottawa and the other BIA’s SHOULD NOT BE AN EITHER/OR PROPOSITION
Yes that was me yelling
I agree 100% with you Mark, it shouldn’t be an either/or. The entire established area should be given equal opportunity for prioritization, and then neighbourhoods could be addressed in order of their priority (e.g. lack of services, underutilized land use potential, aging infrastructure, etc.).
It should go well beyond the BIA’s and into all of the neighbourhoods, not just the commercial areas. After reading and re-reading the Star’s editorial, it seems to me that they have it exactly right to me. Sandwich, Riverside, Walkerville, University area, Erie, Ottawa, Pilette AND Downtown should all be top priorities of the city…equal footing, equal priority!
Mark, how is only advocating for the revitalization of the Downtown in keeping with the mission and vision of Scaledown??? I acknowledge your vested interest in the Downtown, but to continue to put it first and foremost above all other areas in the city would be more of the same.
Redefine Yourself. I don’t think Mark is doing that at all with Scaledown. He has just stated it shouldn’t be an either/or proposition to which I think we can all agree.
As for “focusing” downtown moreso than other areas. I believe that is because a downtown of ANY city is the heart of which that city is measured. As our’s is decaying at an unprecedented rate I would say that the focusing should be on downtown but also not ignoring the other BIA’s. Sadly our city seems to be able to only focus on one thing at a time. Greenlink…o.k. now tunnel…o.k. now canals….it makes one’s head spin.
So come out to that meeting tonight folks if you really want a say in how our downtown becomes YOUR downtown and not city hall’s.
We can do it IF, and only IF WE DEMAND IT. The ball is in OUR court now. We either crap or get off the pot!
The Windsor Star is a leviathan (that what, only 8 people work at now) that will slowly be pulled to your “message” now and then, more as time goes on. They are primarily reactive, never leading the debate.
…and how did I miss this article in my own city’s daily newspaper?
Canadians Still Reluctant To Walk The Talk
Gas prices are high, and will remain so for the foreseeable future, Canadians are concerned about climate change and are exploring options to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and, finally, many of us wish to improve our health, decrease stress, and perhaps drop a few pounds in the process.
Given these facts, it is perhaps no surprise that Canadian policymakers are increasingly looking for ways to expand “active” transportation - that is, transportation powered by physical activity, such as walking, cycling or inline skating. While active transportation is not always an option, there is the potential for most of us to walk or bike for at least some of our day-to-day activities, be it the commute to work, the trip to the store, or the visit to a friend’s house. read the rest by clicking here
I had to catch up on what should be my regular daily read by the blog Active Transportation by Michael Haynes out of Ottawa. Thanks Mike!