The Ties That Bind
Back on Wednesday, this vagabond group known as the Windsor/Essex Bloggers decided to do another blog burst.
I completely forgot about it.
Which is even more embarassing because I was the one who brought it up. I blame it on election fever.
The topic of the blog burst was to be on ammenities you have in your neighbourhood, or wish you had in your neighbourhood, that makes it (or would make it) a special place.
Seeing how I live in one of the most celebrated neighbourhoods in this city, this could be a cake-walk. Olde Walkerville is known for many things; well kept heritage homes, inviting front porches, tree covered streets and alleys and an urban design that is being copied globally and called “New Urbanism”. What could we possibly be lacking in this neighbourhood?
I think the one thing that is lacking in my ‘hood isn’t a bricks-and-mortar desire (though a close light rail stop would be nice…) but a social one. You see, even though the residents pride themselves in the uniqueness of Olde Walkerville, I don’t believe the knowledge is here that this community could be a beacon for a rupturing local economy devoted to the bigger/better/faster American Dream. The social cohesion is lacking to protect the qualities that make where we live special.
The lack of an active residents association is a barometer of the apathy that embraces us almost as much as out in the suburbs (OK - not even close, but you get what I’m driving at). I want to see neighbourhood block parties, as well as residents blocking the streets when our heritage properties are threatened and demolished. I want to see a measure of shock at how our elected representatives take us for granted as they slowly chip away at our “brand” and permit strip malls in our midst.
Take a look at what the residents of Monmouth Street, here in Olde Walkerville have accomplished. Through a deep caring for ther community and a desire to foster superior relations, they have banded together creating a much-referred to example of community pride. They hold street clean-up parties at the beginning of the summer in preparation for the Art in the Park visitors, they host an annual alley party where the neighbours turn to their backyards and rekindle the bonds that make life in this ‘hood so special. They even host an annual “800 block VS 900 block” flag football game at the nearby Walkerville Collegiate football field. Ditto in the winter - only hockey this time. Not to mention a holiday celebration or two. Sort of makes you wish the Mayor of Monmouth was actually the Mayor of Windsor, doesn’t it? See what is possible when a community comes together?
Folks - this is what living in community is supposed to be like. This is what we all should aspire to.
I want to see Walkervillians rally around the notion of designating our borough a heritage district. Accept the fact that it will require a little work - side by side with administration - to ensure that the fabric of our district is protected from short-sighted urban planning while putting at ease some peoples libertarian hangups about property rights. We have a responsibility to our city to preserve what we all know are the qualities that truly make the ‘hood a special place, even if our elected officials do not. Internationally renowed authors Chris Turner and James Howard Kunstler marveled at how special this place is, and urged us to protect it before it was too late. I think they’re right.
So, that is what I would like to see happen in Olde Walkerville.
Tags: place making, walkerville
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Chris, your aspirations for better community are very inspiring. You describe a way of life in urban niehgbourhoods that has faded (but not disappeared) and should positively be recaptured to add the ‘community’ that is sorely lacking back into our ‘hoods.
Your blog instantly reminded me of a the classic book “A Pattern Language” written in 1977 by Christopher Alexander. For those who aren’t familiar with it, it is a wonderful book that describes an approach to understanding and designing regions, cities, towns, and countryside down to the last details of building using what he calls ‘patterns’. In interested, out of the 253 patterns, have a look at patterns 12 to 94 that relate to Chris’ blog on this website: http://www.patternlanguage.com/leveltwo/patternsframegreen.htm?/leveltwo/../apl/twopanelnlb.htm
Unfortunately you will either have to subscribe to the website, purchase the book or borrow it from the library (seems Riverside Library has a copy) to read the desciptions and suggestions for each pattern.
Although my heart is in downtown, I still reside in south Windsor.
Although I don’t have a favorite yet, I see potential for redevelopment of existing plaza’s into potential walkable town centers
Now, you’d have to use some imagination but, Yorktown Plaza and Gateway Plaza.
Envision dedicated and guarded pedestrian/bike lanes from the road
Envision the vacated Walmart (rumour has it they want to go to Walker Road) with a U shaped area torn down within the center making way for a town center piazza with fountain surrounded by cafe’s, small local retail and a stage. The plaza could potentially become a south windsor “main street” and communtiy gathering place
Yorktown is even closer, all it would take is improved and dedicated pedestrian/bike lanes from the road as well as a public outdoor area in the parking lot for performances and community functions.
Ahh, what could be, with a little imagination and cost. The city should offer tax break incentives to the plaza owners to encourage these type of changes. I’d betcha they’d make it up through future increased assessments.
Now - imagine if they built a second residential storey on those Yorktown Plaza commercial buildings and naturalized the Grand Marais Ditch (and then changing the name back to Turkey Creek) The Dominion/Grand Marais intersection could be an amazing centrepiece for a revitalized Old South, even moreso than anything on Dougall. At least the older neighbourhood is still a walkable neighbourhood and has some independant retail/commercial in it. Convert the old Christ the King Church at the corner into lofts and you’d really be onto something.
..or they could build on the existing ditch so that a canal can be built on Grand Marais! Imagine the potential!! (tongue in cheek but not that far off).
One last quip. Of course Sprawl-mart wants to move out there. The like being in the newest dvelopment possible until they ditch that store and move further out! I bet anyone that city council allows it!
The only time municipalities can offer “tax incentives” is by creating yet another “Community Improvement Plan” as per the Municipal Act and the Planning Act or for Brownfield redevelopment.
Of interest (Chris H - you should find out what you can) Concerns are also being raised with respect to the Ontario-Quebec Economic Partnership Agreement. ()
Wow - that was long.
The agreement, “covers several sectors including: labour mobility, energy, transportation, public procurement, agriculture and food products, regulatory cooperation and economic cooperation. The Agreement will enhance provincial policies on labour, environmental and consumer protection standards, health, education, culture and regional economic development.” ( )
London passed a motion June 23, 2008, that calls for the province to consult with the municipalities - particularly how equalizing regulations between Ontario and Quebec may impact them. (see PDF page 5 -
“Regulatory co-operation” seems to be the concern of the 11 cities thus far questioning or opposed to this agreement (which do not include Windsor).
Should an Ontario municipality pass a planning requirement etc., that is not in force in Quebec or not permitted, it could be deemed as giving “harm” to the business for which the business may recover damages under this NAFTA like agreement.
Something I think that would fit within the mission of Scaledown?
The only time municipalities can offer “tax incentives” is by creating yet another “Community Improvement Plan” as per the Municipal Act and the Planning Act or for Brownfield redevelopment.
Of interest (Chris H - you should find out what you can) Concerns are also being raised with respect to the Ontario-Quebec Economic Partnership Agreement. (Link Here)
The agreement, “covers several sectors including: labour mobility, energy, transportation, public procurement, agriculture and food products, regulatory cooperation and economic cooperation. The Agreement will enhance provincial policies on labour, environmental and consumer protection standards, health, education, culture and regional economic development.” ( Link Here )
London passed a motion June 23, 2008, that calls for the province to consult with the municipalities - particularly how equalizing regulations between Ontario and Quebec may impact them. (see PDF page 5 - Link Here
“Regulatory co-operation” seems to be the concern of the 11 cities thus far questioning or opposed to this agreement (which do not include Windsor).
Should an Ontario municipality pass a planning requirement etc., that is not in force in Quebec or not permitted, it could be deemed as giving “harm” to the business for which the business may recover damages under this NAFTA like agreement.
Something I think that would fit within the mission of Scaledown?
I think Walkerville should work very hard to preserve everything it has since it’s a great place to spend the day and it is very historic compared to the rest of our city. Every neighbourhood should have a residents association…I didn’t even meet many of my neighbours until the big blackout.
Of course, I don’t think I want a block party in my neighbourhood…I could watch as teens and dead-beats shared crack rocks or zoomed around on skateboards bought with the change they stole from my car. Maybe I could find out if one of them was able to make use of my stolen snow shovel (but hubby says if they are that desperate for a shovel then they need it far more than we do) or find out how well Silvers pays. We could sit in the abandoned recliner that was dumped at the corner (on the property of city building, btw and it was there for months) and throw pennies at hookers. Good times.
Naturalized Grand Marais Ditch is an idea Ive thought about for years too
Mark….why not think big and create a new greenway that allows pedestrians and bicyclists access downtowns waterfront via grand marais ditch (turkey creek) and an non motorized pathway easement along the rail line.
Grand Marais naturalization project could be the impetus for this non motorized plan……Id also like to see a Trader Joes (small scale grocery store)
locate where N&D used to be, I dont even know where the closest grocery store is located since I moved away from South Windsor.