What should Happen with the Parkette
think that the idea brought forward by whitestar was a good idea, my only issue is that they would pay far less for their patio than any other bar owner downtown. With a history of catering to the cheap drink price crowd, I don’t think this unfair competitive advantage would be a benefit to downtown.
However, the parkette as it stands is a utter failure. Everything from a rats nest to a disgrace.
It is an important place for Downtown Windsor, its location next to the parking garage and on a car and pedestrian route from the Casino makes it a sort of “Gateway” to downtown
Windsor hasn’t learned that passive park space has its place but is not what we need downtown. We need programming for these parks. The whitestar proposal to program this as a cafe/bar/nightclub patio is a good use as long as it retained a parklike atmosphere.
Another proposal was to park a kitchen trailer in front and create a “pop up” seasonal restaurant in the space. This is something I plan to put forward if the park is still available
Yet another proposal would see a seasonal bike repair shop using a custom designed cargo container that opens to a repair shop. Don’t think ugly cargo container, you wouldn’t believe what some are doing with the facade’s of these things in the states. Hence the picture.
Why not put out a tender for best offer to program the park. Consideration should be given to proposed rent offered by contenders as well as how much the use will benefit the residents and visitors of Downtown.
Post Feedback
Item 11 - Chatham Street Parkette lease withdrawn from the agenda by city administration.
http://www.windsorstar.com/news/windsor/City+backs+parkette+patio/4885170/story.html
the $1 lease rate was a slap in the face to EVERYONE
just make it a seating area and have the city clean it every few days and eliminate the rodents
The $1 lease rate is a bit of a mischaracterization though, isn’t it? They were also going to have to pay for all the landscaping, etc. for the park, which was going to cost around $3,500 a year?
I do think that if the city wants to see if downtown businesses want to use the space that they should put out a RfP though, not just give it away to the first person who steps forward.
Well steve, to put things in perspective for any other bar owner to lease 5,700 ft2 of patio space would yeild a outdoor bar with a capacity of 500+ and cost any other business owner $30,000 in annual patio rent
In addition to that every other bar must apply for their patio opening, submit drawings and have restrictions as to the date their patio could open or close
Independent of weather
However I will give u this. I still maintain that giving away a public park with no consultation for $1 per year is only the 2nd worst outome, the worst outcome would be to maintain the status quo of a failed park