I know that we've got a HUGE job ahead of us when it comes to getting out the word about the importance of strengthening our established built environment at the expense of continuing our unsustainable outward sprawl development. (just look at what the county folks are going through just to provide their residents with basic necessities, like public transortation)That has always been the stated goal of SDW, and it appears that it is a much needed goal. From today's Windsor Star, who reported on Windsor's recently released census data;
Most of Windsor's established neighbourhoods, such as Sandwich, Walkerville, Riverside and Forest Glade, shrunk in population over the past five years, while South Windsor and new subdivisions between Lauzon and Banwell roads grew dramatically.
According to census data released this week, while the city's population grew by 3.5 per cent, to 216,473 from 209,218, the growth wasn't evenly spread.
A swath of land in neighbourhoods along the Detroit River from Jefferson Avenue west to Broadway Street, excluding Ford City, experienced declines in population between 2001 and 2006.
Most areas west of Pierre Avenue saw steep, double-digit dives."It means fewer people are occupying the same amount of space," said Jim Yanchula, acting city planner.
It also means that the costs of sprawl have yet to make it to the forefront of peoples minds. That will happen sooner or later. Personally, I would rather be prepared and continue working at fixing our core.
Speaking of fixing our core, how is it that two prominent Windsorites, Lawyer Jeffrey Slopen and Freeds co-owner Dan Orman can have such opposite views when it comes to our local retail environment. Oh yeah, one's a proponent of Wal-Mart, and one co-owns a multi-generational local independant business. One says that Windsor has room for more big-box retail at the fringe of the city, and the other says that Windsor is over-retailed. "We also recognize there is a great deal of competition in this marketplace from Walker Road, Tecumseh and Windsor Crossing, not to mention the proposed big-box site near LaSalle," said Orman. "In our view, Windsor is over-retailed"..."There are very few independents in any of the retail sectors any more and those that survive do so out of loyalty and relationships developed with both their customers and their suppliers."
Who do you believe?
11 comments:
Chris, this is an interesting pairing of articles. And, especially having a pseudo-planner Jim Yanchula fully aware. The transit service says it cannot provide optimum service due to such a sparsely laid-out city and region, and, when even the data shows the sprawl happening, neighbourhoods emtying out, the city continues to sprawl. Catch 22? One would think a planner would be an authority on steps to take to correct this. But no solution is offered.
Freeds is not exactly my style, but whenever I'm in Windsor and drive by on Ottawa, I quietly thank them for committing themselves to the city, and staying downtown.
Somebody should nominate them for some kind of civic award, specifically for this commitment.
Didnt Freed get the 'order of Canada'.. I dont think we need to worry for Freed and awards.
Hey there, Sporto,
Interesting pairing, but all the articles are speaking to the same philosophy. Like Bilbo Baggins said; "I feel thin... sort of stretched, like butter scraped over too much bread."
We're spreading ourselves out too thin and something's going to give, whether it's our infrastructure, our home-grown economy or our sanity.
I echoe what Shawn said about Freeds. I utter the same "thank you" to Tepperman's as well, along with Blondie Cleaners, TBQ's, Riviera Pizza, etc, etc, etc.
And I think ALL these local businesses should be recognized for their local contribution. Seems like a very good campaign for SDW to embark on....
As far as Jim Yanchula goes, I have had many discussions with the man, and my gut tells me that his head and heart is in the right place. Unfortunately, he isn't the decision maker at the planning department. I wrote an article a few months ago titled "Planning department in shackles" that describes my feelings about this department. I see frustrated people in a frustrating environment, having to deal with employers who twist in the wind depending on where the political breezes are coming from. Yanchula, during the height of the Urban Village public meetings, showed exemplary knowledge of "New Urbanist" theory and a desire to implement it. I feel there's some heavy hands keeping him from doing so.
Thanks Chris, please excuse my naivite. I would've thought, if a Professional City Planner was advocating a denser environment, and, a Transit Dept advocating a denser city, that somebody in a leadship position would listen and act responsibly. But this isnt the case. Now I stand a little more enlightened. Our mayor being a profesional-whatever knows better it seems.
No worries, Sporto. The deeper I get into this blogging exercise, the more I am learning about our elected officials and administration as well. The layers of this onion go very deep, and while I do not prescribe to conspiracy theories, I can't ignore multiple coincidences. I have heard so many "interesting" & "surprising" stories, I can't help but want to dig deeper. You then begin to ask yourself how you want to spend your limited hours in the day, as "digging the dirt" was never my intention for this forum
However, I do believe that identifying impediments to Windsor's success is within the mandate of Scale Down.
Personally, I was sold on Jim Yanchula's sincerity when during my usual walk to the neighbourhood store last winter, I met up with Jim on his bicycle going to the same store for milk in the snow. While most would have taken the family sedan, we ran into each other utilizing people-power.
I used to think Mr. Yanchula was a part of teh roblem until i delved deeper into the mess that is our "planning" dep't.
You are correct Chirs Mr. Yanchula is being kept down to the point he can only do what he is told.
As for some of the businesses you mentioned the sad fact is that TBQ might no longer be in business come the new year. Eddie and his minions have created such a mess that even a long time establishment such as TBQ can't even keep their doors open. What does that say about Eddie and his ideas for downtown?
If the city is stating that many people have left the middle of the city for the fringes (but still located in Windsor boundaries. Because heck it was IMMIGRATION! Not because people are fleeing to the burbs, to which they are! Nice spin Windsor Star!) then what is the city going to do to entice people to move to the centre of town? NOTHING! Because they have no plan!
It is ironic that they (city) whine that people are leaving the centre but yet are doing nothing to help people move to the core. Instead of either buying a house on the fringe with little land or moving to the 'burbs they could offer incentives and build up the centre of the city. But I guess that takes vision and leadership. Something this city is sorely lacking.
But hey! At least we have Big Box stores but screw the locally owned stuff. Who neds 'em anyway.
I will shut up now because Mark will only suggest that I will never be happy. What is there to be happy about? When I see the opposite of what is happening today, I will be happy.
BTW: Nice slagging a guy who has committed to downtown and this city. Mark, I am sure you are a nice fellow but geez lay of the Francis quotes. IE: My way or the highway. Thanks!
Jim Yanchula knows proper planning but his position is way, WAY too political
London just hired a prestigous planner, I doubt he would feel threatened if he opposed city council or other administration
I'll put money on the fact that if Jim's position was independant of job security pressure that there would be no issue with him.
The issue isn't Jim Yanchula, its the system that would threaten him. If he was ever replaced, the next planner would face the same pressure to support bad planning.
Jim has taught me a thing or two to put it mildly, he has directed me to the right resources and I think if the system was fixed, he would be able to contribute more to the solution
Neither.
Existing retailers are always going to say an area is over retailed - it's only natural for them to limit their competition to maximize their revenue potential.
Developers will always say an area needs more development because they want to increase the value of their property to maximize their revenue potential.
Naturally, we know how SDW will spin this.
He he he. Don't hold back, Vincent. Tell us how you really feel :)
Vincent is having difficulty making an argument it seems. Retailers and Developers are both cut from the same cloth, one hand washes the other. What both these groups also do, very effectively, is take advantage of the public realm for their gain. City gov't should, I think, be the counter to that and fight for a decent public realm, but often they don't and cow tow to the easy dollar signs. The places in which we live then suffer, people suffer, quality of life suffers. Maybe Vincent is against people and just needs to get out more.
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