Windsor council unanimously approves sweeping downtown revitalization plan

After more than six hours of debate and discussion, Windsor city councillors unanimously approved a sweeping plan to improve safety and vibrancy in the city's downtown core.

Monday's council meeting began at 10 a.m. Hours later, councillors finally approved the seven-point plan to improve safety and vibrancy in the downtown core after hearing from dozens of residents earlier in the meeting.

The motion was made by Ward 3 Coun. Renaldo Agostino, who represents the downtown and seconded by Coun. Mark McKenzie. 

While debate stretched through the afternoon, in their final remarks before the vote, many councillors noted the issues found downtown are not confined to downtown and while the plan entails significant spending on the core of Windsor, it's a city-wide issue. 

The vote was unanimous. 

Downtown BIA urges support for the plan

The Downtown Windsor BIA has embraced the plan, as have local property owners downtown. The BIA recently launched an "Our Downtown" campaign that encouraged people to sign a petition in support of the plan. 

"This is our moment. It's got to happen," said Chris MacLeod last week. MacLeod chairs both the BIA and the specifically conceived Downtown Windsor Business Revitalization Association, which is leading the campaign. "If we don't take this step forward, we're going in the wrong direction.

"We just want to get as many people as we can... to come out to council, tell council that it's important. That's why we're looking to spread the word."

Thirty-six people registered to speak on the Strengthen The Core plan Monday, the council agenda shows. A handful of others wrote letters.

The list of speakers reads like a who's who of Windsor, with delegates or letters from most BIAs and representatives who work in mental and health and addictions, housing, policing, health care, real estate, art and culture and sporting. Many downtown business owners and property owners are also presenting.

There are also submissions, both written and in person and many by the same people and organizations, on the proposed budget amendment needed to pay for the plan.

The price tag is about $3.2 million. Taxes in Windsor will go up 0.7 per cent for the plan. 

"Guys, we are firmly behind this. I'm firmly behind this because I know the amount of work that's gone into getting us here today," said Mayor Drew Dilkens at a press conference to unveil the plan. 

"This is something that we can proactively do, measures that we can proactively take that we think are going to make a significant difference."

Plan builds on themes from community surveys

The plan tackles themes from a community survey done by the city last fall: property damage and petty crime, limited foot traffic, a lack of consistent attractions and events, vacancies and a "perceived lack of safety in the core," Dilkens said at the time. 

The downtown plan includes seven key areas of focus:

• Safe streets.
• High standards.
• Healthy spaces.
• "Place making."
• Vibrant district. 
• "Our downtown."
• Stronger together. 

Each has a corresponding list of activities and actions.

Coun. Renaldo Agostino (Ward 3, downtown) says the plan heralds a new era for the downtown. 

"These people ... they all need you. They all need you to believe in our downtown," he said.

"We love our history, we love those memories, but today, it's time for our future. It's time to ignite the flame of a new downtown."

To address those issues, the plan adds new officers dedicated to downtown policing, expands hours at the Homelessness and Housing Help Hub and calling on the province to fund a 24/7 low-barrier transitional care facility among a host of other measures.