Discuss Detroit » Archives - Beginning January 2006 » Parks to replace 35 miles of tracks in Windsor « Previous Next »
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Upinottawa
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Username: Upinottawa

Post Number: 333
Registered: 09-2005
Posted From: 198.103.184.76
Posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 11:13 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

From today's Windsor Star:


Parks to replace rails
Long-term urban renewal to convert 55 km of track

Dalson Chen, Windsor Star
Published: Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Windsor will be transformed forever by an ambitious plan to replace its train tracks with green space, says Mayor Eddie Francis.

"These old rail lines act as barriers," said Francis in his annual state of the city address on Monday.

"They produce noise and vibration impact that reduces the quality of life in our city."

Standing before an audience of hundreds at the Chrysler Theatre, Francis described a long-term urban renewal project that will convert 55 kilometres of rail lines currently crossing the city from "a rundown, divisive old web" into a system of trails.

"It will run through all five wards, connecting neighbourhoods to one another, creating green space and recreational paths, converting brownfields and scrap yards -- all the way to the riverfront," the mayor said.

REMOVING OLD LINES

Francis said a nearly completed rail study conducted in partnership with Transport Canada will provide a framework for consolidating the city's six major rail corridors into one, allowing old lines to be removed with little impact to train traffic.

Although planning documents are still in development and funding has yet to be secured, Francis said he hopes for work to be underway within five years and compared the concept's magnitude to the remaking of Windsor's riverfront in the late '90s.

"If the riverfront was the urban renewal project for the 20th century, then we must build upon that legacy and begin the urban renewal project of the 21st century," he said.
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1953
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Username: 1953

Post Number: 791
Registered: 12-2004
Posted From: 209.104.146.146
Posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 11:26 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Great! Now how will I transport my freight!
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Upinottawa
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Username: Upinottawa

Post Number: 334
Registered: 09-2005
Posted From: 198.103.184.76
Posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 11:41 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Freight will be shipped on the parallel line to the south. The line being replaced is primarily used for Via passengers trains. Via will now use the south line as well (potentially allowing for passenger service from Montreal to Chicago).
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Aiw
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Username: Aiw

Post Number: 5523
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 209.216.150.127
Posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 12:03 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Yeah, I'll believe it when I see it.

The way this city runs? Windsor is all talk no action.
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Supersport
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Username: Supersport

Post Number: 10025
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 64.118.137.226
Posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 12:48 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

If only we had a gondola to get over to Windsor easier. :-(
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Upinottawa
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Username: Upinottawa

Post Number: 335
Registered: 09-2005
Posted From: 198.103.184.76
Posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 1:54 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Aiw, the mayor hopes that work will be underway in 5 years. 5 years seems like a long time, but this is a large project considering a new passenger station will need to be built and up and running. Of course, 5 years in Windsor is, well, how is that new arena downtown doing???

It will probably be very expensive, so hopefully the senior governments will chip in -- although in 5 years, Windsor will have the new casino extension and hotel, plans for a second bridge will be underway, an extension (and hopefully tunnel) of the 401 will be underway, and Windsor will have a new passenger rail station. Asking for money to remove rail tracks may be a tough sell -- especially if John Tory is premier of Ontario....

SS, I think they have replaced the gondola idea with a catapult concept....
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Aiw
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Username: Aiw

Post Number: 5524
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 209.216.150.127
Posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 2:16 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

How's the arena? How's the Walker Road underpass?

lol...

Mayor Francis campaigned on getting Zalev Bros. to move out of their wasteland. He has done nothing.

This November is an election year, and Francis has not accomplished anything, sadly he is a useless mayor.
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Cklwbig8
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Username: Cklwbig8

Post Number: 65
Registered: 02-2005
Posted From: 65.92.101.121
Posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 2:22 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Still waiting for the Walker road upgrade.. this city is a joke. other than something FOR the casino, nothing EVER gets done. Downtown still looks like it did in 1985. it's a mess over here. worst actually. Only the things that don't make a great difference gets done.
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Upinottawa
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Username: Upinottawa

Post Number: 336
Registered: 09-2005
Posted From: 198.103.184.76
Posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 2:33 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I am too far removed to comment on Windsor politics with any authority (or confidence), but Francis' tenure has seen the balancing of the city budget. At the very least, this balancing of the books should put the city in a positive financial situation moving forward.
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Mountainman
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Username: Mountainman

Post Number: 23
Registered: 02-2006
Posted From: 153.90.171.16
Posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 2:34 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I used to live right near that Walker road "underpass". Hell of a mess. I'd like to blame the Mayor, but with council members like Joyce Zuk I'm surprised the traffic lights even work. I moved away sometime ago, but everytime I hear that woman's name I want to spit. The rest of the council is just about equally inept. Whenever you hear of something not being accomplished, general it seems that city council's bumbling was behind it. The arena is a prime example of that. Take a look at the proposal Gretzky and his people submitted, and try to figure out why they rejected it.
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Aiw
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Username: Aiw

Post Number: 5525
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 209.216.150.127
Posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 2:36 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Cklw, I wish it still looked like 1985, then we wouldn't have lost the Norwich Block for a mini-tower.
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Goat
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Username: Goat

Post Number: 8381
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 67.71.56.144
Posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 2:46 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

First, the Walker Rd. underpass was held up by a business who wanted more money to move. The provincial gov't also held it up because they wanted to do more feasability studies. Couple those with the new requirements from our american friends and the X-ray machines for the freight trains (they had to devise a way to build while being able to maintain the existing train infrastructure and keep the yanks happy). So I don't see how this is the mayor or CC's fault.
As for the arena, well we can blame previous mayor Hurst for that fiasco and the boobs on council. Notably Dave Cassivi, Joyce Zuk and Tom Wilson amongst others who are not around anymore. Personally, I would rather someone else build it (away from downtown)and not a taxpayers dime pay for it. The Spits are a private enterprise and should be looked at in that light. Are we really going to get large concerts with this arena in a market that is saturated with concert venues? No!

I don't have much praise for mayor Francis other than the belt tightening as of late (which has been quite fantastic)nor the CC. But since our previous spend-thrift mayor couldn't wait to buy, buy, buy with taxpayers dollars, it's about time they held the line.
Besides, the current idea and follow through for the urban village is agreat idea that will definitely make the downtown a better place.
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Blitz
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Username: Blitz

Post Number: 142
Registered: 09-2004
Posted From: 72.139.243.118
Posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 3:13 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

AIW, what are you talking about? Francis has done a fine job for Windsor in just the past two years. Look how much better financial shape the city is in now compared to where it was when he first took over. He seems to genuinely care about new urbanism, improving the city's image, and the health of downtown - i.e. this urban village idea.

I know you're big on heritage but having the Chrysler building downtown is far better than having a dilapidated block of uncared for buildings.

Cklwbig8, downtown will be undergoing a multimillion dollar makeover beginning this spring when the Ouellette and Pelissier streetscapes will be entirely redone.

Obviously this is a long term project to get these rails converted. But look at the waterfront - we got that done. And we'll get this done too.
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Aiw
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Username: Aiw

Post Number: 5526
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 209.216.150.127
Posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 3:44 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Blitz, I would respectfully disagree that the block was "dilapidated and uncared for". What we had was a vibrant block fully occupied with viable taxpaying businesses, retail and entertainment that appealed to patrons 24 hours a day. From the Deli's, coffee shop's and Book Stores that appealed to residents during the day, to bars and restaurants that brought out the people at night, that was a sucessful mixed used block. Many of those businesses have left, and not reopened, and many of the patrons of those establishments no longer frequent downtown. The Chrysler building is a joke, built at only a fraction of what was planned, and we got rooked on that deal. Now DCX is grumbling about pulling out and moving to Toronto. Great deal, how many millions of my tax dollars were wasted on that project between expropriation and paying rent on vacant floors?

I used to frequent several of the businesses in that block, now? There's next to no reason to go downtown.

Financially this council & Mayor have ballanced the books, however, I can honestly say that my quality of life in Windsor as a resident has not impoved one bit since he took over as mayor.

Arena? No
Traffic Flow? Worse than ever
Bus station? Nope
Zalev Bros? Still there

What has he accomplished?




*crickets*
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Blitz
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Username: Blitz

Post Number: 143
Registered: 09-2004
Posted From: 72.139.243.118
Posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 4:15 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

There are 700 people working in that Chrysler building and many of them do patronize the neighbouring downtown businesses. We did get the short end of the stick in the end, but we can blame Hurst & Co. for that.

As for the arena, bus depot, and Zalev's...I'm confident these will all be done by the end of his 2nd term and yes, big projects like this take a lot of planning and time. I think people expected a bit too much - as if everything would be automatically turned around the second he took over.
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Motorcitymayor2026
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Username: Motorcitymayor2026

Post Number: 769
Registered: 10-2005
Posted From: 24.231.189.137
Posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 7:23 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

aww heck, just move across the river to Detroit!
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Goat
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Username: Goat

Post Number: 8386
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 67.71.56.144
Posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 7:58 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I say screw the arena and let private companies build it. as for the bus terminal, it is going to be built and the shovels will be in the dirt within the next few months.
As for the Norwich block. It was one of the best and most vibrant blocks in the downtown area and what do we have now? A Keg.
I think Francis and some councillors have done a great job fiscally for the city after Hurst ran it into the ground with grandiose schemes, but there is still nothing tangible as of yet.
I am willing to give him a second go at the mayors position. Much better the Marra or should I say Hurst lite.

MCM2026, I love Detroit but you mayor and council makes ours look like Churchill and company.
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Cklwbig8
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Username: Cklwbig8

Post Number: 66
Registered: 02-2005
Posted From: 65.92.101.121
Posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 8:09 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Right on AIW !! i agree with you 100 %
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Upinottawa
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Username: Upinottawa

Post Number: 339
Registered: 09-2005
Posted From: 70.28.0.197
Posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 11:56 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The city pulled off its Superbowl activities in the post-9/11 world. That has to count for something.

If Francis is able to get the 401 extension tunnelled, he will be a successful mayor in my books.
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Cklwbig8
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Username: Cklwbig8

Post Number: 67
Registered: 02-2005
Posted From: 67.71.66.117
Posted on Wednesday, May 03, 2006 - 11:07 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The mayor who will get all this done is probably in grade 5 right about now !!
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Aiw
Member
Username: Aiw

Post Number: 5527
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 64.228.66.72
Posted on Wednesday, May 03, 2006 - 5:12 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The mayor who will get that done hasn't been born yet.
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Mountainman
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Username: Mountainman

Post Number: 24
Registered: 02-2006
Posted From: 69.144.194.110
Posted on Wednesday, May 03, 2006 - 7:15 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Goat,
Norwich block most vibrant in the city?! Sure it had some cool establishments like the Bean, the Spotted Dog and the old Elias. God rest it's soul. But I don't think it was the most vibrant. Mind you the parking garage and mini tower are hardly anything to get excited about. Ok, were mind you're right. Hurst was a retard. Mind you that put-put course wasn't exactly all class. Maybe we should have kept it and called it the Mike Hurst Country Club. And on the up side I don't have to see that moron Bob Monks high stepping it around. But we lost the Has Beans. Best set of coffee shops in town.
As for the Arena though, it actually make the city some coin. If done right. But then again with city council like Windsor has always had, that seems hardly possible. So you're best off getting a private company to build it and operate it. That's Plymouth, MI has done. Heck, they even got a private company to build one here in Bozeman, MT. Half the population doens't even know what hockey is. No disagreement here. When you're right, you're right. And Goat, you'ze right.

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