Windsor Independent - January 2016

Facebook group highlighting Windsor's vacancies
FOR SALE
FOR LEASE
FOR RENT:
VACANT &
BLIGHTED
BY DEAN SCOTT
A
project has recently been gaining
attention on social media hoping
to create a dialogue about vacant
buildings and empty lots in Windsor.
Showcasing images of properties in
various states, from well-maintained to
blighted, the Facebook group ‘Windsor’s
Vacant Buildings and Lots’ was created
by resident, Kathryn Tisdale, who hopes
to make the community more mindful
of the connection between continued
urban sprawl and the increasing list of city
vacancies.
“I believe that we’re in denial as a
community about how many holes we
have in our city right now,” said Tisdale.
“All of a sudden, we seem to be starting
to talk about more expansion. There’s the
proposed mega hospital, there’s the big
box development on very fragile, very
important land near Ojibway, and I think
we need to look at the consequence of
expanding before we do any more of it.”
The group has a call-out for photos of
as many properties as their volunteers
are able to find. They aren’t asking for
professional photos, just evidence and
information of core and suburban
vacancies, whether they be commercial,
residential, or industrial.
“Our population isn’t growing, and it
hasn’t grown for years, but the boundaries
keep getting pushed out. Even though we
already have too many buildings we’re still
trying to put up more...” states a post on
the group’s Facebook page.
“At the same time, we take on the neverending
costs of all the usual city services
– roads, sewers, water, buses. The vacant
buildings act as dead zones, sucking all the
economic energy and human vitality out
of the street they are on. The longer they
sit empty, the more blighted they become.”
Tisdale believes that we need to be
more aware of the consequences of
expanding, before further growth is
allowed to happen. She’s concerned about
the economic dampening effects of the
holes, mixed with the increased cost of
infrastructure of the sewers, roads and
amenities that are necessary to serve the
new areas.
“I just want to get the discussion going.
To be aware of a problem is the first step
in solving it. We keep talking about the
expansions, if we don’t do something to
change it, it’s going to lead to a city shaped
like a doughnut.”
NOTABLE
derelict buildings
The Kilt and Fiddle
28 Chatham St. East
Closed since 2014, the Kilt and Fiddle was an Irish
haunt following in Mick’s Irish Pub’s footsteps with
flowing taps and frequent live music.
Shawarma Queen
61 University Ave West.
This establishment has been ‘opening soon’ for just
over a year. Passersby may have spotted our 2014
‘Best of Windsor’ issue covering the windows up
until the past few weeks. Hope to see it open soon.
Thunder Food Court
1295 Wyandotte St West.
A graveyard of closed businesses, the Thunder Food
Court is home to Lee’s Herbal and Acupuncture.
Hang in there, Lee, the plaza needs ya.
Stylish Urban Suites
523 Pelissier St
With a little more life, Pelissier could be an exciting
street. The Old Don Cherry’s Bar, we’d love to see
the building follow through with the plan to convert
to stylish urban suites.
16 JANUARY 2016 Vol. 04 | Issue 01