Leaders, advocates hopeful downtown revitalization plan will hit the right notes

Windsor's mayor this week announced a sweeping new plan to revitalize Windsor's downtown, bring more people, investment and activity to the core of the city

It was heralded as a watershed moment for downtown. One advocate says some parts of the plan hit the right specifics while others needed more.

Bob Cameron is the executive director of the Downtown Windsor Community Collaborative and a downtown resident of 14 years.

He said the plan to invest about $1.5 million in additional hours for the city's Housing and Homelessness Help Hub is a good move.

"Providing an extra hours just gives more time for the staff to build relationships, build that safety that's required, and then help folks move into space where they can find a place both to live, have a roof over their heads, and then take the next steps towardbeing reintegrated into our community," he said.

But other parts of the plan lack specifics, he said though he commends Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens and councillors for their action.

"It's strong on the specifics of the first one or two objectives and then as the plan moves through, they become visionary and less, specific actions that are going to take place.

"But also as the plan moves down, those become more strategic or structural changes that are going to require a lot of work and a lot of creativity."

Dilkens unveiled Tuesday a seven-prong planthat proposes spending $3.2 million to rebuild Windsor's downtown including adding more police, more strictly enforcing bylaw standards, adding cameras and expanding hours for mental health services.

Bob Cameron on how the word 'neighbour' can make an impact

5 months ago

Duration 1:47

Bob Cameron, the executive director of the Downtown Windsor Community Collaborative and a downtown resident of 14 years, speaks with Windsor Morning's Amy Dodge about how language plays into treating people who are homeless with dignity.

Cameron sayshe'd like to see a higher density of people and culture brought downtown. To see the downtown plan succeed, the community can't be afraid to fail.

"We can start small and try and learn and see what doesn't work We've got to be willing to risk that and to be also able to say, 'hey, it didn't work, but this is what we learned from it.'"

Cameras have made a difference:downtown BIA

Chris MacLeod is the chair of the Downtown Windsor BIA. He says the plan hits at the safety and security concerns that have been top of mind.

"I think that in my history downtown,this is the first time that we've had a mayor, and I believe a large percentage of council, that are committed to the downtown," MacLeod said. "Other parts of the city have gotten a lot of attention and rightfully so: the [Nextstar]battery plant, the [Gordie Howe International] Bridge, the hospital all of those large projects. I think that our downtown really, hasn't been a priority.

"For me, that's the biggest part of this is that this is focused on our downtown."

MacLeodsaid the camera andsecurity projectthe BIA introduced downtown had "staggering" results over two- and four-month periods.

The downtown revitalization plan suggests adding more cameras and lightsdowntown.

"We really believe that this is part of the key to success of this program downtown is people knowing that, 'hey, if you commit a crime in this area, you're going to get caught because you're gonna be on camera,'" he said.

Not just about hours, but how to reach patients and clients: HDGH

The CEO of Htel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, which runs manyin-patient addictions and mental health treatment services, says he believes the plan will work because of the "sense of urgency" around downtown.

"We're more aligned now than I think ever before. And sometimes it just takes time. I'd be the first to acknowledge that as a long standing public servant," said Bill Marra. "But I believe what's different now is that the sense of urgency is greater. The engagement has been significant."

Htel-Dieu Grace operates a crisis wellness centre on Ouellette Avenue downtown seven days a week for 12 hours a day,from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. But Marra says in their experience, getting people to use a service isn't as simple as adding more hours.

"At that location we attempted, for five months to extend the hours till 10 p.m. atnight and the uptake was very, very poor," he said. "We had a total of twoindividuals attempt to gain service in a five-month period.

"If they're not coming in late hours, then we need to go out to them. So what we're working on are initiatives specific to being more community based and in the areas and in the communities where our clients and patients are."

Part of the plan will include advocating at different levels of government to create a low-barrier 24/7 care location in downtown, part of a big to improve safety and help get people more help.

"That statistic I shared ...is very important because it demonstrates that just opening the doors late is not enough. We're going to work with our partners at Windsor Regional Hospital, with first responders ... and it's a matter of also identifying what the right fit is. Who should be the lead for an organizational initiative of this nature?

"But getting back to strengthening the core, I think ... it's a framework, it's a focus, it's sevenpriorities and it clearly identifies that this is going to be multidisciplinary, multi-sectoral."