Council balks at Wyandotte Town Centre plan and sends BIA back to the drawing board

Windsor city council has balked at spending $1.4 million to go forward with plans for the first phase of theWyandotte Town Centre World Market in favour of a new plan that would harmonize the area with the city's $5.25million "districting concept."

The plan would have seen the BIA pay back the city $400,000 over a number of years.

"I see the bones for a Middle Eastern district," said Mayor Drew Dilkens during a marathon, two-hour discussion and debate on the plan.

• Splash of colour planned for culturally diverseWyandotteTown Centre

The first phase called for a series of banners or streamers that would criss-cross Wyandotte Street East.

But the brightly-coloured fabricwould have to be replaced every 10 years at a cost of $560,000.City staff, including the engineer,planner and fire chief, also did not have detailed answers to council questions on a variety of concerns including the how safe the banners would be.

Councillors were also concerned the BIA would have the money to replace the banners, even though WyandotteTown Centre Business Improvement Association chairperson TamaraKowalska promised the BIA would pay for them.

"I'm not necessarily against the plan," said Councillor Hilary Payne, who voted against the plan. "But I have a number of questions."

CouncillorPaul Borelli, who also voted against the proposal,likened the situation to "putting the cart before the horse" and didn't see the proposal having a "theme consistent with the area as a district."

BIA has been working on plan for years

Kowalska said she'll take council's comments back to her membership to see how they want to re-imagine their plan in line with thedecision.

"We've been working on this for years," she added. "This didn't just happenyesterday."

Council is looking at creating a distillery district in the WalkervilleBIA, to takeadvantage of the close proximity ofHiram Walker and Sons Ltd., the Canadian Club Brand Centre andthe WalkervilleBrewery residents will have a chance to provideinput on the details of the plan.

The mayor indicated he would like to see similar input into the Wyandotte Street area.

Council has asked administration to come back with a report looking at Wyandotte Street Town Centre "through a districting lens" according to a motion put forward by CouncillorRino Bortolin, who votedto go ahead with the plan during Monday's meeting.

He said any concerns, such as engineering, are always dealt with after council gives the go ahead to proceed.

"This project would be no different," he said.