Letter to Stantec written by resident Jeffery Williams
Ms. Reid,
I am a local businessperson (27 years) and life-long resident of Windsor West. I’m writing to express significant concern with regards to the strategic placement and process of the proposed Mega-Hospital in Windsor as it verifiably flies in the face of all progressive planning principles, of which I’m sure you and our committee are well versed.
Beyond the Planning 101 sins of environment green vs brown-field, flooding and heat-sink paving, and despite the well stated goals of every civic and national entity limiting climate change, commuting, suburbs and sprawl, beyond the transport and infrastructure budgetary busters, I ask you to consider some local history with which you may be unfamiliar.
In 1967 our significant neighbour of Detroit experienced riots and a resulting “Flight” to the suburbs. While Greater Detroit is still one of the richest areas in the US, the once revered core has become an internationally scorned “doughnut hole” that nearly 50 years later is only now on the path to recovery. This effect has kept Windsor’s reputation similarly scorned throughout Ontario resulting in unconquerably stagnant growth. Detroit was once coined “The Paris of the West” for its beauty and centrality, on par with Chicago, now considered one of the most livable cities in the US. Chicago kept its core, Detroit did not. The difference should be a stark, daily and essential reminder to Windsorites and Senior Planners alike. Protect the core.
Conversely Windsor/Essex & Pelee Island amount to a county of 90% coastline. For the same drive Windsorites can reach Toronto… or Kentucky. The High Speed Rail efforts of both Ontario and the US converge here. A new shiny new bridge is being built. Windsorites live closer to downtown Detroit than most Detroiters, and Detroit is on the rise. With access to World-Class Sports, Theatre, Symphony, Museums & Culture rivalled by few, Detroit deserves to be considered an asset again, as does Windsor.
The location of a $2 BN investment nearer the core would engender amenities such as the proposed Urban Trolley (linking the hospital with Via Rail, Transit Main Depot, the Medical School & hotels while attending and sustaining the AGW & WSO, the University & Historic Attractions) & International Pedestrian Ferry permanently securing our core, tourism and inclusion in a rising Metropolitan area.
To do otherwise is to do the opposite, to displace 4,000 jobs, their satellites and development away from the core permanently frustrating any and all attempts at revitalization and sustainability. A text-book path to doughnut hole city.
Lastly, consider the fact that Hospitals are only part facility. Professional people have lives and aspirations outside of work. Do you not? Your plan may have shops and strip malls. Will it have a symphony? Will it have art galleries, skylines and a water view? Will it come with big city culture, nightlife, walkability and progressive vision that beckons to our nation’s most sought professionals? Will it put Windsor on the map? Will it have a genuine sense of place? In short, no. It will have McDwellings … in a flight path, good for neither doctors, staff, patients nor healthy lifestyles. Ms. Reid, you know, we all know, this is bad planning.
I know your objections, in short, your objectives. “You are planning a hospital not an anchor.” Your own plan shows this not to be the case. My rebuttal is a $2 BN investment would better cornerstone a city, and visa-versa, than as a ruse for a harmful suburb and windfall for insider speculators. “This is a regional hospital with a regionally reasoned location.” There is no region near this plan. Hence the airport. The only defence is that it’s equally awkward for everyone… but there’s plenty of parking. If we can “simply” express shuttle that vast majority of staff and users from all over the city out to the airport, I’m sure we can find a solution to shuttle the lesser amount in. Leamington has a hospital. The users and their supporters are very much represented by the core of the city, with no aspirations of flying lessons.
I thank you (all) for your time and consideration,
Jeffery Williams
I am a local businessperson (27 years) and life-long resident of Windsor West. I’m writing to express significant concern with regards to the strategic placement and process of the proposed Mega-Hospital in Windsor as it verifiably flies in the face of all progressive planning principles, of which I’m sure you and our committee are well versed.
Beyond the Planning 101 sins of environment green vs brown-field, flooding and heat-sink paving, and despite the well stated goals of every civic and national entity limiting climate change, commuting, suburbs and sprawl, beyond the transport and infrastructure budgetary busters, I ask you to consider some local history with which you may be unfamiliar.
In 1967 our significant neighbour of Detroit experienced riots and a resulting “Flight” to the suburbs. While Greater Detroit is still one of the richest areas in the US, the once revered core has become an internationally scorned “doughnut hole” that nearly 50 years later is only now on the path to recovery. This effect has kept Windsor’s reputation similarly scorned throughout Ontario resulting in unconquerably stagnant growth. Detroit was once coined “The Paris of the West” for its beauty and centrality, on par with Chicago, now considered one of the most livable cities in the US. Chicago kept its core, Detroit did not. The difference should be a stark, daily and essential reminder to Windsorites and Senior Planners alike. Protect the core.
Conversely Windsor/Essex & Pelee Island amount to a county of 90% coastline. For the same drive Windsorites can reach Toronto… or Kentucky. The High Speed Rail efforts of both Ontario and the US converge here. A new shiny new bridge is being built. Windsorites live closer to downtown Detroit than most Detroiters, and Detroit is on the rise. With access to World-Class Sports, Theatre, Symphony, Museums & Culture rivalled by few, Detroit deserves to be considered an asset again, as does Windsor.
The location of a $2 BN investment nearer the core would engender amenities such as the proposed Urban Trolley (linking the hospital with Via Rail, Transit Main Depot, the Medical School & hotels while attending and sustaining the AGW & WSO, the University & Historic Attractions) & International Pedestrian Ferry permanently securing our core, tourism and inclusion in a rising Metropolitan area.
To do otherwise is to do the opposite, to displace 4,000 jobs, their satellites and development away from the core permanently frustrating any and all attempts at revitalization and sustainability. A text-book path to doughnut hole city.
Lastly, consider the fact that Hospitals are only part facility. Professional people have lives and aspirations outside of work. Do you not? Your plan may have shops and strip malls. Will it have a symphony? Will it have art galleries, skylines and a water view? Will it come with big city culture, nightlife, walkability and progressive vision that beckons to our nation’s most sought professionals? Will it put Windsor on the map? Will it have a genuine sense of place? In short, no. It will have McDwellings … in a flight path, good for neither doctors, staff, patients nor healthy lifestyles. Ms. Reid, you know, we all know, this is bad planning.
I know your objections, in short, your objectives. “You are planning a hospital not an anchor.” Your own plan shows this not to be the case. My rebuttal is a $2 BN investment would better cornerstone a city, and visa-versa, than as a ruse for a harmful suburb and windfall for insider speculators. “This is a regional hospital with a regionally reasoned location.” There is no region near this plan. Hence the airport. The only defence is that it’s equally awkward for everyone… but there’s plenty of parking. If we can “simply” express shuttle that vast majority of staff and users from all over the city out to the airport, I’m sure we can find a solution to shuttle the lesser amount in. Leamington has a hospital. The users and their supporters are very much represented by the core of the city, with no aspirations of flying lessons.
I thank you (all) for your time and consideration,
Jeffery Williams
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