Envision Ford City - Final Report - October 24 MM

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Envision Ford City:Community Conversations

For a Shared Community Vision

A Report to the Ford City Redevelopment Committee:November 2011

Envision Ford City: Community Conversations for a Shared Community Vision


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When you dream alone, it remains just a dream.

When you dream together, it is the beginning of a new reality.

Brazilian Proverb

Mike Morency, Bachelor of Social Work CandidateUniversity of Windsor

Karlene Neilsen, MSWStephen Lynn, B.A., M.A. CandidateStudent Supervisors/Community Development CoordinatorsFord City Neighbourhood Renewal Project

September 2011

In collaboration with the Ford City Redevelopment Committee


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................. 3

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................ 4

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND ............................................................................ 1

ENVISION FORD CITY PROJECT ..................................................................................... 2

Purpose and Objectives ............................................................................................ 2

Methodology ............................................................................................................ 3

Participation ............................................................................................................. 4

FRAMEWORK FOR COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS ........................................................ 5

COMMON THEMES ..................................................................................................... 18

Recommendations ..................................................................................................... 19

CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................. 21

APPENDIX A: Ford City Redevelopment Committee ................................................ 25

APPENDIX B: Participant Suggestions and Quotes .................................................. 26

APPENDIX C: Summary of Recommendations to Revitalize Ford City ......................33


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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The author of this report gratefully recognizes the support of the following individuals andgroups for their part in helping the people of Ford City express their vision for their community.

Thanks to Marina Clemens, Executive Director of Drouillard Place, Karlene Nielsen and

Stephen Lynn, Community Development Coordinators for the Ford City Neighbourhood

Renewal Project, for their support of this project, the background materials they provided as well

as their daily encouragement, advice and direction.

Thank you to the following individuals for hosting the Community Conversations: Reverend

Kevin Rogers from New Song Church, Kerry Ippollito from Maisonville Court, Jann Wild from

Drouillard Place Terrace, Kenn Little from the Gino Marcus Community Complex, Sean

Marcotte and Megan Cooke from the Drouillard Place Teen Centre and Paula Saunders from

the Drouillard Place Ontario Early Years Centre.

Special thanks to our project sponsors: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, for funding

the outreach, supplies for each session, printing the final report and the community forum to

disseminate the finding. Thank you as well to Henrys Photo-Video-Digital for supplying

cameras and photo developing for the PhotoVision project, McDonalds Canada for supplying

gift certificates for the youth who participated and each host site for providing refreshments.

Several individuals provided invaluable assistance as the project took shape. Mary Medcalf,

Coordinator of Field Education Programs, School of Social Work, University of Windsor was a

tremendous help in evaluating and advising the work. Paul Born of the Tamarak Institutes

Community Conversations model provided the structure for the sessions. Judith Binder of

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation consulted with the author as the project evolved

and provided funding for the final report to the community. Finally, the reports of Barry Horrobin

of the Windsor Police Service and Bob Hayes, MCIP were invaluable resources in

understanding the background for the project and the resulting recommendations.

Thanks to theFord City Redevelopment Committee for approving the project and lending their

support to this very important community engagement process (see Appendix A for a list of

Committee members). Most importantly, thank you to the people of Ford City. Residents,

property owners, tenants, business operators, and community leaders gave their time to attend

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the sessions. Your ideas, comments, hopes and dreams are the substance of this report. As

promised, this report is for you, for it is Your Vision for Your Community that counts most!

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

In April, 2011, the Ford City Redevelopment Committee (FCRC), through the Ford City

Neighbourhood Renewal Project (FCNRP), a Community-University Partnership, launched a

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three-month initiative to engage area residents, property owners and, community and business

leaders in an asset and strengths-focused dialogue to develop a shared community vision.

Entitled Envision Ford City the strategy utilized a series of ten Community Conversations to

promote community discussion about the future of Ford City. The Conversations were held at

various times and days to allow ample opportunity for stakeholder participation. In total, 72

individuals participated in 15 small groups to discuss and provide feedback on four questions:

1. What do you like about Ford City? What is good about your community?

2. What are the top ten words you would like people to use to describe Ford City in the

Future?

3. What businesses would you like to see in Ford City? Is there a theme or concept you

envision?

4. What could be done with vacant land in the community including the land between St.

Luke and Walker?

The data collected allowed the FCRC to:

identify a set of recommendations which reflect the communitys vision, and determine if

the recommendations align with previous reports regarding the redevelopment of Ford

City

gain insight about the redevelopment of Ford City from the ideas and vision expressed

by the participants

engage less engaged community members, including youth , seniors, and people with

disabilities in developing the vision for Ford City

After a thematic analysis of the content of the Community Conversations, several themes

emerged, including the desire to have Ford City seen as safe, caring, and prosperous, and as

a unique, artistic, urban village, with a strong connection to its heritage as the birthplace of the

automobile in Canada. Specifically, four themes emerged:

1. Safety and security: Overwhelmingly, participants indicated that they wanted a safe and

secure community.

2. Community Connectivity: Participants strongly value their social connections and see these

as a key part of the redevelopment efforts.

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3. Activity generation: Participants recognize that the community needs people to visit and

conduct business to make the business district viable.

4. Thriving commercial corridor: Participants recognize that the feel of the business district

forms the sense of community surrounding it.

The Community Conversations yielded five new recommendations:

1. Evaluating, mitigating, and redeveloping the former industrial lands between Walker and

St. Luke Roads

2. Repurposing the former Holy Rosary Parish into a shared community arts and heritage

Centre

3. Redeveloping the Ford City Business District into an Urban Artisan Village with a strong

heritage theme

4. Executing a program to foster positive community self-image and vision

5. Developing a set of financial incentives for current and future investors

In order to facilitate the successful achievement of the aforementioned recommendations,

participants made the following recommendations:

1. Form an Arts and Heritage Advisory Panel made of representative from the arts and

heritage community to advise on the development of Ford City as an Artisan Village and

Heritage Community.

2. Gather, and curate Ford City memorabilia, photographs and historic documents,

ensuring they are properly documented and stored for future use.

3. Re-establish a Ford City Discovery Centre or Ford City Museum.

It is important to note that the Community Conversations confirmed the majority of the

recommendations contained in previous planning and community reports. This is a significant

conclusion as it provides the FCRP and FCRC with a blueprint for change that is supported by

all stakeholders. The Community Conversations process confirmed that the residents and other

key stakeholders share the same vision. This is critical at a time when there is such a synergy

of efforts by community groups, recommendations by experts, engagement of the community

and favourable public policy. The next step is to continue to build the communitys social capital

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and secure the public and private investments that will be necessary to make the communitys

vision a reality. Given Ford Citys bold and visionary thinking, community engagement and

diverse partnerships, Ford City can become the best place to live, work, worship and play.

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INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

While smaller than the Ford City boundaries that existed

at amalgamation in 1935, the geographic area for this

report (as shown in Map 1) is bound by Riverside Drive on

the North, Seminole Road on the South, Ford Motor

Company lands on the East, and Walker Road on the

West. Ford City was a boom town toward the end of the

industrial revolution (1905 1930). In 1915, Ford City

was incorporated into a town as its workforce transitioned

into a manufacturing role from a farming community. The

town layout was developed quickly to meet the needs of agrowing economy and demanding residents because of

the vibrant growth of Ford. It did not have a

comprehensive plan designed to nurture growth and

separate uses like the neighbouring town of Walkerville.

For this reason, future development in Ford City would

prove to be a challenge because of its unique land uses

and neighbourhood dynamic.

When Ford Motor Company relocated to Oakville, Ontario in 1953 the community experienced a

significant economic downturn. This downturn led to the closure of most of the commercial

enterprise in the area.

Since the mid-1970s there have been a number of reports and community initiatives aimed at

renewing Ford City. The federal governments Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program

(1975-1983) led to a number of physical improvements in the neighbourhood. In subsequent

years (1983-1987), the Drouillard Road Corridor Commercial Improvement Study and Drouillard

Road Rehabilitation Project led to faade improvement in the 1000 block of Drouillard Road.

The Cadillac Street Improvement Plan was implemented from 1993-1997. The City of Windsor

acquired properties on the East side of Cadillac for the use of the Ford Motor Company, which

eventually were exchanged for the land at the Ford Test Track. Much of the land was cleared

and a landscaped berm and boundary fence were installed. The New Vision of the Ford City

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Map 1


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Business District began in 1997 and led to streetscaping initiatives, mural projects, several

economic and social planning reports and needs assessments, Community Improvement Plans

and environmental assessments.

Most recently, work in Ford City centred on the recommendations contained in a trio of reports

which analyzed current and past redevelopment efforts through the lens of organizational

planning, urban planning and crime prevention and led to the Ford City Neighbourhood Renewal

Project (FCRP). Administered by Drouillard Place (DP) and overseen by the FCRC, the FCRP

is funded by the Pristine Power Sustainability Fund and the local United Way. In partnership

with the University of Windsor, the FCRP uses a community-university partnership model to

advance the Universitys mission to promote student and university civic engagement and to

advance the goals of neighbourhood renewal

The FCRP has resulted in several positive outcomes for the community. As noted by the United

Way Centraides Windsor-Essex Countys Impact Council in their feedback report, the initiative

has met with many successes including the diversity of the strategy, the extensive use of

volunteers, the diversity of the outreach and public education and the ability to leverage

resources. Given the successes of the FCRP and the assessed readiness of the Ford City

community to continue the work toward the revitalization of the area, the FCRP developed a

project to gather additional feedback from community stakeholders. Entitled Envision Ford

City, the project was designed and led by a social work student from the University of Windsor

as part of the required practicum for the Bachelor of Social Work degree. Paul Borns (2008)

Community Conversations provided the structure for the community consultation. The FCRP

hoped that the Community Conversations would reveal a shared community vision that could

inform the ongoing work of the FCRC by engaging area residents, property owners,

organizational leaders and business operators in an asset- and strengths-focused dialogue.

ENVISION FORD CITY PROJECT

Purpose and Objectives

The primary purpose of holding Community Conversations within the Ford City neighbourhood

was to broaden the scope of what we learned from the two previous studies, Revitalization

Prospects: Ford City Drouillard Road Neighbourhood; A Report to the Ford City Redevelopment

Committee (October 2009) and the Crime Prevention through Environmental Design Audit

(CPTED). The Community Conversations allowed anyone within the boundaries of Ford City to

express their dreams for the future development of Ford City. The FCRC members wanted to

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ensure that the broader communitys perspective aligned with the recommendations within the

two previous reports.

Methodology

Envision Ford City utilized a series of ten Community Conversations. In each session,

participants were seated in small groups of 4-5 and were asked to discuss four questions. A

spokesperson from the group then reported the results back to the larger gathering for further

discussion. Where appropriate, the Facilitator asked follow-up questions to gain clarity on the

groups response. All individual and group responses were recorded using a group response

sheet, flip-chart notes and a staff note-taker.

Across the ten sessions, feedback was gathered from fifteen groups. Group responses were

tabulated according to the frequency of the response and then further delineated according to

themes. Given the nature of discussion groups most groups had more than one comment in

response to a particular question and often responses covered a number of questions, so the

final report does not present the themes as mutually exclusive. As a result it should be noted

that most reported group responses will be greater than fifteen (see Appendix B for a more

detailed record of participant responses).

. Discussion Questions

1. What do you like about Ford City? What is good about your community?

2. What are the top ten words you would like people to use to describe Ford City in the

Future?

a. If you were blind folded and dropped off at your ideal version of Ford City what

would you see when the blindfold was removed?

3. What businesses would you like to see in Ford City? Is there a theme or concept you

envision?

4. What could be done with vacant land in the community including the land between St.Luke and Walker?

a. What could be done with the individual in-fill lots in the community?

b. What could be done with the former Holy Rosary church building?

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Participation

To promote participation in Community Conversations, Facilitators:

distributed flyers to all homes in Ford City (832)

placed a large ad on the front page of the Ford City newsletter which was delivered to all

homes in Ford City (832)

created an online registration site

sent an email invitation to all contacts in the FCNR database (177)

posted several notices on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter

distributed 600 additional flyers throughout the community at neighbourhood events,

stores, and local agencies

Seven sessions were offered to the general public on various dates and times to provide the

most flexibility for those wishing to attend, with morning, afternoon, and evening sessions

offered on both weekdays and weekends. Three additional sessions were offered to allow

teens, parents with young children, and business leaders to participate (see Table 1). Childcare

and refreshments were available at all sessions. In total, 72 individuals participated in the

Community Conversations providing a reasonable sample size and representing a cross section

of Ford City stakeholders (see Table 1). As noted in Table 2, of the 72 participants, the majority

(79.4%) were residents of Ford City, female (67.6%) and over 18 years of age (77.9%).

Table 1 - Community Conversation Dates and Attendance

Date and Day Time Location Focus

#

AttendeesJune 2, 2011 10:00AM New Song Church General Public 7

June 2, 2011 2:00PM Maisonville CourtGeneral Public / Older Adults/

Persons with Disabilities 20

June 3, 2011 6:30PM New Song Church General Public 9

June 9, 2011 6:00PM Drouillard Place Terrace General Public 5

June 11, 2011 2:00PM Drouillard Place Terrace General Public 0

June 16, 2011 6:00PMGino Marcus Community

Complex General Public 5

June 18, 2011 2:00PMGino Marcus Community

Complex General Public 3

June 25, 2011 5:00PM Gino Marcus Community Teens 12 18 10

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Complex

July 5, 2011 9:30AMDrouillard Place Early Years

Centre Parents of Young Children 9

July 14, 2011 10:00AMGino Marcus Community

ComplexBusiness and Organization

Leaders 4

Table 2 Envision Ford City Project Participant Demographics

FRAMEWORK FOR COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS

Question 1 - What do you like about Ford City? What is good about your community?

As noted in Figure 1, the most frequent responses to these questions were the sense of

community (48), the character of the environment (39) and the amenities or services available

(20). Overall, the participants indicated that Ford City has a strong sense of community with

friendly people, who look out for one another. A less frequent, but notable response is that

the neighbourhood has potential for revitalization (15). These areas are more fully described

below.

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Total #Sessions

TotalAttendees

TotalGroups Male Female

Ford CityResident

0 13 14-18 18+

10 72 15 22 46 54 4 15 67

32.4% 67.6% 79.4% 4.7%17.4%

77.9%


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Figure 1. Positive Aspects of Ford City

Sense of Community: Participants contrasted Ford City to the typical suburban subdivision.

They expressed that Ford City had a small town feel, and that people know each other.

Further, they stated that residents are quick to rally together for a cause. They believe that the

community is comfortable and walkable. Additionally, they pointed to the long history of

residents working together through past groups like the East Windsor Citizens Committee, and

the newly-formed Ford City Residents in Action Committee (FCRA). Finally, they spoke

passionately about the events the community has been able to host such as the community

celebration of the opening of the splash pad and the recent fireworks and barbeque in Drouillard

Park.

Character: Participants made frequent mention of the murals that have been painted and

installed in the community, providing a creative, unique, and artistic character or feel. They

cited a long history of entrepreneurs and felt there is much hidden talent in the community.

Participants also spoke passionately about the communitys place in history and the historical

character of its buildings. They noted that the community is the birthplace of the automobile in

Canada, former boat factories and is home to the historical Holy Rosary church.

Churches & Service Providers: There is a strong appreciation for the service providers in the

community including: Drouillard Place, New Beginnings, Spirit of Excellence, and the Gino & Liz

Marcus Community Complex. Participants stated that people could come to the community and

expect to get their needs met. They also mentioned the programs available for children and

the space available for community groups to meet and host events. Furthermore, participants

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stated that they value the ease of access to amenities such as parkland, recreation space,

recreational programs, the riverfront and public transportation. Finally, participants expressed a

strong appreciation for the churches and faith groups in the community. Several specifically

mentioned New Song Church and the programs they offer. One participant stated they felt that

God hangs out here [on Drouillard].

Potential: Participants felt their community has a strong potential to grow due to the affordable

space available for artists and new businesses. Further, they felt the community is already

growing and improving and that things are coming together, through the efforts of individual

property owners and groups like the FCNRC, the FCRAC and the FCRC.

Question 2 What are the top ten words you would like people to use to describe Ford

City in the Future?

Participants expressed a strong vision for the future of their community utilizing words such as

vibrant, amazing, transformed, walkable, and unique. As in Question 1, responses

reflect that a high value is placed upon the people and social connections as well as the

character of the physical environment. Participants expressed a strong desire to have Ford City

seen as safe and welcoming. They stated that they wanted their community to be seen as a

vibrant and prosperous urban village, like Kensington Market in Toronto, with a unique

character and an eclectic mix of businesses. As noted in Figure 2, the words that participants

hope will be used to describe the community fall into 6 categories: vibrant (34), safe (25),

friendly (22), with character (22), an urban village (17) and transformed (14).

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Figure 2. Top Words to Describe Ford City

Vibrant: The dominant theme presented for the future of Ford City, by participants was that of a

busy, bustling, active, alive, and moving community. They stated they wanted people to

think of it as a fun, exciting, dynamic, and amazing place, full of opportunity. Further

they want to see a business district which is thriving, successful, and prosperous.

Participants envision streets bustling with people and activity. They see a community where

there is never a dull moment, with lots of activities for everyone.

Safe: Safety and security were frequent themes in discussions on all questions. The

participants recognize the community has a negative reputation for safety and would like that to

change in the future. Groups stated that they wanted people to feel welcome in a clean,

"beautiful, walkable, and relaxing environment. They envision beautiful homes that have

been restored and are well-kept, and a business district that has lots of flowers and greenery,

relaxing spaces and cafs.

Character: Many groups indicated they wanted the rich character of the community to be a

hallmark of its identity in the future. They envision a creative community of artisans, with a

strong arts feel where artists and the general public can interact. They also expressed a

desire for the community to be a place where history is celebrated, historic buildings

restored, and the public educated through tours, heritage plaques and photo displays.

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Friendly: Participants consistently identified friendliness as both a current condition and a trait

they wanted their community to be known for in the future. Groups used the terms nice,

caring, helpful, and accommodating to peoples needs to describe some of the social

characteristics which they hope will be part of their future. Furthermore, they stated they want

community members to remain connected to each other and tight-knit. In addition they

strongly expressed a desire to have the community known as a kid-friendly or family- friendly

place to live or visit.

Transformed: Participants expressed a strong desire for change. They want Ford City to be

seen as building, and growing. This includes having existing properties restored or

repurposed as well as having the vacant lands in the community developed so they contribute

to the life of the community. Several groups expressed pride in how far [the community] has

come and would like people to see a completely transformed Ford City in the future. Further,

groups indicated they would like Ford City to be well-known for good things. They would like

their community to be respected around the city similar to other areas that have undergone

transformation such as the Walkerville and Erie street areas.

Urban Village: Participants consistently expressed that they envision Ford City as an urban

village, a place that is a destination, where people can find unique items, they cant get

anywhere else. They picture an eclectic mix of shops, artistic storefronts cafes, craft

vendors, live music and art, and a farmers market. They also described a place where you

could walk to work and shop, like parts of Toronto or the San Francisco Arts District.

Question 3a - What businesses would you like to see in Ford City?

The businesses the participants stated they would like to see in the community represent both

the practical and the visionary. Businesses that meet the daily needs of the people in any

neighbourhood are desired in Ford City, such as a general store to buy small gifts or hardware

items as well as a full-line grocery store to purchase less expensive food items, fruit, vegetables

and meats. In addition, participants expressed a strong desire to see the business district

become something distinct in the broader community.

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Reflecting their desire to be known as an urban village or arts district the businesses they

desire to see in the community both support and build upon this theme. As noted in Figure 3,

participants suggested the following potential businesses: speciality shops (16 participants),

cafe (16 participants), general store (14 participants), restaurant (14 participants), art spaces

and shops (13 participants), museum (13 participants) and grocery store (12 participants).

These recommendations are discussed more fully below.

Figure 3. Potential Business Opportunities in Ford City

Specialty Shops: Participants expressed the desire for specialty shops and services including,

a hair salon candy shop, ice cream shop, chocolatier and an upscale thrift/resale shop.

As with many of the other types of stores indicated, participants expressed both a practical and

visionary desire for these shops. They stated that these businesses would complement the

feel or vibe we want to create.

Caf: Participants expressed a strong desire to have a coffee shop, or caf where people

could simply relax or possibly take in a jam session or open mic[microphone] night. They felt

that a caf would draw people into the community and that it would create an urban village

feel and be pedestrian-friendly. Related to this, participants expressed a desire for a bakery

and deli, as a place to purchase an affordable sandwich with quality meats and fresh breads.

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General Store: Many participants described the need for a store that would sell a variety of

items at an affordable price. This store was referred to as a general store, dollar store,

department store or a hardware store. Participants stated that they wanted a place where

they could purchase nails, envelopes and stamps and small gifts. Some groups expanded

upon this and suggested that they would like to see a mall in the community, either on the

vacant industrial lands or by turn[ing] Drouillard Road into a mall.

Restaurant: Participants stated that they would like to have an affordable, family-friendly,

restaurant. They envisioned a place where people could grab a quick bite of lunch, or take

the family without it costing a fortune. Further, some groups imagined a Bistro with a higher

quality of food that could draw people into the community and serve those they hope will come

into the neighbourhood for the arts and events.

Art Spaces and Shops: Participants described a wide variety of arts-related businesses,

including galleries, theatres, studio space, shops, and music or dance schools. They

envisioned a community arts hub, a place to do, learn and display art for adults and kids.

Participants expressed that they felt that an arts theme would draw in people, and give them a

reason to hang around, eat and shop. They also expressed that artists are edgy and will put

up with less than perfect living accommodations and community image. Artists would bring

new energy to the community. Creation of an arts community could also help fill housing with

students from the University who will be attending school downtown at the new Visual Arts

Centre or School of Social Work.

Museum: Several groups paired the arts theme with the communitys heritage and stated that

the community should have a museum or education centre. Participants felt that Ford City

would be the perfect place for a museum on the history of the area, the automobile,

manufacturing, the labour movement, or even the great lakes and maritime [shipping].

Full-Line Grocery Store: Participants identified the need for a place to purchase fresh fruit

and vegetables, at less expensive prices. Participants frequently expressed that they found it

difficult to get to the [existing] grocery stores, and that they would like to have a grocery store

in the community. Further, several groups suggested that a farmers market would be a good

fit with community need and with the theme they envision. An open-air market or bazaar would

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draw people into the community, and they would then stop for a coffee at a caf or visit an art

studio.

Question 3b Is there a theme or concept you envision?

As noted in Figure 4, when asked if there was a theme or concept that participants envisioned

for Ford City, responses, in rank order, were an artisan village (20 participants), an urban

village (17 participants), a business incubator (10 participants) and a heritage district (6

participants). These themes and concepts are discussed in further detail below.

Figure 4. Potential Themes and Concepts for the Commercial Corridor in Ford City

Artisan Village: As discussed earlier, the majority of participants described an arts hub or

artisan village when discussing their vision for the future of the community. They compared

their vision to SOHO in New York, the Eastern Market in Detroit, and Kensington Market in

Toronto. They described a community where artists and artisans live, work, conduct business

and display their goods. Participants stated that an Artisan Village would work well with the

Urban Village theme that others had described and would help create the vibe, or feel that an

urban village needs.

Urban Village: When speaking of an urban village, groups used terms such as small town,

walkable, convenient, unique, eclectic, and specialty. Participants described a compact

business district with a variety of specialty shops that would draw people from all over. They

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frequently used communities like St. Jacobs, Fergus, and Paris, Ontario as examples of the

business mix and feel they envision. Further, they described a community where people

continue to be in touch with each other and their heritage.

Business Incubator: Participants recognized the need for employment opportunities and

expressed a desire to see jobs created in Ford City. They referred to the fact that most jobs

are created by new businesses, and wanted to see Ford City become a business incubator,

or employment generator. Further, they recognized that a stable business district is

diversified, with a variety of businesses. To accomplish this, they suggested that the Ford City

Business Improvement Association and FCRC seek ways to draw in creative entrepreneurs,

and new businesses.

Heritage District: Several groups pointed to the heritage of the community, describing a

bustling, 1930s downtown, with buildings restored to their original facades. They suggested

that buildings could have plaques placed on the front describing its original use, and be added

to a tour guide for local history/heritage buffs. As well, participants suggested that a museum

would add significantly to the community and draw people in, giving them a reason to visit.

Question 4 - What could be done with vacant land in the community including the land

between St. Luke and Walker?

Overall, participant responses ranged from simple clean-up activities to employment generating,

recreation, arts or community activity use. However, as there are several distinct types of

vacant land in the community, this question was further delineated to seek group suggestions

for the future use of:

the former Holy Rosary Church

the riverfront lands which are currently owned by Ford Motor Company

individual vacant lots, or in-fill lots in the community

the former industrial land between Walker Road and St. Luke Road

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Ideas for the Repurposing of Holy Rosary Church: When asked what could be done with the

former Holy Rosary Church the majority of participants (12) suggested an Arts Centre, while 10

participants suggested that the church could become a community museum (Figure 5).

While not vacant land, participants in the first session identified this property as significant to the

community. As such, the project facilitators included this as a follow-up question in all of the

other sessions. Participants at all sessions expressed the importance of preserving, and

repurposing this heritage building which then should be used to benefit the community, and

have an educational aspect to it.

Figure 5. Ideas for the Repurposing of Holy Rosary Church

Arts Centre: Many groups envisioned Holy Rosary Church as a shared arts space.

Participants suggested that the auditorium could become the new home for the Windsor

Symphony, as well as open for community theatre groups, and concerts. They also

suggested that the basement could be used as an arts learning centre, where people of all

ages can learn and create art. Participants stated that sharing the space would make the

facility more financially viable. Additionally, participants felt that this concept would work well

with the museum described below, located in the basement.

Museum: Throughout the Community Conversations participants discussed the importance of

the communitys heritage and suggested that the former Holy Rosary would be the perfect

facility for a museum, possibly with the assistance of the Chimchuk Funds held by the City of

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Windsor. Participants suggested combining several concepts, such as an automotive

museum, a Ford Motor Company of Canada Museum, a great lakes or maritime museum, a

manufacturing museum, and a labour movement museum. Participants expressed that each

of these would draw people from across the country to visit Ford City.

Ideas for the Redevelopment of Vacant Property in Ford City: Ford City currently has many

vacant lots, both in the business district along Drouillard Road, and on the residential streets to

the East and West. While participants discussed the vacant residential lots, group responses

primarily referred to the vacant commercial properties in the community. As such the responses

reflect participant suggestions for those lands. Additionally, participants identified the alleys to

the East and West of Drouillard as under-utilized and suggested improving them or treating

them as art/event spaces as described below. It should be noted that not all groups addressed

this question, resulting in lower numbers. When asked what should be done with individual

vacant properties in Ford City, the majority of participants (18) stated that these lands could be

used for new and revived commercial or residential, while 6 participants suggested the land

could be used for arts and events and 5 participants stated that there may be opportunities for

employment generating projects (see Figure 6).

Figure 6. Ideas for the Redevelopment of Vacant Property in Ford City

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New and Improved Commercial or Residential: Several groups suggested that to build the

kind of vibrant business district they envision, new commercial spaces, parking, and

housing are needed. Existing properties must be improved with the grass cut, old vehicles

and garbage removed. Participants expressed that new developments should match the

character of the community, while providing the flexibility of new construction for business

owners.

Arts/Events Space: Participants frequently referenced the current use of the Whelpton

Parkette as a successful model of redevelopment. They suggested that several more vacant

lots should be converted to arts spaces for murals, living art walls, sculptures or outdoor

concerts. Participants stated that this would help build the artisan village/urban village feel

that they desire and would attract more visitors. Some participants stated that they have seen

these types of properties in cities like Chicago and elsewhere.

Employment Generating: Participants recognized the need for employment generating

activities and strongly suggested that these be placed in the vacant properties on Drouillard.

They stated that these new businesses would give people jobs and draw people to the area.

Additionally, they expressed that if there are things to do, and people work here, people will

want to live here.

Ideas for Repurposing of Industrial Lands on St. Luke Road: The former industrial lands

between Walker and St. Luke Roads presented participants with a more difficult consideration

as many recognized that due to previous use, the land may be contaminated and thus they

were unsure what, if anything, could be built on these lands. While a significant majority wanted

to see new development on the land, many indicated that recreational use may be the only

option. All participants stated that better use of these lands would open the community up to

the rest of the city, allowing people from outside the community to more easily visit Ford City.

As previously noted, the majority of participants (10) stated that the land should be used for

recreation, while 7 suggested building housing on these lands, 6 expressed there may be

opportunity to develop employment generating projects and 5 recommended developing

commercial space (see Figure 7).

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Figure 7. Ideas for Repurposing of Industrial Lands on St. Luke Road

Recreational Space: Many groups indicated that they would like to the see the space

developed, but that it was impossible. As such, they suggested recreational uses that would

connect the community with the rest of the city, including walking/biking trails, an outdoor

theatre, playground spaces, urban camping, paintball, baseball diamonds, skating rink,

snowboarding hills and an outdoor roller rink. Participants felt that by creating a community

recreational space, in conjunction with a new riverfront park on the Ford lands, it would

anchor the community and draw people up the street, much like the beach does in Grand

Bend.

Housing: Several groups suggested these lands be used to develop new housing. They

suggested that it be geared-to-income, or mixed-income to help meet the need in the City of

Windsor and maintain the character of the community. Participants felt that additional housing

would provide a larger base of support for local businesses, and more eyes on the street, to

improve safety and security.

Employment Generating: Many groups stated that they would like to see the land redeveloped

in such a way as to create jobs. They stated that they saw the potential to develop light

industrial like on Rhodes drive, a business incubator park like they have in Waterloo, or a

green farming hub with greenhouses growing organic produce.

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Commercial/Institutional: Some groups expressed that the land should house new

commercial space a plaza like what was put on the industrial lands at MacDougal and

Tecumseh. Others suggested that the land be used to attract new institutions like a campus

for the University or College or a nursing home.

COMMON THEMES

Several themes became evident as each group provided feedback through theCommunity

Conversation process. The Facilitator also tracked the number of individual responses on a

given theme to help gauge the strength of the communitys response to the questions. A

summary of participants vision for their community are captured in the themes below.

Safety and security: Overwhelmingly, participants indicated that they wanted a safe and

secure community. Whether described in terms of crime reduction or property improvement,

they indicated that they wanted to have a community where they could comfortably walk up and

down the streets. They reiterated they want a community that is free of the stigma and

stereotypes attached to the community and where people are comfortable to visit, shop and live.

Community Connectivity: Participants strongly value their social connections and see these

as a key part of the redevelopment efforts. While they recognize that they will require

government and corporate support to achieve their goals of revitalization, they want to be active

partners in the rebuilding process and cited the FCRA as a one way for the community to have

a voice. They suggested that the social connections can be strengthened and enhanced is so

that their community will be known as a caring, connected community that embraces people

from all walks of life and helps residents achieve a successful life.

Activity generation: Participants recognize that the community needs people to visit and

conduct business to make the business district viable. They frequently referred to increasing

foot traffic and envision a bustling community where people from outside the community come

to visit. Whether it is through increased housing, unique businesses, arts and recreation

activities or new business ventures, participants want to see a significant increase in the number

of people who are in Ford City on any given day.

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Thriving commercial corridor: Participants recognize that the feel of the business district

forms the sense of community surrounding it. They consistently stated that they want Ford City

to be a prosperous, urban village with a strong arts and heritage theme. They envision Ford

City as "memorable and remarkable." "It has got its own personality, its own signature. When

people are on that block, they know where they are. It's so rich that I could take 500 walks up

and down the sidewalk and every time I take that walk I see something new" (Jarvis, 2011).

RECOMMENDATIONS

The Community Conversations confirmed the majority of the recommendations contained in

previous planning and community reports. This is an important conclusion as it provides the

FCRP and FCRC with a blueprint for change that is supported by all stakeholders (seeAppendix C for a full list of recommendations to revitalize Ford City which have been organized

according to four themes: Safety and Security; Community Image Renewal; Community

Engagement; and, Commercial Revitalization, which reflect themes identified previously. The

recommendations have been further delineated as short-term (1-3 years), medium-term (3-5

years) and long-term (+ 5 years). Where a recommendation is compatible with those made in

a previous report, the title and year of release have been provided).

Five new recommendations emerged from the Community Conversations:

1. Evaluating, mitigating, and redeveloping the former industrial lands between Walker and

St. Luke Roads

2. Repurposing the former Holy Rosary Parish into a shared community arts and heritage

Centre

3. Redeveloping the Ford City Business District into an Urban Artisan Village with a strong

heritage theme

4. Executing a program to foster positive community self-image and vision

5. Developing a set of financial incentives for current and future investors

In order to facilitate the successful achievement of the aforementioned recommendations,

participants made the following recommendations:

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4. Form an Arts and Heritage Advisory Panel made of representative from the arts and

heritage community to advise on the development of Ford City as an Artisan Village and

Heritage Community.

5. Gather, and curate Ford City memorabilia, photographs and historic documents,

ensuring they are properly documented and stored for future use.6. Re-establish a Ford City Discovery Centre or Ford City Museum.

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CONCLUSION

The project team sought to ensure that all interested parties were able to participate in this

project. While the project Facilitators were able to secure a respectable sample size and a

cross-section of Ford City stakeholders, the number of participants was limited. This project

would have benefitted from a larger time frame in which to solicit additional participants and

gather their feedback. However, the Envision Ford City project mirrors much of the literature

related to urban renewal and community revitalization. Participants recommendations and

insights are supported by research and by previous reports on the renewal of Ford City.

The community expressed the desire to create an historic, urban village of artists and artisans.

While there is a significant base of creativity upon which to build, this concept will require a

concentrated effort by all stakeholders to transform part of the Ford City business district to a

work and live space for artists. Gerard Lemos (2001) in his report to the City Bridge Trustnoted

the profound inter-relation of artist and community and that the artistdepends on the

community for his tone, his tempo, and his intensity (p.6).The artists innate desire to create,

coupled with their inter-dependence upon the community, means they are ideal assets for

community redevelopment. John McKnight, & John Kretzmann (1993), dedicate a chapter of

their book, Building Communities From the Inside Out,to identifying and utilizing artists as

assets in community building.

The participants vision also aligns with the City of Windsors Cultural Master Plan which calls

for an extension of public art, the development of cultural tourism, and the creation of live-work

spaces for artists. The creation of an urban artisan village in Ford City will create a cultural

tourist attraction with existing and additional public art and a living- working environment for

artists and artisans.

The communitys vision for the redevelopment of the parcels of vacant land and brownfields

aligns with a number of professional reports and the City of Windsors planningrecommendations. Figure 8 shows the value of brownfield redevelopment for the community.

The City of Windsor recognizes this value and subsequently released its Brownfield

Redevelopment Strategy and Community Improvement plan in 2010. The plan includes a list of

priority sites, including several in Ford City, and a grant program to help off-set the cost of the

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EnvironmentalAssessment and Environmental Review Report and remediation for these

properties.

The City of Windsors Housing Analysis and Recommended Strategies Report, (2004), calls

for the development of affordable housing on brownfield sites as well as infill housing in

designated areas, including Ford City. This policy document not only supports the participants

desire for redevelopment of the brownfield lands in Ford City, but also their desire for an

increase in the number of affordable housing units in the community (p. 304-306).

Figure 8. Benefits of Brownfield Redevelopment

Original source: Regional Analytics, 2002, Figure 2, p. 7.

Participants desire to preserve and repurpose heritage properties in Ford City reflects the City

of Windsors Cultural Master Plan (2010). The report calls for the creation of cultural tourism, or

place-based tourism as well as capacity building and financial support of cultural organizations.

The City of Windsor has already recognized Our Lady of the Rosary (Holy Rosary Parish) as a

heritage resource, and included it on its heritage inventory. In 1998, the Windsor Heritage

Committee acknowledged the historical significance of Our Lady of the Rosary Church with a

Built Heritage Award for the preservation of the architectural features, helping to maintain a link

to the original Ford City. Combined, the Cultural Master Plan, (2010) and Holy Rosarys

inclusion on the heritage inventory, support the vision of repurposing the facility into a shared

community arts and heritage centre.

Participants desire for Ford City to become a vital and vibrant community aligns with

significant research in community redevelopment. Sheri Torjman of the Caledon Institute for

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Social Policy, in her book Shared Spaces: the Communities Agenda, (2007), describes four

dimensions of a resilient and vibrant community: sustenance, adaptation, engagement and

opportunity. Each of these elements is present in Ford City and the next steps for Ford City

may be to leverage these dimensions and work in what Torjman calls the shared space, to

create synergy and redevelopment.

Participants stated that they wanted Ford City to be a prosperous, welcoming, urban

village, but, what would that look like? Ken Greenberg, author of Walking Home: The Life and

Lessons of a City Builder, describes it this way; I can live here, I can work close at hand, I

can go to the park, I can get a library book, my kids can go to school here (White, 2011). Dan

Burden, an urban planner and creator of the non-profit group Walkable Communities, describes

it this way: it has streetscapes that are rich and human and comfortable, lined with buildings

that have lots of windows, with colour and texture like trees and planters and hanging baskets,

benches to sit, lamps for evenings, ways to slow traffic (Jarvis, 2011). These authors are

describing a walkable urban village such as the one envisioned by participants in the Envision

Ford City project.

The redevelopment of Ford City will benefit from the synergy of efforts by community groups,

recommendations by experts, engagement of the community and favourable public policy. The

next step now is to continue to build the communitys social capital and secure the public and

private investments that will be necessary to make the communitys vision a reality. Given Ford

Citys bold and visionary thinking, community engagement and diverse partnerships, Ford City

can become the best place to live, work, worship and play.

REFERENCES

B.C. Healthy Communities. (2006).A Guide for Hosting Community Conversations. Victoria,B.C.: Author.

Born, P. (2008). Community Conversation. Toronto: BPS Books.

Bozikovic, K. (2011, July 1). Walking Home: The Life and Lessons of a City Builder. [Review of

the book by: K. Greenberg. The Globe and Mail.

Brown, J. (2005). The World Caf: Shaping our futures through conversations that matter.San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers.

City of Windsor. (2007). By-Law 27-2007 Ford Powerhouse District Community ImprovementPlan. Windsor, ON: Author.

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City of Windsor. (2007). Official Plan, Neighbourhood Development Strategy, 1(3). Windsor,ON: Author.

City of Windsor. (2004). Drouillard Road Park Redevelopment Plan. Windsor, ON: Author

City of Windsor. (2004). Housing Analysis and Recommended Strategies Report. Windsor, ON:

Author.

Dillon Consulting Limited . (2007). Ford Powerhouse District Community Improvement Plan.Windsor, ON: Author.

Hayes, R. (2009). Revitalization Prospects: Ford City-Drouillard Road Neighbourhood. Windsor,ON: Author.

Horrobin, B. (2009). Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Assessment Ford CityB.I.A. Windsor, ON: Windsor Police Service.

Jarvis, A. (2011, July 4). Fighting for the Citys Soles. The Windsor Star, A3.

Kretzmann, J. & McKnight, J. (1993). Building Communities from the Inside Out: A path towardfinding a mobilizing a communitys assets. Evanston, IL: The Asset-Based CommunityDevelopment Institute.

RCI Consulting, (2010). City of Windsor Brownfield Redevelopment Strategy and CommunityImprovement Plan. Windsor, ON: Author.

Regional Analytics, (2002). A Preliminary Investigation into the Economic Impact of BrownfieldRedevelopment Activities in Canada. Burlington, ON: National Roundtable on theEnvironment and the Economy.

Medcalf, M. (2007). Priorities and Strategies for 2007/2008: Results from action planningsessions conducted in October 2007. Windsor, ON: Author

Torjman, S. (2007). Shared Space: The Communities Agenda. Ottawa, ON: The CaledonInstitute for Social Policy.

Wheatley, M. (2002). Turning to one another. San Francisco: Berrett Koehler Publishers.

White, S. (2011, July 5). Why Condo-Villes Dont Work. The Globe and Mail.

World Caf Community. (2002). Caf to Go, A quick reference guide for putting conversationsto

work. San Francisco: Author.

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APPENDIX A: Ford City Redevelopment Committee

The Ford City Redevelopment Committee is made up of representatives of:

the Ford City Residents in Action (3 members),

the Ford City Business Improvement Area (3 members),

and local non-profit organizations (6 members).

It is supported by resource delegates from:

the City of Windsor, Planning Department

the City of Windsor, Community and Cultural Services

the University of Windsor, School of Social Work

Windsor Police Service

Canada Mortgage and Housing

The Ford City Development Committee works collaboratively with:

The Ford City Business Improvement Area

The Ford City Residents in Action

The Ford City Neighbourhood Renewal Project Community Development Coordinators

The Ford City Community Garden

And other groups who share the goal of making Ford City the best place to live, work,

worship, and play.

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APPENDIX B: Participant Suggestions and Quotes

Question # 1 - Participant suggestions for using these assets to improve Ford City:

Build Upon Community Spirit: Participants urged that the strong community spirit be harnessed

to facilitate redevelopment activities. Ideas put forward included: petition drives to securepolicy change or government support, a neighbourhood watch program, or community projects

like the Ford City Community Garden. There was also a strong call for more community

events like the recently held fireworks and barbeque put on by the FCRA. However,

participants emphasized the need for family and teen events, especially for those between 12

and 15 years. Further, several participants suggested developing a mentorship/leadership

development program for area teens utilizing sports (tennis/hockey) in Drouillard Park.

Capitalize upon Arts and History: Participants strongly identified with the rich history and

artistic character of Ford City and recommended capitalizing on this in redevelopment efforts.

Individuals suggested the creation of a Ford City Museum, an automotive/manufacturing

museum, or, a labour movement museum. To coincide with this participants suggested the

creation on an annual event, or Ford City Homecoming, featuring a classic car show similar to

the Woodward Dream Cruise in Detroit. Further, they suggested that, the murals that are in

place in the community could be used to draw visitors and business by creating and promoting

a tour or exhibit of the murals and history of various buildings in Ford City.

Market the area: Participants suggested that the business district could be promoted as anarts/artisans district, where artists/artisans could rent affordable studio or gallery space. It

was also suggested that the small size of store fronts and affordable rents, could be used to

promote the area to new business start-ups.

Restore and Beautify: Participants stated Ford City has great bones, and suggested the older

buildings be renovated or restored to their former glory and that those which are not structurally

sound be torn down to provide parking. Further, that the under-utilized alleys be closed and

turned into parking or walking/biking trails. Participants felt that better utilization of the existing

sidewalk planter boxes and a adopt a street program would help make the community more

clean and welcoming. Finally they felt the area parks should have more tables, benches, and

things to do or look at.

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General Participant Comments on Question # 1

There is potential to grow with cheap property.

There is a sense of family.

There is a strong foundation upon which to build murals, parkettes, arts.

Community is rich in history and stories.

The viaduct could be improved by making an overpass as it is viewed by residents as a

barrier between Maisonville Court and the rest of the Drouillard area. It is very difficult to

navigate the steep inclines and heavy traffic, especially if you have mobility restrictions.

Question # 2 - Participant suggestions for making these descriptions a reality in FordCity:

Improve Safety: Participants would like to see a greater (more visible) police presence, with

walking (or cycling) patrols. They suggested the need for more citizens to call the police, and

that the community form a neighbourhood watch program. They also stated that there was a

need for increased light, especially at the viaduct [at Wyandotte] and in the parks. Participants

expressed that these measures would work alongside other measures to put more eyes on the

street, making people feel more comfortable to walk the street and shop.

Improve Appearance - General: Participants strongly expressed need for stronger enforcement

of property standards, and suggested that derelict or unsafe buildings be torn down and not

left as eye sores. They also expressed that, properties with broken windows need to [have

them] fixed, and not just boarded up. Further, participants felt that efforts need to continue to

clean up the neighbourhood, through projects like the recent Clean-Sweep.

Improve Appearance Business District: To make the changes necessary in the business

district, participants felt that there was a need for grants and incentives for people to purchase

and restore buildings, or to open businesses in Ford City. Further, they felt that there was a

need to get realtors, banks and insurance companies on board because it is next to impossible

to get a bank to lend you money to purchase a property in Ford City, or insure to it. Several

groups also stated that there was a need for additional parking and suggested that vacant lots

could be turned into parking, and that if the City of Windsor owned any of these properties that

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they should help the efforts by turning them into parking lots, community gardens or other

community use space.

Improve Image: To make Ford City the vibrant community they envision participants recognized

the need for people to feel comfortable visiting and investing here. The safety and appearance

improvements described above will help with this, but participants noted that work also must be

done on the pre-existing reputation that Ford City has. To this end they suggested that a

program be developed to increase peoples pride in their own community, and help them see

what the community can become. Further, they suggested that there was a need for a positive

media campaign, to get good news out to the media and help change their attitudes.


To attract new business and creative entrepreneurs we need:

o vision, forward thinking, [that] moves past the good old days.

o The FCBIA working with residents.

o Business plan help [for new entrepreneurs].

o Banking support- help getting loans. We should host a lending workshop with

WFCU [Windsor Family Credit Union] for entrepreneurs interested in starting

businesses in Windsor and show case Drouillard at the same time.

More parking is needed. Parking needs to be convenient.

Restored buildings and clean well maintained buildings and businesses will go a long

way to improve the [communitys] image.


Ford City could host gallery crawls similar to pub crawls.

A true arts community could connect with music studios and do concerts and lessons.

We need to take advantage of the heritage of the community as birthplace of the

automobile.

Moving businesses and/or artists down to Ford City will require a collaborative effort,

possibly even by a developer who may be interested in buying up the street and

redeveloping it.

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Downtown is known as a party place not an arts space. There are some [galleries] on

Pelissier but street is dead and items are too expensive.

Is there a name for a neighbourhood with all of this?

o SOHO, Eastern Market, Kensington Market

o Like a small town in Europe.

o Artsy, Young and Smart!

General Participant Comments on Question 4

Must be activity generating uses.

Develop land to reduce the barriers between Walkerville and Ford City.

Build co-op or social housing with mixed income housing. This will bring more people to

Ford City and more people to support businesses. Possibly do this in partnership with

Habitat for Humanity.

Create Urban Farms. Build green houses with boutiques, plant nursery and

attractions like Colasantis. This will create jobs and traffic in the area.

Need incentives for people to buy property and run businesses here. Possibly a

financial co-operative.

Need to have strong bylaws and enforcement, but friendly to investment.

Need to have agreements with people purchasing here to maintain and develop

property.

There is a sense that the pieces are beginning to fall into place for Ford City.

Specific Ideas from Participants

While not in response to a specific question, participants provided a number of creative

ideas for improving Ford City. These have been included below.

Maisonville Court residents expressed that they were not as connected to the Ford City

community as they would like to be, citing difficulty accessing the community because of the

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viaduct and lack of information. Participants strongly suggested that some form of level

crossing be created to allow those in wheelchairs and walkers to access the rest of the

community.

Several participants stated that there is a need for winter activities to connect the

residents.

Participants suggested the development of an Adopt a Street or Adopt a Zone program

in partnership with the City of Windsor.

One participant suggested developing a Scarecrow contest utilizing the empty lots and

community garden. Similar to the bulls in Chicago, moose in Toronto, or the cars here in

Windsor, the scarecrows would be made by artists and placed on display in the community.

They would then be put up for sale. Especially if done with sponsorship support, this couldbe an affordable art opportunity for local and international artists, while drawing people into

the community.

Several participants suggested developing an Alley Festival with local vendors setting up

booths outdoors along the alleys to the East and West of Drouillard Road.

Many of the youth participants stated that they missed the street hockey pad that was

removed from Drouillard Park and would like to see one installed on one of the tennis courts.

They indicated that one is presently unused with no nets present and that it would be littlecost to have permanent hockey nets and lines installed.

Several participants suggested the creation of a Living Art Wall like in Chicago or

Pittsburgh. This would be a wall/space where artists (fine art and street art) can create

public art pieces with the understanding that another artist may come along and paint over it

or change it. One group suggested that this space have a webcam focused on it and

streamed live on FCNR website.

Many participants suggested that an incentive program be developed for people to buy,

and renovate property and run businesses in Ford City. Further, they suggested the

possibility of developing a financial co-operative.

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One participant commented that they see people in the neighbourhood by the

community centre taking pictures of buildings/murals a lot and suggested that a heritage tour

be organized. They could park at the church and walk up and down Drouillard.

Participants often referred to the deep roots which people have in the community, even ifthey have moved away. Further they stated that the Ford anniversary celebration that was

previously held was a tremendous success. In light of this, they suggested having an

annual Ford City Homecoming including a classic car show similar to the Woodward Dream

Cruise in Detroit.

General Comments from Participants

Overall, participants were very pleased with the sessions with 96.0% stating that they felt

that [their] ideas and opinions were heard. Further, 93.2% stated that the experience as

positive. Some of the general comments provided by participants are shown below.

Please provide advance notice for community forums at least three weeks.

Provide transportation and make wheelchair accessible for community forums.

Please contact us through Facebook.

Capitalize upon artistic/creative spirit of Ford City.

Capitalize upon heritage auto, Ford.

Develop a police substation or neighbourhood watch.

Need to have strong bylaws and enforcement, but friendly to investment.

There is a sense that the pieces are beginning to fall into place for Ford City.

Community has deep roots in the city that should be taken advantage of. Many people

grew-up here and moved away, but still feel strongly connected.

We need to get the word out about our work.

They would like to see Ford City retain its current small village feel.

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APPENDIX C: Summary of Recommendations to Revitalize Ford City

Short-Term - 1-3 years - Community Image Renewal

Also recommended in

or compatible with

1. Develop and launch a program to help foster apositive community self-image and vision.

New Recommendation

2. Work with the City of Windsor Building Department todevelop and launch a property standards enforcementprogram.

CPTED (2009),Medcalf (2007),Hayes, (2009)

3. Establish an Adopt a Zone program in partnership withthe City of Windsor Public Works Department.

CPTED (2009),Hayes (2009)

4. Work with individual property owners to address propertydeficiencies, especially those that affect safety andsecurity as outlined in CPTED.

CPTED (2009),Hayes (2009) ,Medcalf (2009)

5. In partnership with the Windsor Essex EconomicDevelopment Commission and the University of WindsorCentre for Business and Research, develop a marketingplan for the envisioned Ford City Urban Artisan Villageto include all lands in the Ford City area.

Hayes (2009) ,Medcalf (2009)

Short-Term - 1-3 years - Safety and SecurityAlso recommended in

or compatible with

1. Form a Neighbourhood Watch program and work withCrimeStoppers on an intense promotional campaign inFord City.

CPTED (2009),Hayes (2009),Medcalf (2009)

2. Assess the lighting in Ford City and work with propertyowners and the City of Windsor to increase lightingwhere beneficial.


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Short-Term - 1-3 years Community Engagement Also recommended inor compatible with

1. Work with the City of Windsor and area non-profitagencies to provide more, activities and events for youth

between 12 and 16 years of age.

CPTED (2009),Medcalf (2007)

2. Work with the City of Windsor Park and Recreation tofacilitate the completion of the Drouillard Road ParkRedevelopment Plan (2004), including the street hockeycourt and sports field.

City of Windsor DrouillardPark (2004), Hayes (2009)

3. Begin hosting an annual Ford City Homecoming event todraw former Ford City residents and others into thecommunity.

CPTED (2009)Hayes (2009)

4. Encourage the City of Windsor to address the pedestrian

crossing issue for residents of Maisonville Court and toinvestigate the installation of a level crossing over the CNRail tracks.

Powerhouse CIP (2007),

Hayes (2009),

Short-Term - 1-3 years Commercial RevitalizationAlso recommended in

or compatible with

1. Host a series of design charrettes and solicit artistconcepts for a Ford City Urban Artisan Village conceptincluding historical/automotive themes.


2. Work with current property owner(s) and the City ofWindsor to have an Environmental Site Assessment (EA)conducted on the former industrial lands between Walkerand St. Luke roads and an Environmental Review Report(ERR) filed with the Ministry of the Environment.

City of Windsor BrownfieldStrategy (2010),

Hayes (2009)

3. Begin promotion of the Ford City Urban Artisan Villageconcept for existing commercial space along DrouillardRoad seeking artisans and businesses which fit with theconcept.


4. Form a Finance Advisory Panel made of representativesfrom the banking and insurance industries to develop asupport program for property owners and new investors.

Medcalf (2007)

5. Form an Arts and Heritage Advisory Panel made ofrepresentative from the arts and heritage communityto advise on the development of Ford City as anArtisan Village and Heritage Community.

New Recommendation

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6. Gather, and curate Ford City memorabilia,photographs and historic documents, ensuring theyare properly documented and stored for future use.

New Recommendation

7. Conduct a feasibility study on the repurposing of the HolyRosary Church as a shared community arts and heritage

centre including possible partners and funding sources.

CPTED (2009),Hayes (2009),

Powerhouse CIP (2007)

8. Conduct a feasibility study on utilizing vacant land in thecommunity, including the land between Walker and St.Luke for Urban Agriculture or Urban Farming.

CPTED (2009)

9. In partnership with the City of Windsor, seek to developan official Ford City Community Improvement Plan (CIP)to allow the municipality greater flexibility in zoning,regulations and funding.

CPTED (2009),Medcalf (2007),

Hayes (2009)

10. Preserve and restore the existing murals and public art

exhibitions in the community and develop a plan for theirongoing conservation.

Hayes (20090

11. Host a regular, outdoor, street fair featuring the work oflocal artisans, and performers as well as a locally grownproduce.

CPTED (2009)

12. Work with the City of Windsor to identify and secure aproperty to create a living art space, including platformsfor sculptures as well as walls for murals.

CPTED (2009)

13. Encourage the City of Windsor to pursue acquisition of

the Ford Motor Company lands on Riverside Drive and toconvert it into park space.

City of Windsor

Brownfield Strategy (2010),Powerhouse CIP (2007),

Medcalf (2007),Hayes (2009)

Medium-Term 3-5 years Commercial Revitalization Also recommended inor compatible with

1. In partnership with current property owner(s), release aRFP for redevelopment of the former industrial landsbetween Walker and St. Luke Roads.

City of Windsor Brownfield Strategy (2010),

Hayes (2009)

2. In partnership with various financial institutions andlevels of government, launch a development incentiveprogram to support investments in Ford City.

Medcalf (2007),Hayes (2009)

3. In conjunction with partners identified in the Holy Hayes (2009)

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Rosary Feasibility Study, release an RFP forrepurposing and operation of the former Holy RosaryChurch.

4. Develop Heritage and Art walking tours featuring thecommunitys public art pieces as well as the heritage

building in the community and provide links to thesefrom the FCNR website.

CPTED (2009)

Long-Term 5+ years Commercial Revitalization Also recommended inor compatible with

1. In partnership with current property owner(s), and theCity of Windsor facilitate the remediation andredevelopment of the former industrial lands betweenWalker and St. Luke Roads.

City of Windsor Brownfield Strategy (2010),

Hayes (2009)

2. In partnership with the London Diocese of the RomanCatholic Church, the City of Windsor and partnersidentified in the Holy Rosary RFP, facilitate therepurposing of Holy Rosary as a Shared Community

Arts and Heritage Centre.

Hayes (2009)

3. Re-establish a Ford City Discovery Centre or FordCity Museum.

New Recommendation

Envision Ford City - Final Report - October 24 MM

Documents

Transcript of Envision Ford City - Final Report - October 24 MM