EnvisionFord City

YOUR Vision,for YOUR Community,through YOUR eyes!

To have Mike speak to your community group, or help with your community engagement project email him at

morencymike@gmail.com

Acknowledgements• Ford City Neighbourhood Renewal

• Drouillard Place

• New Song Church

• Maisonville Court

• Drouillard Place Terrace

• Gino Marcus Community Complex

• Canada Mortgage and Housing

• Mary Medclaf and the University of Windsor

• Paul Born of the Tamarak Institute

• Barry Horrobin and Bob Hayes

• Ford City Redevelopment Committee

• The people of Ford City!

What areCommunity Conversations?

In simplest terms, a Community Conversation is people talking about something they care about.

• Café style

• 10 Sessions

• 72 individual participants

• 15 discussion groups

• Provided their response to four questions.

Why Community Conversations?

“There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.”

The process was about seeing the people’s vision for their community, through their eyes!

When you dream alone,it remains just a dream.

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

– Brazilian Proverb

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?

What was Discussed?

Who Participated?

• Residents

• Property owners

• Business leaders

• Organization leaders

• Older adults

• Persons with disabilities

• Teens

• Individual and group responses were recorded

• Group responses were listed by frequency

• Responses were further sorted by themes

The Results

Question #1

What do you love about Ford City?

What is good about your community?

• Sense of CommunityThey 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.”

• CharacterParticipants made frequent mention of the murals that have been painted and installed in the community, providing a “creative”, “unique”, and “artistic character” or feel. Participants also spoke passionately about the community’s place in history as is the birthplace of the automobile in Canada and about the historical character of its buildings including the historical Holy Rosary church.

How they described these concepts

• Churches and Service ProvidersParticipants stated that people could come to the community and expect to “get their needs met.”

A strong appreciation for the churches and faith groups in the community. One participant stated they felt that “God hangs out here [on Drouillard].”

• PotentialParticipants felt their community has a strong potential to grow due to the affordable space available for artists and new businesses.

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

Question #2

How they described these concepts

• VibrantA “vibrant and prosperous urban village”, like “Kensington Market in Toronto”, with a “unique” character and an “eclectic mix of businesses.”

• SafeGroups stated that they wanted people to “feel welcome” in a “clean”, "beautiful”, “walkable”, and “relaxing” environment.

• CharacterThey envision a “creative community of artisans,” where artists and the general public can interact. They also expressed a desire for the community to be a place “where history is celebrated,”

• FriendlyGroups used the terms “nice”, “caring”, “helpful”, and “accommodating to people’s needs” to describe some of the social characteristics which they hope will be part of their future.

• TransformedParticipants expressed a strong desire for change. They want Ford City to be seen as “building”, and “growing.”

• Urban Village“A destination,” where people can “find unique items, they can’t get anywhere else.” They picture an “eclectic mix of shops”, “artistic storefronts” “cafes”, “craft vendors”, “live music and art”, and a “farmer’s market”.

What businesses would you like to see in Ford City?

Question #3a

Specialty ShopsA “hair salon” “candy shop”, “ice cream shop”, “chocolatier” and an “upscale thrift/resale shop.”

CaféA place where people could “simply relax” or possibly take in a “jam session...” They felt that a café would “draw people into the community” and that it would “create an urban village feel and be pedestrian-friendly”.

General StoreA store that would sell a variety of items at an affordable price.

How they described these businesses

RestaurantAn “affordable,” “family-friendly,” restaurant, or a “Bistro” that could draw people into the community.

Art Spaces and ShopsParticipants 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.”

MuseumFor the history of “the area,” “the automobile,” “manufacturing,” “the labour movement,” or even “the great lakes and maritime [shipping].”

Full-Line Grocery StoreA place to purchase “fresh fruit and vegetables,” at “less expensive” prices.

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

Artisan VillageA community where “artists and artisans live, work, conduct business and display their goods.”

Urban VillageA compact business district with a “variety of specialty shops” that would “draw people from all over.”

Business IncubatorA community that draws in “creative entrepreneurs” and “new business.”

Heritage DistrictA “bustling, 1930’s downtown,” with “buildings restored to their original facades.” A tourist destination “for local history and heritage buffs.”

How they described these themes

What could be done with vacant land in the community including:

• the former Holy Rosary Church?

• individual vacant lots?

• the land between St. Luke and Walker?

Question #4

Ideas for the Repurposing of

Holy Rosary Church

Arts CentreA “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.”

Museum“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.

How they described these uses

Ideas for the Redevelopment of Vacant Lots in Ford City

New and ImprovedSeveral groups suggested that to build the kind of vibrant business district they envision, “new commercial spaces,” “parking,” and “housing” are needed.

Arts/Events SpacesThey suggested that several more vacant lots should be converted to “arts spaces for murals, living art walls, sculptures or outdoor concerts.”

Employment Generating“New businesses that would give people jobs and draw people to the area.”

How they described these uses

Ideas for Repurposing of Industrial Lands on St. Luke Road

Recreational SpaceThat would “connect the community with the rest of the city”, including walking/biking trails, an outdoor theatre, playground spaces, etc…

HousingNewly developed “geared-to-income,” or “mixed-income” to help meet the need in the City of Windsor and maintain the character of the community.

Employment GeneratingDevelop a “light industrial [park] like on Rhodes drive,” “a business incubator park like they have in Waterloo,”

Commercial/InstitutionalDevelopment of new commercial space , or to attract new institutions like “a campus for the University or College” or “a nursing home.”

How they described these uses

Common ThemesSafety and Security

Participants 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 ConnectivityParticipants strongly value their social connections and see these as a key part of the redevelopment efforts.

Activity GeneratingParticipants recognize that the community needs people to visit and conduct business to make the business district viable.

Thriving Commercial CorridorThey consistently stated that they want Ford City to be a prosperous, urban village with a strong arts and heritage theme.

New Recommendations

1. Evaluate, mitigate, and redevelop the former industrial lands between Walker and St. Luke Roads

2. Repurpose the former Holy Rosary Church into a shared community arts and heritage Centre

3. Redevelop the Ford City Business District into an Urban Artisan Village with a strong heritage theme

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

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

Next Steps

• Continue to capitalize upon the synergy

• Continue to build Ford City’s social capital

• Secure public and private investments