Ahead of council vote, business group pushes City of Windsor's downtown revitalization plan

With its posters, petition and an appeal for the public to become delegates at city council, the "Our Downtown" campaign in Windsor's core has the appearance of a grassroots citizens' movement.

But the campaign's partners include the City of Windsor, Windsor police, the Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association and other local institutions.

The campaign is aimed at building support for the city's proposed $3.2-million Downtown Windsor Revitalization Plan.

"This is our moment. It's got to happen," said Chris MacLeod, chair of the DWBIA, and also chair of the specifically-conceived Downtown Windsor Business Revitalization Association, which is leading the campaign. "If we don't take this step forward, we're going in the wrong direction."

"We just want to get as many people as we can... to come out to council, tell council that it's important. That's why we're looking to spread the word."

The plan goes before city council next Monday — about three weeks after Mayor Drew Dilkens unveiled it to the public.

It promises investments and improvements in seven categories: safer streets, higher property standards, "wrap-around" relief programs, encouraging downtown housing and business, making it easier to hold downtown events, better downtown marketing, and creation of a stakeholder discussion table.

Among the details are the hiring of 12 additional police officers to expand the downtown patrol team, deploying a "mobile lighting and camera unit," and dedicating three bylaw enforcement officers to the downtown area.

The "Our Downtown" website (strengthenthecore.ca) urges members of the community to sign a petition that will be presented to council.

"By signing this petition, you're not just endorsing a vision," the campaign states. "You're declaring your commitment to a strong, more connected community."

As of 6 p.m. Wednesday, the petition had garnered 822 online signatures.

Earlier this week, DWBIA executive director Debi Croucher issued an open letter asking people to sign up as delegates to speak in support of the plan at Monday's council meeting.

"If you want to see downtown revitalized, here's what you can do to help," Croucher wrote. "The time is now to do something to save our downtown. This is our chance to make a difference."

Extraordinary measures are already being taken to make the plan a reality. The additional spending for the plan will require council to re-open the recently finalized 2024 municipal budget — an amendment process that's different now under the mayor's new provincial powers.