Residents feel squeezed between old, new bridges
Local MP gets an earful when he asks Sandwich Towne for feedback on work
Sherrelle Gillen loves her older home in Sandwich Towne — yet she can’t wait to move because of the crumbling, abandoned homes across the street.
Fellow west-end resident Treena Shram risks life and limb daily trying to cross the road at the overburdened intersection of Peter and Brock streets.
They shared their concerns Saturday at a public forum organized by local MP Brian Masse (NDP — Windsor West) at Mackenzie Hall.
Masse was seeking feedback from residents on what they’d like to see in the way of community benefits from the two massive bridge projects between which they find themselves wedged.
“With two sets of construction on both sides and the port authority on the other end, they have a chance to turn this into an incredible opportunity for urban renewal, or this area could live under siege for an undetermined amount of time,” Masse said.
Masse told the approximately 60 people in attendance his thoughts on holding government accountable for the area and his plan for preserving Ojibway Shores, presently controlled by the Windsor Port Authority. Then he turned the microphone over to residents.
“I love my home, but I can’t wait to move,” said Gillen, who lives in the 3600 block of Bloomfield Road. She deals with all manner of rodents living around two abandoned and rotting homes across the street.
“People who live here are the ones that suffer and it’s not fair,” she said of the blight.
Gillen said she can’t understand why the homes aren’t torn down to give way for a playground or community garden.
Mickie Gasparini shared Gillen’s concern about boarded-up houses.
“It’s disheartening,” said Gasparini, who has lived on King Street for 34 years. “Sandwich Towne is awesome, but how is this going to affect our neighbourhood?”
Shram worried about construction noise associated with building the new Gordie Howe International Bridge and a second span by Ambassador Bridge owner Matty Moroun.
“What time of day will they be running?” she asked. “What about vibration?”
In an interview, Shram wondered about the impact of further traffic disruptions and road closures.
“I rely on public transit to get around,” she said. “I want to find out how transportation is going to be affected. It’s bad enough with the (current) bridge repairs and the roundabout.”
Repairs to the Ambassador Bridge have closed several westend traffic arteries, and completion of the Sandwich Street roundabout has been delayed multiple times by an archeological dig.
“We in Sandwich Towne are not looking for a handout,” one businessman said. “But we are looking to balance the negative impact of the two projects around us.”
Masse encouraged people to fill out a survey asking what improvements they’d like to see out of the community benefits fund associated with the Gordie Howe build.
He handed out a leaflet detailing his two-step plan for securing the future of Ojibway Shores as natural, undeveloped shoreline.
The 36-acre parcel is currently owned and controlled by the Windsor Port Authority. Officials there have asked that it be considered by the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority as part of the Gordie Howe project and therefore get consideration as a community benefit. The authority is asking for $10 million in exchange for preserving the area for the next 30 years.
Masse said the federal ministry of transportation can take the port authority’s control of Ojibway Shores and sign it over to another ministry, preferably Environment Canada, to ensure its long-term protection.
Masse said information gathered through the surveys and Saturday’s meeting will be compiled and submitted to the WDBA.
Sandwich Towne is awesome, but how is this going to affect our neighbourhood?