A new community group is asking that the Gordie Howe Bridge protect the history, green space, and air quality of Sandwich Town.
The Windsor-Essex Community Benefits Coalition wants a legacy fund and education programs to deal with those future impacts, including traffic.
Businesswoman Mary Ann Cuderman says Sandwich Town is more than a dead end and student rentals.
Windsor-Essex Community Benefits Coalition asks the new bridge to protect the history of Sandwich Town, its green spaces and air quality. Dec. 20, 2017. (Photo by Paul Pedro)
Cuderman says the area has tourism that relies on the preservation of historical buildings.
"We have tours that come through here. We have the Rum Runners, we have French-Canadian tours, we have a lot of underground railroad tours because it's all here," says Cuderman.
The group made the wish list over the last six months and wants to be a partner with the eventual bridge builder and operator.
The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority says community benefits are a priority for the new bridge. The three proponents should submit their plans in May.
Cuderman says the history of Sandwich Town is critical to the local economy.
"Believe it or not a lot of people are into history and into heritage. Those people come and they don't just look around, they spend their money," Cuderman says.
She says the legacy fund is a priority to keep the area vibrant for many years to come.
"We're going to need our roads repaved and some streetscaping done and different things like that. Proper signage," says Cuderman.
