An assessment process to determine the greatest needs for downtown Windsor is being put together by a consultant.
The Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association (DWBIA) provided an update Thursday afternoon concerning their commission of a downtown needs assessment, designed to assess the strengths and current challenges of the core.
Peter Bellmio, a criminal justice management consultant, has been hired by the DWBIA to gather information and prepare a report identifying those challenges. Bellmio visited Windsor in November of last year to become familiar with the current challenges of the neighbourhood. He had previously visited Windsor to provide strategies in dealing with underage drinking and adult entertainment. This time, Bellmio is sitting down with a variety of stakeholders for more in-depth interviews, and he says he has been given a lot of useful information.
"By the end of the week I'll have interviewed about 40 people, maybe 45, from all the major players who have some stake in downtown, to try to look at how each is looking at these problems," said Bellmio.
Bellmio is spending a week in Windsor to collect data, and has either already spoken with, or will speak with the local health unit, the Downtown Mission, the two major healthcare systems, the Salvation Army, city Councillor Rino Bortolin (whose ward includes downtown), and city administration. He is also due to meet with representatives from the Ontario Ministry of Labour as well as the DWBIA's current board and board-elect.
Outgoing DWBIA board chairman Larry Horwitz, who will still serve on the board when the new one begins next month, said this assessment is helping them identify areas that need attention right away, and which can wait.
"What we needed to do was bring those organizations together, " said Horwitz. "We needed to once again find all the low-hanging fruit and have an immediate plan of action that we could create in a better downtown, a safer and cleaner downtown, as well as a long-term strategy."
A comprehensive report is expected to be ready by the end of February, outlining any steps that the city and DWBIA may take.
