University embarks on 'historic' downtown campus

On Monday, the provincial government announced millions in funding for the University of Windsor which is hoping to take control of several downtown buildings for its schools of music, visual arts, and social work.

The University of Windsor will take over the downtown Armouries on University Avenue, and convert it into an arts-related campus including the schools of visual arts and music. The two programs serve close to 500 students.

At a downtown news conference on Monday, University of Windsor President Alan Wildeman said he remains committed to making the Armouries a place where thecommunity can gather.

"We want our community to be engaged with the creative endeavours that our faculty, staff and students are doing," said Wildeman.

The university will also launch a feasibility studyto determine whetherthe Windsor Star building would be a suitable home forits school of social work. The current program has 830 students, faculty and staff, according to a university press release. The school of social work already works with several downtown agencies, it said.

The Windsor Star was looking at several downtown sites to relocate in a "storefront"-style operation. The newspaper has been anchored at the corner of Ferry and Pitt Streets since 1923.

Core injection

The total project, which Duncan described as 2 years in the making, will cost up to $50 million with the province paying $15 million. The city will contribute $10 million to refurbishing the Armouries.

The university was asking architectural firms to submit designs.

Mayor Eddie Francis thanked both Wildeman and St. Clair College President John Strasser for their leadership in rebuilding the downtown.

"We are coming back and we are coming back strong," Francis said.

The former Greyhound Bus Terminal is also on the university's radar for its film studies program, but it needs permission from city council before pursuing a feasibility study on that building. The formal request has been made, said Francis, who was optimistic about the idea of renovating the existing building.

"I look forward to council's favourable response in terms of bringing more students to our downtown core," he said.

Wildeman said the university will have to fundraise to come up with the money for the redevelopments. He expected to see more students attending classes downtown by September of 2013.

Downtown development 'historic'

Finance Minister Dwight Duncan called it an historic day for the city.

"This will put students into the downtown, as well as the services that support them," said Duncan. "I believe this will help reinvent, rejuvenate and rebuild our downtown."

The province is stepping up with another $15 million to help pay for the city-ownedaquatic complex behind the Art Gallery of Windsor. City council was expected to approve the $65 million pool project on June 13.

Councillor Bill Marra said the city centre is about to get an image change.

"This is going to be transformative, and it's finally going to start taking us in the direction of the type of downtown and frankly the type of city we want to project to the world," Marra said.

The university made the announcement along with Windsor-Tecumseh MPP Dwight Duncan, Windsor-West MPP Sandra Pupatello, Star officials,and the mayor at 10 a.m. at the Armouries building.

Angelo Marignani of the Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association said the announcement was the first step in rebranding the city of Windsor.

"I see it as a new era for our city," Marignani said. "We're not just automotive, but we're much, much more. We're research and development, we're tourism and we're education, and I think that'sa direction we want to go into."

Downtown market displaced

The university's interest in theformer Greyhoundterminal mightforce the DowntownFarmer's Marketto look for a new home, which has been using the terminal during the summer months since 2009.

Tristan Fehrenbach,the vendor coordinator for the market, believes that the market will survive.

"The strength of the market so far has been based on the relationship that has been made and the involvement of great people and great vendors," Fehrenbach said. "As long as that continues I think that the market can be successful in a number of different locations, and I think that's the key thing to remember."

The 2011 season for the farmer's market starts on June 11 at the former Greyhound station, and runs until October 8th.