*[note added by world19: at the subsequent "Stelco" development, Norm McLeod corrected this. This building did not burn in 1906, but was instead one of the original buildings dating from the 1890's]

Click on images below for larger image.

The Stelco office building on Windermere, between The Queensway & railway tracks/Gardiner Expressway. Palace Pier towers in background. (40K)	The Windermere "portal". CN bridge & narrow passage to the lakeshore. (42K)

Windermere Avenue passes under another Railway bridge and the Expressway. Windermere is a high traffic corridor, and, as on Ellis, the underpass is very narrow and dangerous. South of the underpass the City is planning to build a 5-storey 42 unit building for low-income singles housing. The community is opposed to this plan*, given the building's location right next to the Expressway, its isolation from services, and the lack of thought that has gone into the plan.

Southport St. runs south to the Queensway and could be a good transition flow-way to the lakeshore. The Queensway street-car raiIs are currently an obstruction, The South Kingsway provides no pedestrian passage to the lakeshore.

Corner of Queensway & Southport, looking south to Stelco site & old factory. (38K)

Properties on the north side of the Queensway enjoy a lake view. The group was very eager to see visual plans for the site, and they were clear that they wanted the development to fit aesthetically and conceptually with how they view their community. They also wanted to preserve the view as much as possible, and to maintain and enhance property values.

One group member provided a photo of the site taken before the Stelco plant was built. At that time there were two ponds at the western end of the location. The participant suggested that this be taken into account in planning the development.

• Preserve the old Stelco office and use for some community function (e.g. daycare, recreation). There is a strong sense of history in the community, and one thought was that the facility could include an Archive Room. At the very least, do not destroy the wooden beams.
• Improve passage south on Windermere to provide access to the lakeshore - e.g. widen, put up barriers or walls.
• Purchase the property south of the Expressway where the low-income housing is planned to allow for additional passage to the lakeshore.
• Improve the Windermere intersection. (How?). The idea of a "Windermere Square" was discussed.
• Extend Southport as a transition flow-way to the lake-shore.
• Install a "Welcome to Swansea" sign on the Expressway overpass.
• Install a pedestrian path under the South Kingsway bridge to provide access to lake.

• Tower structure will obscure view of lake and lower property value. Community members do not know [what] is being planned by REON.
• Stelco plant is buflt on two ponds – environmental consideration.
•  

Don Richardson pointed out that the developers were prepared to work with the community and provide resources for certain enhancements, that might relate to trees, landscaping, traffic ameliorations, for example. There was consensus that people wanted to see some tentative drawings, with explanations.

• extend street grid
• Ellis Stream
• preserve office
• Southport extension
• access to waterfront
• options of tall towers vs alternative on SW corner
• Windermere-Ellis intersection

• Some structure will be put in place to oversee:

• Traffic
• Lake access
• Landscape
• Historical aspects
• Site plan
• social/recreational

• David Miller will look after overall coordination
• Communication processes will be activated including Web, telephone, etc.

Agenda:

• Committees
• Look at drawings
• How to move forward

Additional stakeholders should be invited to attend (incl. Railroad, Conservation Authority, Metro Roads,City Planners, etc.)