Critics of the new acute care hospital location are accusing the City of Windsor of using old development data while planning for the future.  August 7, 2018. (Photo by Paul Pedro)Critics of the new acute care hospital location are accusing the City of Windsor of using old development data while planning for the future. August 7, 2018. (Photo by Paul Pedro)
Windsor

Local BIA supports fight against hospital location

The Citizens for an Accountable Mega-Hospital Planning Process has a new ally in its battle to have the location of the new acute care hospital reconsidered.

The Wyandotte Town Centre BIA has announced its support of the appeal to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal.

Windsor Regional Hospital Ouellette Campus. (photo by Mike Vlasveld) Windsor Regional Hospital Ouellette Campus. (photo by Mike Vlasveld)

"The Wyandotte Town Centre BIA is concerned about the impact that moving the hospital will have on its businesses and neighbourhoods," the business improvement association said in a release. "Many of our businesses depend on customers who may be coming to the area because of the Windsor Regional Hospital Ouellette Campus. The hospital leaving the core would ensure good paying jobs are leaving with it, and another large vacant building -- will be left in our urban core not repurposed."

The BIA has pledged $1,000 towards the GoFundMe campaign to support CAMPP's appeal.

CAMPP is trying to raise $100,000 and so far, has raised $49,340 from 272 donors in two months.

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"The moving of the hospital will only add to the problems we are already facing such as vacant storefronts, crime, and blight," said Wade Griffith, the chair of the BIA, in the release. "We are working hard to revitalize our area, and this would be a major setback."

The Downtown Windsor BIA has also expressed support for the group's fight.

CAMPP recently won a victory at the tribunal when it approved 28 applicants for participant status.

The group argues locating the hospital on County Road 42 across from the Windsor International Airport will "create significant barriers to hospital-based healthcare services for tens of thousands of Windsor's residents.

It has argued information the City of Windsor used to justify the location is out of date.

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