Vision, Achievements, Experience

9-Point Plan - Progression UPDATE

My Vision to Rejuvenate our Downtown

How much of my 9-Point Plan has come forward/is now coming forward since its inception?

1."Feet-on-the-street" - permanent residents, upcoming multi-residential developments:

I have helped the following with timely Community Improvement Program (CIP) grants from the City, as well as

(in some cases) Regional Revitalization Program Grants (RRP) and At Home Incentive Plan (AHIP) grants from the Region of Durham. These programs are available to help bring forward such needed projects in tough financial times:

40 King West - 119 units (this fall)

115 Colborne West - all 75 Affordable and RGI units (March 2027)

39 Athol West - 205 units, 25% Affordable, 2028

The Medallion Project - The Foundry District - 507 units, 30% Affordable + RGI units, 2029

Athol Green - 307 units, 33% Affordable + 150 municipal parking spaces, 2029

2. ACE Hub - brand our downtown as an Art, Culture, and Entertainment hub, a place of destination, an exciting place to live, work, and play.

Since the first 9-Point Plan was posted:

The Biltmore Theatre - @500 capacity

- I obtained a CIP grant and 2 reserved on-street parking spots for load-in/outs

Bond/St Event centre

- three venues: @1,200; 400; and 100 capacities - I pushed for and obtained a CIP grant to assist with accessibility access into this historic building.

Cork & Bean - @100 capacity

- I made the connection to the Oshawa Art Association (OAA) for new art expositions

Wendel Clarke's - Comedy Club @100 capacity

- I helped the Holiday Inn and the OAA to open Gallery 67 in this former space which converted the formerly unused space to community use.

TCC - currently renovating to 7,000 capacity for sports, @5,500 for concerts

- I helped the Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame with the plan for a new Hall space in the upcoming TCC renovation

3. Parking - The Athol Green development will feature a total of 150 municipal parking spaces. I created the additional 6 parking spaces on Athol at Celina, plus a loading/drop-off space for businesses, by getting the City to remove the left turn lane and put in an Advance Green signal.

4. Michael Starr Trail Upgrade - My plan is to fully light the entire trail to safely connect our downtown and neighborhoods to the upcoming GO, to be completed by 2030

5. GO/Metrolinx Completion - My plan is to have the City create an excellent landscaped entryway viewable from the train, to be completed for when the GO train station opens by 2032. This will give new visitors to Oshawa, and those riding by in the train, a great first impression of Oshawa.

6. "Village" walk-in grocery store - Fortune Supermarket, 45 Richmond Street West

7. Housing - (see 1. "Feet-on-the-street") Total: 1207 residential units of all types and rental price ranges, 375 of these: Affordable and RGI units

(10. Rotary Park, Veterans' Square - 2026)

9. Active Transportation

Athol Street Cycling Lanes, e-bike, mobility devices, bicycles.

I have a plan in process to connect this feature to both the Mary Street cycling lanes and the Michael Starr Trail AT route.

Michael Starr Trail - now plowed and salted in the winter, to be fully lit before the GO station is completed

Athol Green to have an AT Parking Hub in the parking structure, connected to the Athol Street Cycle Lanes.

This upcoming feature is part of my vision with the developer of Athol Green, Mahogany Management.

8. Social Services and Medical Clinics:

McLaughlin Square medical clinic - fall 2026

90 King East medical clinic - February 2027

Athol Green medical clinic and daycare (west end of downtown, family physicians, Urgent Care, Pharmacy, Life Lab) - 2029. This is the big project I have had a large hand in developing with the developer, Mahogany Management. These facilities are part of my vision to rejuvenate the western half of our downtown.

Durham Outlook for the Needy - food and social services, now open

The Refuge (on Simcoe below Olive Avenue) - 27 beds - youth services - now open

I helped with the zoning change to help make this much-needed service happen.

The HART (Homeless Addiction Recovery Treatment) Hub (on Bloor Street at Albert) - 44 beds and wrap-around services, fall 2026

Total: 1207 residential units of all types and rental price ranges, 375 of these: Affordable and RGI units

Authorized by the CFO for the Rick Kerr Campaign