Windsor Launches Project Greenlight: Downtown Security Camera Applications Open
Downtown Windsor business owners are now eligible to apply for city-funded security cameras, a move officials say is designed to enhance safety perceptions in the city's core. The program, called Project Greenlight, was officially launched on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, following a unanimous city council vote last month.
Program Details and Funding
Windsor City Council has allocated up to $450,000 to expand Project Greenlight from a four-camera pilot to a full program featuring 90 cameras. This funding was previously approved as part of the city's downtown revitalization strategy, known as Strengthen the Core. Each commercial-grade camera, complete with a flashing green light, will cost the city approximately $5,000 to install and activate.
Commercial properties within the Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association are eligible to apply for these cameras. The installation process is expected to take several weeks per camera once applications are approved.
Security and Monitoring Arrangements
Access to camera footage will be restricted to property owners and Security One, the company managing the surveillance system. Property owners retain the option to share footage with law enforcement agencies as needed. Successful applicants will enter into a five-year agreement with Security One, paying between $40 and $129 monthly for live camera feed monitoring services.
Corey Robertson, sales manager for Security One, emphasized the preventive nature of visible security infrastructure during Wednesday's news conference at City Hall. "Visible security infrastructure sends a message," Robertson stated. "It tells customers they're welcome, it tells employees that their workspace is protected, and it tells anyone considering causing trouble that this community is paying attention. Security infrastructure doesn't just respond to problems. It helps prevent them."
Official Perspectives and Community Impact
Ward 3 Councillor Renaldo Agostino, who represents the downtown neighborhood, expressed optimism about the program's potential. "We don't complain anymore about downtown," Agostino said. "We find solutions to get things done and try our best to make a difference."
Mayor Drew Dilkens highlighted the psychological importance of safety perceptions, noting that "if people don't feel safe in an area because they think it's unsafe, they're just not going to go to it." He anticipates Project Greenlight will improve these perceptions, calling it "a good one."
The mayor also addressed broader downtown challenges, acknowledging that there isn't "one silver bullet that is going to solve all of the challenges we see" regarding mental health, addiction, and homelessness. However, he emphasized that "it doesn't mean we don't have any ammo to help support the community and help improve the situation."
Additional Support Services
Through the Strengthen the Core initiative, Windsor has expanded operations at its Homelessness and Housing Help Hub (H4). The facility now operates 24 hours a day, 365 days per year, offering food services and on-site medical professionals to assist those in need.
Project Greenlight is modeled after a similar program adopted by the City of Detroit approximately a decade ago, which has been credited with deterring criminal activity and improving police response times in that jurisdiction.
