Alex Djordjevic didn't realize it at the time, but a single date a year ago changed the trajectory of his life.

On Nov. 9, 2013, he was catching a late-night lift home from his Stoney Creek job with his girlfriend, Chantell Kempijan, who owns NDulgence salon on Kenilworth Avenue North. That's when they got news that the alarm was going off at her business.

They rushed to find police cars lining the street, but it wasn't a break-in. An ex-Hells Angels member had been shot and killed outside the salon.

The event shook Djordjevic and his girlfriend. But it also inspired him to make a documentary called Kenilworth — the story of the fall and rise of an east-end street that mirrors the challenges of many streets in old Hamilton. To him, the stretch had hit rock bottom and is now, he believes, on its way back.

Kenilworth will be the new Ottawa Street. - Coun. Sam Merulla

"As soon as that happened, I felt like (Kenilworth's problems) became really raw and in your face," he said.

"I was really afraid knowing that my girlfriend was there. You always hear about these things, but when you see them happen in front of you, it's terrifying."

Kenilworth is a documentary "about a street that is desperate for economic recovery, a community sensitive to gentrification, developers who see opportunity, and organizations that are piecing it all together," Djordjevic said on his Kickstarter page, where he surpassed his $500 fundraising goal by $101 last month.

The 24-year-old is conducting dozens of interviews to make a half-hour documentary. The street has environmental, social and economic challenges, he said, but it's also the focus of a lot of investment and advocacy.

"Citizens are trying to make a change," he said. But there are "opposing philosophies" on how to do that.

One of Djordjevic's biggest supporters is Coun. Sam Merulla of Ward 4, who donated $350 from his ward's sponsorship budget to the documentary.

Fifty years ago, Kenilworth was bustling, Merulla said. But it fell prey to a number of issues.

Urban sprawl took people away from the lower city, he said. Vacancy rates, delinquent landlords and infrastructure issues also contributed to its downfall.

The city has put the bones in place on which to build a new Kenilworth, Merulla said. It's done millions in infrastructure upgrades. Merulla's next target is the owners of 12 to 15 buildings along Kenilworth, some of which he'd like to expropriate in favour of mixed-use developments and affordable housing.

"I'm coming after them, and they should be aware of it," he said.

The buildings "need to be demolished and reestablished. Cancer exists on that street."

Fifteen years ago, Ottawa Street looked like Kenilworth, Merulla said.

"Kenilworth will be the new Ottawa Street, and I look forward to Alex documenting those issues."

Djordjevic, who works full-time as a manager at a banquet hall, has a core team of three people. He hopes to finish the project by spring and screen it in every area of the city.