Habitat for Humanity hopes to sell donated Lakeshore lands to fund Windsor development

Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex says it's hoping for a quick sale of three donated lots in Stoney Point so it can purchase three other lots in downtown Windsor that it says are more suitable for families in need.

Habitat acquired the Stoney Point lots on the 7800 block of Tecumseh Road from a donor. But the organization can't build on them because the sewer system in the area is at capacity, prompting a freeze on new construction.

"But they would be great opportunities for folks who are looking to possibly retire out to the county in a little while," said Fiona Coughlin, the CEO of Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex.

"And we can serve some families that need help right now."

The Municipality of Lakeshore is currently completing a new water and wastewater master plan, according to Krystal Kalbol, the corporate leader of operations for the Municipality of Lakeshore. 

The plan, set to go before council in September, includes a new sewage treatment facility worth $70 million, Kalbol said.

"Our intent is to maximize and provide growth to each service area," she said. "There is defined service areas in our official plan in both Stoney Point and Comber that we would accommodate full build-out in the design of that plant." 

But the plan will take around five years to implement, Kalbol said.

And the municipality will need to develop a funding plan to pay for it.

Habitat, meanwhile, has six families waiting for homes right away, Coughlin said. 

And the charity has placed an offer on three lots in Windsor that are on bus routes and located near a library and community centre, she said.

'Time is of the essence'

The offer is conditional on selling the Lakeshore properties.

If it succeeds in purchasing them, it could build new homes within a year, Coughlin said.

If it fails to do so quickly, it will fundraise to acquire the Windsor properties, she said, and hold onto the Lakeshore ones until it is free to build on them.

"We're really hoping that this swap happens," she said.

"Time is of the essence with Habitat because we have families waiting for housing, and we have no property in Windsor proper so we really need to get some property happening right in the city."

The Stoney Point properties have been appraised at $110,000 per lot, but Habitat has listed them for $99,000, Coughlin said.

The three Windsor properties are worth about $200,000 in total, meaning the transaction could leave the charity with money leftover to help fund construction.