Ward councillor at odds with council over plan to build condos at Roseland

The Windsor councillor for the ward that includes the Roseland curling club is expressing disappointment and discontent over a proposal to build condos at the site.

Amid pressure to get more housing built, council has decided to tap into properties the city owns, selecting four to sell off for residential development, the mayor announced Friday.

The Roseland clubhouse and parking lot — which councillors voted to shut down — is first on the list. 

An architecture firm has put together a concept for 38 one and two-bedroom condo units to demonstrate how the development could turn out.

"I made a motion to remove it from the in-camera agenda and push it into the public session agenda, and council decided to vote the other way," Ward 1 Coun. Fred Francis told CBC News. "The decision was made without public consultation — why can't we be looking at recreational development there?"

There is a public input session, but Francis said that it is the city showing residents what the city wants to do, rather than true public consultation.

Francis also added that he does not believe the plans are about affordable housing, as this complex only has 38 units and therefore does not provide substantial living space. 

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said the four properties were chosen through a ward-by-ward review of municipal lands ripe for development.

"Our community is growing and evolving," Dilkens said. "Now, during Windsor's incredible growth trajectory, what's truly important is how we grow, how council leads us through that growth and how our partners support us in combating this national housing crisis."

2 downtown lots, former school also slated for development

The city will be accepting expressions of interest from developers as soon as the four properties are shovel-ready.

Public consultations for the Roseland property begin on March 7. Feedback can also be shared through a survey online.

The former W. D. Lowe Secondary School site on Giles Boulevard East and two downtown parking lots — one on Caron Avenue south of Riverside Drive and the other on Pelissier Street south of Wyandotte Street — are also on the list. 

Dilkens said others will be announced at a later date.

Council would consider adding amenities to the neighbourhoods from the proceeds of the property sales, Dilkens said.

The four properties were picked for their potential for housing development, including affordable housing and "missing middle" homes.

Dilkens said the city wants to be a partner in seeing affordable housing built and will have ways of prioritizing development applications that align with what council wants to see.

However, putting in too many restrictions could put a chill on interest in the properties, he said.

Dilkens also called on the provincial and federal governments to look at Crown properties in Windsor that could be similarly repurposed.

Windsor city council has committed to a housing target of 13,000 new units by 2031.

In recent months, the has city missed out, however, on millions in housing funding from upper levels of government.

The provincial government said Windsor didn't meet targets for housing starts in 2023, though a record number of permits were issued. Ottawa made funding for its Housing Accelerator Fund contingent on the city changing bylaws to allow up to four units on any lot by default, which council voted against.

Dilkens was among those who opposed the move, over concerns higher density housing could change the character of some neighbourhoods.

During Friday's announcement, he said that public consultation will take place to ensure the new developments are "complementary to the integrity of established neighbourhoods."

"We will continue to respect our residents, we will respect their quality of life and of course, we will respect, in most cases, their largest investment."