City looking for interested developers to build on Caron Avenue parking lot site in a bid to increase housing

A city-owned parking lot on Caron Avenue could be the site of a 14 storey — or taller — apartment building, as the city presses ahead with plans to increase its housing supply and meet its "aggressive housing targets."

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens announcing Friday the launch of the expressions of interest phase for the Caron Avenue site at University Avenue West, one of the sites slated for sale and development under a city plan to increase housing. 

Surrounded by city council colleagues, Dilkens said the expressions of interest launch represents the first of several opportunities to support evolving housing needs in Windsor.

He said the Caron Avenue site offers a unique opportunity for high density residential and mixed-use developments, adding that the city's planning department has identified that developers can go up to 14 storeys.

With additional infrastructure work, Dilkens said development could go higher at the site. 

"[The] overall strategy aims to enable smart housing solutions by increasing the supply of housing in areas where it makes sense," Dilkins said.

"This is about meeting our aggressive housing targets towards building Windsor's future."

In March the city identified four municipal properties for residential development.

In addition to the Caron Avenue parking lot, the city said it had also earmarked the Roseland clubhouse and parking lot, the former W. D. Lowe Secondary School site on Giles Boulevard East and the parking lot on Pelissier Street south of Wyandotte Street for  "affordable" and "missing middle" housing.

The city is inviting developers "to submit comprehensive proposals that will align with Windsor's vision of smart housing solutions for sustainable, inclusive, and community oriented development," Dilkens said.

Proposals are being accepted from Friday until Aug. 23, and can be submitted through the city's website.

2 more municipal properties identified for development

Meanwhile, the city also announced that two additional municipal properties have been identified for development — the former Grace Hospital site on Crawford Avenue, and the Windsor Arena site on McDougall Street.

"The addition of these two properties brings the total list of municipal lands available for residential development to six properties," Dilkens said.

He said the city will also continue to review other available municipal lands to identify further opportunities for housing solutions.

The announcement comes even as the city is facing a lawsuit over cancelled development plans for the former Grace Hospital site.

Dilkens said council remains committed to public consultation and councillors are committed to ensuring that any development complements established neighbourhoods and the quality of life of residents, while also benefiting the surrounding areas. 

Ward 3 Coun. Renaldo Agostino said announcements like the one made Friday are key to strengthening the city's down core.

"No matter how much vibrancy, no matter how much vitality our downtown core has, to me, the most important thing is making downtown Windsor a neighbourhood," Agostino said. 

"And the only way you can make a neighbourhood is by bringing more people, and bringing more people not just to visit downtown and then leave and go back to their homes, but we need people living down here, enjoying the amenities that we have."

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

In recent months, the city has 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.