Windsor city council has given final approval to a luxury condominium project in a South Windsor parking lot, rezoning part of the Roseland Golf Club property to allow for housing. The $33.5-million development will feature 48 high-end units, with construction set to begin on the site of the former golf and curling clubhouse, which has already been demolished.
Council Vote and Opposition
On Monday, council voted 10-1 in favor of the rezoning, which was the last municipal barrier for the private residential development. Ward 1 Coun. Fred Francis, representing the neighborhood, cast the sole dissenting vote. Francis has long opposed luxury condos on the golf course amid a housing affordability crisis, a stance supported by area residents who previously voiced strong objections.
Francis noted that no residents appeared before council this week, explaining that they had given up hope. “To me, that was sad, and that’s not why I got into politics — not to represent other people, only to hear them say, ‘We’ve given up,'” he said. He thanked residents for their two-year engagement, including attending town halls and meetings, but said they felt decisions were already made.
Project Details
The development, selected earlier this year, is a collaboration between Valente Development Corporation and Bear Construction and Engineering Inc. It includes a four-storey condominium building and a new, smaller golf clubhouse. The residential units will range from 700 to 1,500 square feet, offering a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom layouts. The project includes 83 parking spaces, with 72 located underground.
Valente and Bear will purchase the property from the city for approximately $1.5 million. The city’s Housing Solutions Made for Windsor initiative, launched in March 2024, aims to spur residential development by selling city-owned land to private developers at market rates, with conditions requiring timely construction of proposed projects.
Mayor’s Response
Mayor Drew Dilkens emphasized the extensive public consultation process, calling it the most thorough in his 20 years at city hall. “With every issue that we deal with, there are some folks who are against it, and some folks who are for it,” Dilkens said. “We’ve tried to be as respectful in the process as possible, trying to move forward with Housing Solutions Made for Windsor and get more housing built.”
