Windsor Greenlights $16.8 Million Townhouse Development on Downtown Parking Lot
In a move aimed at transforming underutilized urban space, Windsor has officially selected a $16.8-million townhouse project featuring affordable housing units for a city-owned parking lot in the downtown core. The decision represents a strategic shift from parking revenue to property tax income while addressing housing needs.
Project Details and Housing Strategy
Developer 531 Pelissier Group will construct 48 residential units across three-storey townhomes on the Pelissier Street lot between Wyandotte Street West and Elliott Street West. This proposal emerged as the preferred choice among submissions through the city's Housing Solutions Made for Windsor initiative, which prioritizes attainable and inclusive housing options.
The development consortium—comprising BK Cornerstone Design Build, Philip Fernandes Designs, and Reality ONE Group Iconic—plans to build 32 two-bedroom townhome suites with single-car garages, eight accessible one-bedroom suites, and eight affordable one-bedroom units. Construction is scheduled to begin by August, with tenants expected to move in during 2027.
Official Statements and Community Impact
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens emphasized the project's alignment with municipal goals during Wednesday's announcement. "This is exactly the type of housing that our strategy was designed to deliver: attainable, inclusive, and built in a way that fits the character of this community," Dilkens stated. He noted that the parking lot generates minimal revenue, making the transition to residential development financially advantageous through increased property taxes while creating affordable housing and boosting downtown population density.
Brent Klundert, president of BK Cornerstone Design Build, highlighted the project's historical significance by displaying a 2016 Windsor Star article featuring his father, Ben Klundert, who praised city council for waiving downtown development fees a decade ago. "My dad stated that this forward vision would attract us, along with other developers, to invest in the downtown core," Klundert recalled. "The consistent focus by city council on this goal over the past decade has been essential in successfully realizing downtown projects."
Affordability Standards and Social Responsibility
The eight affordable units will adhere to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's affordability standard, which defines housing as affordable when costs—including rent and utilities—consume less than 30 percent of a household's pre-tax income. Currently, this translates to approximately $900 per month, according to Klundert.
Klundert underscored the development group's commitment to social responsibility, stating, "I think that there is a social responsibility that all of us carry. The group that makes up 531 Pelissier really believes that we owe that to the community." He added that some units have already been reserved, indicating strong early interest.
Broader Urban Revitalization Goals
The project is designed to attract residents back to the downtown core, stimulate local businesses, and cultivate a more dynamic, interconnected urban environment. The city will sell the property to the development group for $950,000, a figure officials describe as the market rate.
This development marks a continuation of Windsor's efforts to revitalize its urban center through strategic housing initiatives, blending private investment with public policy to create sustainable, community-focused living spaces.
