Windsor city council has backed plans to build 102 housing pods inside the former Windsor Arena, known as The Barn, but did not approve the $60 million needed to complete the project. On Monday, council voted 10-1 to investigate the construction of supportive housing units within the heritage building at 334 Wyandotte Street East.
Council Supports Investigation, Not Funding
The approved probe will involve studying the property's previous uses, current soil and groundwater conditions, and performing two phases of environmental assessments. Depending on the findings, the process could take eight to 10 months, or up to 35 months if extensive remediation is necessary, according to a staff report to council. City staff are expected to report back with results next spring.
Ward 3 Coun. Renaldo Agostino championed the plan, calling it “the best option that exists on this continent.” He added, “I truly believe that when we get this over the finish line, it’s going to be something that other communities across this country are going to look at doing.”
Inspired by Minneapolis Model
Known as The Village at The Barn, the plan is inspired by Avivo Village, a facility operating out of a repurposed industrial warehouse in Minneapolis, Minn. Agostino visited that facility in April with Mayor Drew Dilkens, city CAO Ray Mensour, and commissioner of human and health services Dana Paladino. “I have never seen a better model than this one,” said Dilkens. “What I’ve seen in Minneapolis is that it works, and that it’s in their downtown. If they hadn’t told us we were there, I wouldn’t have even known it was inside. There’s no obvious sign. It’s just a nice, clean building in the downtown, controlled with limited access, giving people supports — and everyone who lives there pays rent.”
Next Steps and Funding
City staff will work on more detailed designs for The Barn, which could take between 18 months and two years. They will also consult with community members and stakeholders about the plan to house people experiencing homelessness in the arena building, which sits immediately west of an emergency shelter at the former Windsor Water World. Staff will then present a plan to senior governments in pursuit of funding. “We have to build our case,” Paladino said. “For us to be able to have these meaningful conversations with upper levels of government, we have to have some initial investment.”
City council expressed no desire to fund the entire project through the municipal property tax base. Ward 1 Coun. Fred Francis was the lone opponent, wanting administration to report back with a second plan to level Windsor Arena and construct a new building with transitional housing units. “I can't support an all-or-nothing concept when I know there can be a viable alternative,” he said.
