Proposed condo development causes concern in East Windsor neighbourhood
CBC
The neighbourhood around 1646 Alexis Rd. in Windsor's east end could look very different in a couple of years.
That's because a developer wants to put a 92-unit condo property there.
The $35-million project would construct a pair of six-floor apartment buildings in a vacant school yard, and also establish a 129-spot parking lot.
Though the developer says the project will be a source of much-needed housing, nearby homeowners can't help but have misgivings.
"It's just going to be too much for the neighbourhood," said Joe Tanguay, who lives on Alexis Road just across the street from the proposed development site.
"The developer is trying to say that they're going to improve the neighbourhood. This neighbourhood doesn't need improving. This is a nice, quiet, residential neighbourhood."
The location is just north of the former Gordon McGregor Public School — now a designated heritage building.
After the school permanently closed in 2016, the building and its yard were sold to the City of Windsor.
The municipality then sold the property to Parway Inc. in 2019.
The school is currently being used as the Windsor Islamic High School. The developer says the condo project will leave the school intact.
But at 18.3 metres in height, the proposed buildings would be the tallest structures in a radius of several blocks.
"There's nothing like what's being proposed here," Tanguay said. "It's all one-storey homes... Nothing this big. I mean, it's actually going to dwarf the school."
Down the street on Chandler Road, long-time resident Richard Gauvin worries how the proposed development will affect local traffic.
"We've had traffic problems in this area for the 27 years that I've lived here," Gauvin said. "It just continues and continues and continues."
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