Big plans are in the works for an empty piece of land in east Windsor next to the WFCU Centre.
London developer Shmuel Farhi wants to build houses, a hotel and commercial space on the 60 vacant acres at Lauzon Road and McHugh Street. The proposed $59.3 million development project would be constructed in phases beginning with the homes.
A report prepared by the City of Windsor states it will cost $6.4 million to rip out the foundations and the concrete flooring of the former General Motors trim plant and clean up contaminated soil, plus up to $6.4 million more to service the site with sewers, roads, etc. The developer is asking the city for tax breaks and grants to get the project done.
The proposal must still be approved by city council. If approved, the city would collect almost $1.2 million in tax revenue as opposed to the current $41,000.
"Should the cleanup and redevelopment not occur, the property would remain vacant and continue to negatively affect the surrounding properties and natural environment," wrote Senior Planner Greg Atkinson, in the city report.
In 2009, the city identified 137 brownfield properties or 559 acres of empty land that are candidates for redevelopment.
"The proposed redevelopment of the former GM Trim/Lear property would be the most significant brownfield redevelopment to date, accounting for approximately 11 per cent of the land on the city’s redevelopment opportunities inventory," added Atkinson.