Windsor Power Play: City Moves to Seize Bridge Owner’s West End Empire
Windsor Takes Action: City Moves to Take Over 45 Abandoned Homes Near Ambassador Bridge
What’s Happening in Sandwich Town?
Imagine a street where house after house sits empty, windows boarded up, yards overgrown, and animals making homes inside. That’s what the Sandwich Town neighborhood in Windsor, Ontario has looked like for decades. Now, the city has decided enough is enough.
On Thursday, Mayor Drew Dilkens and city council members stood on Indian Road—right next to the Ambassador Bridge—to announce a bold plan: the City of Windsor is starting the legal process to take ownership of 45 derelict (run-down) or vacant properties.
Important Point
All 45 properties belong to the same owner: the Canadian Transit Company (CTC) — the company that operates the Canadian side of the Ambassador Bridge.
Who Owns These Empty Houses?
Through a Freedom of Information request, CBC Windsor discovered that every single property on the expropriation list is owned by CTC or a company trustee.
These aren’t just a few neglected homes. They’ve been sitting boarded up for decades, dragging down the whole neighborhood. At the announcement, city staff even had to remove a dead raccoon from one yard, and the mayor had to wave away hornets from a nearby nest.
Why Is the City Doing This Now?
The Problem
- Safety hazards: The city’s chief building official has ordered emergency demolitions multiple times. In July alone, 17 houses were declared "significant community safety hazards."
- Community harm: The city says these properties "have created adverse impacts on the Windsor community in general and Olde Sandwich Towne in particular."
- Blight and block-busting: Mayor Dilkens accused the owner of "block-busting" — a practice where a company lets properties rot on purpose so neighbors leave, allowing the company to buy up more land cheaply.
The Decision
- City council voted unanimously (everyone agreed) in July during a closed-door meeting.
- Notices were served to the property owners on Monday.
- The goal: return these lots to active use, with selling to housing developers as a top priority.
What Does the Bridge Company Say?
The Canadian Transit Company (CTC) strongly disagrees with the city’s move. Here’s their side:
| CTC’s Claims | City’s Response |
|---|---|
| Willing to demolish houses at their own cost for years | Says CTC’s offers came with strings attached |
| Wants city-owned roadway land in exchange for bridge plaza expansion | Says no deal was reached; CTC rejected fair offers |
| Calls expropriation "unnecessary conflict, delay and taxpayer expense" | Says decades of neglect forced their hand |
| Blames city bylaws as the only obstacle to demolition | Says CTC created the blight intentionally |
CTC says: "We’re ready, willing and able to demolish… saving everyone time and money."
Mayor Dilkens says: "Now is the time where this is over. We are rebuilding the west end."
What Happens Next? (Step by Step)
- Notice Served – Property owners (CTC) received official notice on Monday.
- 30-Day Window – CTC has 30 days to request a hearing with the Ontario Land Tribunal (a provincial body that decides land disputes).
- Tribunal Process – If CTC requests a hearing, the tribunal will review whether the expropriation is fair.
- City Takes Ownership – If approved, the city gains legal title to the 45 properties.
- Cleanup & Redevelopment – The city will demolish unsafe structures and prepare lots for new housing.
- Next Council Decides Details – The newly elected council (after October 26 election) will handle the specifics of selling and rebuilding.
Important Point
No timeline is guaranteed. The mayor and Ward 2 Councillor Frazier Fathers would not estimate how long the full process will take. Legal battles could stretch it out.
Summary
- Windsor is expropriating 45 boarded-up homes in Sandwich Town.
- All belong to the Ambassador Bridge company (CTC).
- The city says: Decades of neglect, safety hazards, and "block-busting" forced action.
- The bridge company says: They wanted to demolish for free but the city wouldn’t cooperate.
- Next steps: 30-day tribunal window, then potential legal process, then redevelopment by the next city council.
- Goal: Turn blight into new housing and revive the west end.
FAQ
What does "expropriation" mean?
Expropriation is when the government legally takes private property for public use. The owner must be paid fair market value, but they don’t have to agree to sell. It’s like eminent domain in the U.S.
Why are these houses so bad?
They’ve been empty and boarded up for decades. Some are structurally unsafe, attract pests (raccoons, hornets), lower property values, and make the neighborhood feel unsafe.
What is "block-busting"?
Block-busting is when a buyer deliberately lets properties deteriorate so neighbors move out, then buys the surrounding land cheaply. The mayor accuses CTC of doing this to expand the bridge plaza.
Will my taxes go up because of this?
The city has not disclosed the cost. CTC claims it could cost taxpayers millions in legal fees. The mayor says the price will be "fair" but won’t share details yet.
When will new houses actually be built?
Not soon. First comes the legal process (could take months or years), then demolition, then planning, then construction. The next council (elected Oct 26) will decide the timeline.
This article is based on CBC Windsor reporting. The audio version is AI-generated and may contain mispronunciations.