City of Windsor on Track to Surpass Housing Targets

As of August 14, 2024, the City of Windsor says it has successfully initiated 924 housing starts, or 85% out of the province’s target of 1,083 for the year. Officials say this puts the City in a strong position to receive provincial funding through the Building Faster Fund, which rewards municipalities that meet or exceed 80% of their annual housing targets. Windsor’s continued focus on housing development, combined with strategic efforts to streamline and modernize development processes, has positioned the City to meet this year’s target and the overall goal to build 13,000 new homes by 2031.

Mayor Dilkens and City Council have endorsed the Housing Solutions Made for Windsor plan – a comprehensive, strategic, and balanced approach aimed at increasing the supply of housing and meeting housing targets at an accelerated pace. This includes opening municipal lands ready for development, a vacant home tax to boost the availability of the current housing stock, and official plan amendments to focus intensification on key areas along major thoroughfares and transit routes.

“Nearly accomplishing our 2024 housing starts target by mid-August is a testament to Windsor’s proactive local approach to housing development. We are committed to Building Windsor’s Future and finding sensible Housing Solutions Made for Windsor to respond to unprecedented economic growth and provide housing options that respect the diverse needs of our residents, neighbourhoods, and broader community.” – Mayor Drew Dilkens

The City’s Building and Planning departments have implemented several innovative measures to enhance efficiency, including the creation of a specialized Development Application Coordinator team to serve as a single point of contact for customers throughout the development application process. This initiative has significantly improved permit processing times and reduced application backlogs, fostering a more responsive and efficient service experience.

Furthermore, the City has leveraged the Streamline Development Approval Fund provided by the Province, allowing the City to digitize records, modernize technology platforms, and review policies that support housing intensification and address legislative changes.

This total modernization effort has resulted in the City of Windsor being a leader among Ontario municipalities in issuing planning approvals, with the average application taking less than six months.

This streamlining has supported increased permit and planning approvals. As of August 2024, the City has issued permits and given planning approvals for an additional 2,582 new residential units.

The Piroli Group’s latest residential project, Viridian Place – a 136-unit rental apartment complex in the Forest Glade neighbourhood – is a key part of this effort. Slated for occupancy in fall 2025, this development will offer a variety of layouts for young professionals and retirees alike. The amenities will include an outdoor saltwater pool, a fitness centre, and a party room for residents to utilize. Additionally, a portion of the units are designated as affordable housing, further contributing to Windsor’s housing objectives.

As of August 14, 2024, the following number of residential units have been approved or are under review:

• Land Use Permissions: 1,377 residential units have been approved through Zoning By-Law Amendment applications, with a further 294 units currently under review.
• Site Plan Control Applications: 570 residential units have been approved through Site Plan Control applications, with a further 41 units currently under review.
• Planning Approvals: 581 residential units have been approved through a planning process and are ready to proceed to building permitting.
• A 2023 survey of timelines for planning approvals (Official Plan Amendments, Zoning By-laws, Site Plan, Plans for Condominiums and Subdivisions) in other Ontario municipalities found that the average timeline to review each type of application ranged from one to two years. In all categories, the City of Windsor Planning Department processed these applications in less than six months.

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City of Windsor Implements Vacant Home Tax to Boost Housing Supply

Mayor Drew Dilkens and City Council have officially launched a Vacant Home Tax (VHT) program for the City of Windsor. Complementing the Housing Solutions Made for Windsor plan, this initiative is aimed at increasing housing supply and reducing vacancy rates. This new measure underscores the City’s commitment to ensuring that every available residential space contributes positively to the community’s evolving housing needs.

The VHT will apply to residential properties that are determined to have remained unoccupied for more than 183 days in a calendar year without meeting the criteria for exemption. A tax of 3% of the assessment value of the property for the Vacancy Reference Year, as determined by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC), will be billed and payable in the following calendar year. For this program rollout in the 2024 Billing Year, the City will calculate the VHT as 3% of the 2023 assessment value for a residential property that was vacant in 2023.

This program will run annually, with the net revenue generated from this initiative being re-invested into the City’s housing initiatives, including those outlined in the Housing Solutions Made for Windsor plan endorsed by City Council.

The VHT program is designed to be community-driven and will not require all property owners to complete a mandatory declaration of occupancy status. Only those properties suspected to be unoccupied will require the property owners to complete a declaration. A fine of $3,500 will be issued to any property owner who deliberately falsifies information on or in relation to a mandatory declaration.

“The Vacant Home Tax is just one of the many tools we are leveraging as part of our Housing Solutions Made for Windsor plan. This initiative will help increase housing supply, meet our housing targets, and ultimately create more vibrant neighbourhoods across the city. As we continue to experience an incredible growth trajectory in Windsor, Council remains focused on innovative local solutions to the housing crisis. I thank City administration for working to move development of this important program across the finish line. We look forward to seeing the positive impacts this will have on our efforts at Building Windsor’s Future.”

Mayor Drew Dilkens

Through implementation of the VHT program, Council seeks to build on Windsor’s efforts to reduce the number of vacant properties, thereby increasing the available housing supply and helping the City meet its aggressive housing targets. These efforts are expected to lower vacancy rates and ensure that residential spaces are used efficiently, benefiting the entire city.

For more information about the Vacant Home Tax program, its exemptions, the declaration of occupancy process, and more, visit our Municipal Vacant Home Tax web page.

Inquiries or tips can also be directed to 311 or sent to vht@citywindsor.ca by email.

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WINDSOR-ESSEX COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE STATISTICS FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL 2024

The Total of Monthly Listings was 1,082 (up 22.54% from 883 in April 2023). At the time of this report there were 1,459 available Listings.

452 properties were sold in April 2024 (down 7.76% compared to April 2023 with 490 properties sold).

The Average Sales price for April 2024 was $581,194. The Average Sales Price for April 2023 was $578,499.

The most popular style of homes sold this month: Bungalow (107), 2 Storey (79), Ranch (55), 1 1⁄2 Storey (49), and Raised Ranch (44).

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City of Windsor Identifies Location of New Housing Hub

The City of Windsor has announced the next step in addressing homelessness and protecting the most vulnerable population by bringing key social services and housing together in one location!

After examining 200 properties and reviewing four specific Expressions of Interest by property owners, 700 Wellington Avenue has been determined and approved by City Council as the location for the new Housing Hub, as it is best equipped to meet the growing needs of our community.

Following Council direction, Administration initially attempted to negotiate the purchase of this site but was unsuccessful and will use expropriation to move the process forward.

“This seven (7) acre site provides enough space to develop at least 64 one-bedroom permanent supportive housing units as well as common space for programming, services, and other amenities” said Andrew Daher, Commissioner Human and Health Services. “This is a giant step forward for our community”.

The property meets many of the key factors initially identified through the Glos Associates Inc. report including but not limited to the following:

• Located within a 2-kilometer radius of the downtown core;
• Located on a major transit corridor and walkable to most core supports and services;
• Low risk for site safety, stigma, and building security:
• Property dimensions allow for the development to be positioned in a way that provides privacy and dignity for participants, while also reducing the risk of loitering outside of the facility;
• Large enough to accommodate potential additional housing units to operate as affordable housing and provide additional social services supports; and
• The opportunity for community revitalization and economic redevelopment on a site that has been historically undeveloped.

As the Housing Hub project continues to move forward, there will be ongoing outreach by the City to discuss potential partnerships and co-location opportunities with local organizations that provide complementary services in support of this initiative.

The establishment of the Housing Hub and the offering of ancillary services will be essential to reduce long term homelessness and provide program participants with robust social services in one location allowing them to achieve their fullest potential. This initiative is also offered in support of the City’s 10-year Housing and Homelessness Master Plan.

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WINDSOR-ESSEX COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS RESIDENTIAL STATISTICS FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2024

The Total of Monthly Listings was 659 (up 3.94% from 634 in February 2023). At the time of this report there were 1,083 available Listings.

326 properties were sold in February 2024 (up 5.84% compared to February 2023 with 308 properties sold).

The Average Sales price for February 2024 was $576,546. The Average Sales Price for February 2023 was
$523,461.

The most popular style of homes sold this month: Bungalow (76), Ranch (55), 2 Storey (48), 1 1⁄2 Storey (38), band Raised Ranch (31).

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