Downtown project aims to put more residents in Windsor core
A ceremonial groundbreaking Monday signalled the start of construction on Pelissier Park, a 48-unit housing development in downtown Windsor that city officials and developers say is intended to bring more people back to the urban core.
The $16.8-million project is the first to move forward under the municipal Housing Solutions Made for Windsor plan after it was announced earlier this year. Developers say construction is set to begin by the end of the month, with occupancy possible in early 2027 and full completion by the end of that year.
Unit mix targets rental, accessible and affordable needs
Realty ONE Group Iconic, the developer on the project, says all buildings have been sold to investors who will place the homes on the rental market.
- 32 two-bedroom townhome suites with single-car garages
- 8 accessible one-bedroom suites
- 8 affordable one-bedroom suites
Chris MacLeod, owner and developer with Realty ONE Group Iconic, told media the developer intends to begin marketing rentals toward the end of the year.
"We have all of the buildings sold to the owners who will then rent them. We expect to start marketing the rentals probably toward the end of the year," MacLeod said.
City officials frame project as strategy to revitalise the core
Ward 3 Coun. Renaldo Agostino described increased downtown residency as a necessary part of addressing challenges facing the core.
"You have to add people, people living in the core is the answer, it just takes time," Agostino said.
Mayor Drew Dilkens confirmed the Pelissier Park project is complemented by other developments included in the city's housing plan. He also provided an update on a separate development on Caron Avenue led by Fahri Holdings, originally announced in November 2025.
According to the mayor, site remediation is underway on the Caron Avenue parcel; work is required because the property once housed a gas station. Dilkens said once the record of site condition is filed, Fahri Holdings is prepared to submit building plans and proceed.
Where Pelissier Park fits in Windsor's housing agenda
Pelissier Park is the first of several properties identified under the Housing Solutions plan. Other sites named in the municipal program include the former W.D. Lowe Secondary School and the Roseland Golf Club parking lot. The city has said it is pursuing multiple avenues to increase housing supply and bring more residents into the downtown area.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Project name | Pelissier Park |
| Cost | $16.8 million |
| Total units | 48 |
| Unit mix | 32 two-bed townhomes; 8 accessible one-bed; 8 affordable one-bed |
| Timeline | Construction to start by end of month; occupancy early 2027; completion late 2027 |
The Pelissier Park initiative underscores a municipal strategy that links redevelopment, remediation and new rental supply. For downtown businesses and services, the arrival of new residents is expected to support daytime and evening activity — a practical aim for councillors who see population density as central to long-term revitalisation.
Yet bringing units online is only one part of the equation: site remediation for previously contaminated lands, securing financing and moving through municipal approvals remain essential steps for other planned projects. The Caron Avenue development, for example, cannot proceed to construction until a record of site condition has been filed and building plans approved.
For residents watching downtown change, Pelissier Park will serve as an early test of the Housing Solutions Made for Windsor plan, demonstrating whether a focused push on new rental, accessible and affordable supply can translate into sustained neighbourhood growth and improved vibrancy in the heart of the city.
