Council Approves Core Transformation

Windsor City Council and the University of Windsor are moving forward with plans that will transform the city’s core. Council has approved the University's ownership of the Armouries and the former Transit Windsor/Greyhound bus terminal, as well as the Chatham Street parkette. These sites will be rejuvenated, along with the former Windsor Star building and turned into vibrant new learning centres, bringing 1500 students downtown by the fall of 2014.

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May 30, 2011 - Windsor City Council has committed to transfer the former Windsor Armouries building to the University of Windsor. The City will contribute $10 million toward the renovations of the Armouries into an educational facility. In addition, the transfer of the former Transit Windsor/Greyhound bus terminal site, including the building and parking lot, has been requested by the University and will go before Council shortly.

"Bringing the University of Windsor into the city core has long been a vision of council; today we take another step to build upon the academic footprint in our downtown. This is a major move in the revitalization of our city centre. I'm proud to welcome the University and its students in to the downtown. On behalf of Council, I want to thank Dr. Alan Wildeman for his vision, as well as the province and Ministers Duncan and Pupatello for their continued support," said Mayor Eddie Francis.

Mayor Eddie Francis also announced that City Council plans to contribute $50 million toward the construction of a new family aquatic complex.

The Province of Ontario has provided two major grants to help see the downtown renovation projects through:

• $15 million unconditional grant to the University of Windsor to assist in locating a campus in the downtown core
• $15 million unconditional grant to the City of Windsor to assist with the construction of a family aquatic complex

"Great things don't happen with good ideas alone. It takes work, it takes partnerships, and it takes commitment. The work of City Council, our partnership with the province, Ministers Duncan and Pupatello, and this city's commitment to revitalization are making great things happen in Windsor's core," said Mayor Eddie Francis.

Photograph, from left to right: University of Windsor President Dr. Alan Wildeman; Finance Minister Dwight Duncan; Minister of Economic Development and Trade Sandra Pupatello; Mayor Eddie Francis; and Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the Windsor Star Marty Beneteau