City of Windsor launches EOI for Former W.D. Lowe Secondary School Site Marking Another Step Forward in Housing Solutions Made for Windsor

The City of Windsor is launching the Expression of Interest (EOI) for the Former W.D. Lowe Secondary School site, marking another significant step forward in the City’s Housing Solutions Made for Windsor (HSMFW) strategy. This initiative is focused on increasing housing supply by preparing surplus municipal lands for residential development.

Located at 874 Giles Boulevard East, the approximately 4.89-acre property includes the former school building and adjacent school yard. Situated on Giles Boulevard East and Parent Avenue, the site offers a unique opportunity for residential redevelopment that can help address Windsor's growing housing needs while bringing new life to an underutilized property.

This is the fifth property to be advanced through the Housing Solutions Made for Windsor initiative. Through the EOI process, the City is inviting qualified developers to submit proposals that align with the development vision for the site. Developers are asked to provide design concepts, business and financial plans, and community benefit integration as part of the submission.

The City is seeking innovative proposals for a multi-unit residential development that will contribute to housing supply, enhance neighbourhood livability, and support sustainable community growth. The City is inviting submissions from experienced developers with a demonstrated ability to deliver quality projects within reasonable and achievable timelines. Submissions that foster partnerships and collaboration across the development industry to create a successful and lasting addition to the community are welcome.

Proposals will be accepted beginning Thursday, August 13, 2026. The deadline to submit a development proposal for the site is Tuesday, October 20, 2026.

Interested developers can access detailed proposal requirements and information related to EOI 99-26, at LetsTalk.CityWindsor.ca/874-giles-blvd-east.

For more information on Windsor’s Housing Solutions Made for Windsor strategy, please visit LetsTalk.CityWindsor.ca/housing-solutions-made-for-windsor.

Quotes:

“It is exciting to return to the former W.D. Lowe site, where we first launched our innovative and ambitious Housing Solutions Made for Windsor (HSMFW) strategy back in 2024. Today, we move forward with the Expression of Interest for this important site in the portfolio. Earlier this week, we broke ground for the start of construction at the Pelissier Park development, even as we continue with final remediation work at the nearby Caron Avenue site. To date, we have approved projects representing over $350 million in investments in housing and the promise of 437 new housing units coming in the near future. As the fifth property to advance through HSMFW, W.D. Lowe holds incredible potential to create exactly the kind of development and homes that Windsorites need and deserve. Throughout this work, I remain committed to helping get more homes built, faster, and across all types required, to positively impact the housing crisis and, where possible, increase housing supply by repurposing under-utilized City lands. This week of good news on housing reinforces that, despite the challenges we are meeting around global economic uncertainties, Windsor remains on an upward growth trajectory that will positively impact our entire community for generations to come. Through hard work, steady leadership, fiscal responsibility, and ambitious strategies, Windsor has been named one of the top 15 most affordable cities in Canada for homebuyers. I invite our development community to submit to the W.D. Lowe EOI, joining the ranks of strong development partners like Farhi Holdings Corp., Pelissier Park Ltd., and Valente Development Corp. to stand in lockstep with us as we focus on Windsor’s Long Game when it comes to housing, neighbourhood renewal, infrastructure investments, placemaking, and more.” 
— Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens

“For many residents, the former W.D. Lowe Secondary School holds a special place in the history of our neighbourhood. While honouring that legacy, this site also presents an opportunity to help shape Ward 4’s future. Launching the Expression of Interest process is an important milestone that will help bring new housing opportunities, attract investment, and support the continued growth of our community. I look forward to seeing innovative proposals that will create a strong and lasting addition to the neighbourhood.”
— Councillor Mark McKenzie, Ward 4

Summary of the City of Windsor’s key housing milestones to date:

• Adopted a comprehensive amendment to its Official Plan and Zoning By-law that identified “Intensification Priority Areas” made up of Mixed Use Centres (260 hectares), Mixed Use Corridors (50 kilometres) and Mixed Use Nodes (137 hectares) to support housing targets.
• Received housing targets from the Province of Ontario as one of the 29 fastest-growing municipalities to help the province reach a goal of realizing 1.5 million new homes in a decade. 
• Committed to supporting 13,000 new housing units by 2031 as part of its Housing Pledge to the provincial government.
• Commissioned an independent housing needs assessment report.
• Identified 1,000 acres and nearly 50 kilometres of arterial roads with bus routes available for developments aimed at densification make sense for Windsor.
• Launched the Housing Solutions Made for Windsor initiative to identify and make shovel ready various municipal properties that are ideal for development to increase housing supply that includes affordable and attainable housing and missing middle housing.
• Released the first list of properties in the Housing Solutions Made for Windsor plan: Former W.D. Lowe Secondary School site, Caron Avenue Parking Lot, Pelissier Street Parking Lot, and the Roseland Golf Club Parking Lot.
• Hosted a Roseland Golf Club Building and Parking Lot Development Public Information Centre on March 7, 2024, accompanied by a month-long public engagement survey to gather input from community members and stakeholders.
• Added additional properties to the Housing Solutions Made for Windsor plan: Former Windsor Arena, and the Former Grace Hospital site.
• Launched and processed EOIs for the Caron Avenue and Pelissier Street sites.
• Launched the EOI process for the Roseland Golf Club Parking Lot site.
• Received $18.8 million from the Province of Ontario’s Housing-Enabling Core Services Stream of the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program to support the potential of up to 3,030 new homes along the Banwell Corridor.
• Launched the public survey for the former W.D. Lowe site.
• Surpassed 2024 provincial housing targets, achieving 2,306 new homes, 213% of 2024 goal. 
• Received $5.2 million from the Province of Ontario’s Building Faster Fund in recognition of the 2024 housing starts achievement.
• Awarded the future development for the Caron Avenue site to Farhi Holdings Corporation, with PCR Constructors Inc. — 341 units that include the Caron Avenue and Janette Avenue sites, totalling a $300 million investment.
• Awarded the future development for the Pelissier Street site to BK Cornerstone Design Build, Philip Fernandes Designs, and Realty ONE Group Iconic — 48 residential units, totalling a $16.8 million investment.
• Added the former Concord Public Elementary School site, the former St. Michael’s Adult Education School site, and portions of Kinsmen Norman Road Park to the HSMFW portfolio of properties.
• Awarded the future development for the Roseland Parking Lot and Clubhouse site to the joint venture between Valente Development Corporation and Bear Construction and Engineering Inc. — 48 residential units, totalling a $33.5 million investment.
• Broke ground for the start of construction on the Pelissier Park development on August 10, 2026.
• The City of Windsor has proactively prepared these lands for development by completing key studies, including environmental site assessments and records of site condition following remediation work, where required. As appropriate, the City has also completed appraisals/comparative sales memos, broker opinions of value, archaeological assessments, land surveys, public consultation surveys, rezoning and abatement activities.