New life is on the horizon for a burned out property in Windsor that became home to squatters and drug users.
As AM800 News reported in August, neighbours living next to the former Le Chef restaurant at 840 Wyandotte St. had been complaning to the city that the property was being used by squatters and drug users, with garbage and drug paraphernalia littering the site.
The former restaurant and adjoining Downtown Auto Service, near Parent Ave., burned down on May 23, 2016.
The city had received permission from the courts to tear down the property this fall, at the cost of the owner, after previous orders to maintain the site were ignored. It was around that time that the site was sold to a local developer.
The former Le Chef Restaurant location at 840 Wyandotte St. E.in Windsor, August 8, 2019 (Photo by AM800's Peter Langille)
City of Windsor Acting Chief Building Official, Rob Vani says they now expect to issue a demolition permit in the next few weeks, giving the new owner authority to tear down the site.
Vani says the new owner is also engaged with the city to redevelop the property with the proposed development a combination use building, with commercial and residential.
He says during the demolition process, the city will continue to work with the developer on a site plan application.
"That whole process could take two to four months. Best case scenario is that the contractor, the developer, hopes to get a shovel in the ground early 2020. Latest, spring of 2020," says Vani.
Until the demolition work begins, the city will continue to monitor the site and anyone who witnesses any trespassing is encouraged to contact police.