Lawsuit against City of Windsor adds further controversy on streetcar project

The wrongful dismissal lawsuit of former City of Windsor engineer Chris Nepszy brings forward more concerns from residents about a controversial capital project to restore a historic streetcar — a project Nepszy's statement of claim describes as a "pet project" of the mayor. 

One opponent of the project says he's not surprised by the allegations, while a City of Windsor councillor who previously opposed the project now says he supports it. 

Chris Nepszy filed a lawsuit last month alleging improprieties at City Hall, including that he was "coerced" into "covering up costs" associated with the riverfront Legacy Beacon project. 

Mike Cardinal led a campaign against the project's location when it was known as the Celestial Beacon in 2020 and 2021.

"There's been significant manipulation, I think, trying to get this thing pushed forward," he said of his experience with the project at the time. "And deaf ears to any other solutions that were there."

The City of Windsor and the office of Mayor Drew Dilkens did not respond to a request for comment. Dilkens has previously denied the allegations in Nepszy's lawsuit and says the city will defend itself. 

The allegations have not been proven in court.

Cardinal pointed to what he describes as "stonewalling" by the mayor's office during Cardinal's own battle with the city, when he successfully argued that the riverfront at the foot of Askin Avenue was not zoned for such a feature.

He continues to question why alternative locations that could have been less expensive — such as on the property of the Chimczuk Museum — weren't considered more seriously.

"I found out that, contrary to what was said at city council, there's a patch of land there (at the museum) which was big enough to fit the streetcar, as well as a good display, at far less cost. And more importantly, far less operating costs," Cardinal said.

"The ears of city hall, particularly the mayor's office, were shuttered on that."

The restored streetcar and its display location are set to open to the public this fall.

In 2021, when the majority of council voted to move forward on the Legacy Beacon project, Dilkens predicted that it would become "the most well-used destination along our riverfront."

According to Nepszy's statement of claim, Dilkens and the city's Chief Administrative Officer instructed him to "remove internal costs and shift monies" on the project "in order to avoid further scrutiny."