Windsor picks west-side property for permanent housing hub

A west end property has been selected as the home for Windsor's permanent homelessness housing hub.

The site is 2.8 hectares at 700 Wellington Avenue, just south of Wyandotte Street West.

The city's commissioner of human and health services calls it a "giant step forward" for the community.

"[It] provides enough space to develop at least 64 one-bedroom permanent supportive housing units, as well as common space for programming, services, and other amenities," said Andrew Daher in a statement.

City staff say roughly 200 properties were explored — and that administration initially attempted to buy the land but was unsuccessful — and will now use expropriation to move things forward.

The site is within a two-kilometre radius of the downtown core and on a major transit corridor.

In a release by the city, it also states the land is large enough to accommodate potential affordable housing units and additional social services support.

Windsor's temporary homelessness hub has been operating out of the former Windsor Water World building on Wyandotte Street East for the past few years.