The Windsor-Essex region is booming with ongoing construction activity and new development. In addition to the Gordie Howe International Bridge, the new regional hospital for urgent and acute care and the NextStar Energy battery plant, the region’s commercial, industrial and residential developments continue to grow in the area.
Private sector development
Windsor-Essex is experiencing a rapid growth of private sector investment and development. Recent and ongoing projects include:
- Town of LaSalle $200 million commercial development – largest commercial development in the town’s history. The first phase will include retailers such as grocery store, fast food restaurants and more as is expected to be completed by the fall of 2025. The second phase, worth $75 million will feature a hotel
- Windsor’s largest enclosed mall, Devonshire Mall to redevelop the north entrance, expected to be completed summer of 2025
- $5-billion, 4.3 million square foot battery manufacturing plant, NextStar Energy – to be completed 2024
- $250-million Stellantis Automotive Research and Development Centre (ARDC) expansion – 2022
- $115-million EV supply plant, Dongshin Motech – to be completed 2024
- $60-million EV supply plant, Bobaek – to be completed 2024
- $38-million dietary and nutritional supplements manufacturer, Medicap facility expansion – 2022
- $30-million, 54,000-square foot coffee pod and plant-based materials manufacturing plant, Nexe – 2023
- $20-million new 300,000-square foot Amazon fulfilment centre – 2024
- 40-acre high-tech, fully lit facility and new 210,000-square foot centralized packhouse distribution center for Pure Flavor
- $30-million project to restore historic downtown Windsor building to luxury boutique hotel – announced Dec. 2023
- $12.5 million new manufacturing facility currently being built at Rosati Group’s Grand Central Business Park
- Two commercial parcels of land with 2.74 acres of redevelopment at Farhi Holdings Corporation’s 1600 Lauzon Road, next to the WFCU Centre
- Private hotel and hospitality expansions, comprising over 600 new suites or bedrooms in the City of Windsor, including the Best Western PLUS (306 rooms), Holiday Inn Express (156 rooms) and the Hilton DoubleTree (161 rooms)
- Opening of a new 95-room Hyatt Place Windsor
- Opening of the new 105-room Holiday Inn Express in Lakeshore
- Opening of the new 128-suite Marriott TownePlace Suites Windsor, following a $10 million renovation of the former downtown Quality Suites hotel
- Town of Amherstburg to see several commercial businesses, a new LCBO, a new Starbucks, Burger King, Taco Bell – announced May 2024
- $70 million in renovations made to Windsor’s largest enclosed mall, Devonshire Mall, including a new food court and retail space
Public sector construction projects
- $5.7-billion Gordie Howe International Bridge – to be completed 2025
- $2-billion new, modern, state-of-the-art Windsor-Essex Hospitals System – Construction beginning 2026
- City of Windsor moving to rezone 200 hectares of land near Windsor airport for industrial use – 2024
- Largest ever federal government investment into the Port of Windsor – $26.3 million toward a $76-million expansion at ADM (public/private)
- University of Windsor new student residence spanning 150,000 square feet, the project has been designed to cater to the needs of students offering important amenities including six community lounges, a house lounge, shared laundry facility and a 275-seat food hall – Fall 2025
- $23-million student housing project at St. Clair College’s South Windsor Campus, accommodating 512 students
- Opening of the University of Windsor School of Creative Arts, following a renovation of the former Armouries building, accommodating 60,000 sq. ft. of space for students and faculty
- Opening of the new 120,000-square foot, $44-million Windsor City Hall
- Meadowbrook public housing project and St. Clair College student housing
Residential development
There are many recent and ongoing major residential and housing developments that are helping Windsor-Essex continue growing as a thriving, bustling community. This is being accomplished through purpose-built public housing, student housing and market housing.
Major development projects include:
- Two phases of dwelling developments on Banwell approved for five, six-storey buildings that will accommodate 336 units
- $39-million, 10-storey, 145-unit Meadowbrook Lane public housing project
- $35-million series of three, seven-storey condominium buildings with 60 units each, developed by Eastside Horizons
- Large, mixed-use development near Lauzon Parkway that will include 278 single-family residential walk-up units over nine acres and 119 single-family and detached homes over 14 acres by Farhi Holdings Corporation