Boutique hotel comes to Erie Street

Upcoming Erie Street boutique hotel is set to attract more tourists to Windsor.

Fil Rocca, president of the Erie Street BIA, said the proposed construction at 781 Erie Street East is one of the first small-scale hotels to open in Windsor.

“It’s an amazing thing for Windsor and for Erie Street,” said Rocca. “A rezoning of the space was in order. They had to apply to the Ontario Restaurant, Hotels and Motels Association for approval for their hotel status.”

The Development and Heritage Standing Committee approved the property to be converted into a hotel with a restaurant as an accessory, on Sept. 13. Ward 3 Councilor Rino Bortolin said any increased presence of vehicles can rely on municipal parking lots.

However, representing the neighbourhood residents at the committee meeting, Bobbie Bruno, said she was concerned that the proposed hotel’s staff and its clientele would take up roadside parking spots used by residents.

‘We have lived here 21 years and the parking has been absolutely ridiculous,’ said Bruno. ‘With this hotel going up, we are going to lose even more parking spots. We did find out that they have a trial for some of the businesses that are parking in the municipal lots. How long are they going to be able to have that? When they don’t want to pay the $80 permit they are just going to park on the streets just like they have been doing the past 21 years that I have been here.’

According to planner for the city department, Simona Simion, the proposed changes would reduce the need for parking spots than the original plan.

‘I think the administration welcomes the change in use to hotel and restaurant because this new proposed use requires less parking,’ said Simion. ‘Instead of the twenty-plus parking spaces, the new use as a hotel requires only 14 spaces. In addition to that there are a couple municipal lots within walking distance.’

Rocca said the Erie Street BIA is also looking forward to developing more parking space and a bocce ball court on the East side of Erie Street.

“We are doing a parking lot for a pharmacy and in front we are going to some bocce courts where people can go and play bocce ball, which is an Italian tradition,” said Rocca.