Windsor neighbourhood full of vacant buildings

South Walkerville residents are facing an endless stretch of vacant buildings. 

Numerous buildings lining Tecumseh Road East in the South Walkerville area of Windsor leave residents disappointed. 

The city of Windsor has 221 vacant buildings, according to the Facebook group Windsor’s Vacant Buildings. Some of those sit on a stretch of Tecumseh Road East between Howard and Kildare.  

In recent years there have been many new vacancies in the neighborhood such as the former Family Video located on Tecumseh Road East and Hall. The store shut its doors in December 2019 after nine years in operation. 

Most recently, in February 2020, a fire occurred at Hogans Printing, leaving the business boarded up. Damage from the fire spread to its neighbours Palazzo Moda and the CIBC buildings, which are now vacant as well. 

 

Brad March, owner of Schwabs and Primos butcher shop at Tecumseh Rd. And Lincoln said it is difficult to see all these empty businesses. 

“It is hard on the neighbourhood, you see other neighbourhoods where they are really building up, and unfortunately this area is losing a few stores here and there,” said March.1  

There are residents who feel disheartened by the empty spaces.  

Heather Hughs, a resident of South Walkerville, said as a resident said that she would like to see some sort of initiative.  

“I am certainly disappointed with all the empty buildings, I would love to see some initiatives or a business association,” said Hughs. “I would try and support anything that I could. So many businesses will be restarting after Covid a program for them to start over here would be amazing.”  

In Windsor, the city is home to nine Business Improvement Associations, however there is not one in South Walkerville. Ward 4 city councilor Chris Holt said there has been rumblings of developing a BIA there for years and it would be beneficial to the area. 

Debi Croucher, the executive director for the Downtown Windsor BIA, said that business improvement districts play a critical role in helping small businesses survive and thrive, never more so than during a pandemic.  

James Fancsy, owner of I&F Design, said that it would be a great idea for a BIA to move in. 

“I do believe it would be of benefit for a Tecumseh Rd. E. BIA to be established,” said Fancsy.  

As the storefronts sit empty, it is unclear if any new life will be given to those buildings.