The entity in possession of the Ambassador Bridge asserts that the City of Windsor, Ontario, is impeding its endeavors to demolish the unoccupied residences it holds in the western section. Recently, municipal officials issued urgent demolition directives for 17 of the remaining 37 properties owned by the Canadian Transit Company (CTC) in Sandwich. The orders were prompted by concerns from building inspectors regarding the potential collapse of these structures.
The Vice President of Operations at CTC expressed the company’s intention to dismantle all its vacant properties to facilitate the expansion of its inspection plaza near the Ambassador Bridge’s base. Despite inquiries, Randy Spader did not elaborate on the future of properties outside the proposed plaza area, including the derelict J.L. Forster high school, for which demolition permission was sought in February 2025 and is currently under review by city authorities.
In recent years, the City of Windsor has granted 102 demolition permits for CTC-owned properties while rejecting six applications that did not meet the criteria outlined in the Sandwich Demolition Control Bylaw. This bylaw, established in the early 2000s when CTC began acquiring properties for a new bridge span, necessitates property owners seeking demolition to present redevelopment plans for council approval.
The vacant CTC-owned homes, subject to legal disputes due to their impact on the neighborhood, have been vacant for decades. Although a permit for the new bridge span was sanctioned by the federal government, CTC has deferred the project, focusing instead on an expanded secondary inspection area at the bridge’s Canadian entrance. The ongoing tussle over the abandoned properties has a lengthy history, with CTC advocating for the demolition of all vacant houses to advance the plaza enhancement project.
Local residents in the west end, including Bill Voakes, have welcomed the demolition efforts, emphasizing the positive impact on the community. The area’s councillor, Frazier Fathers, highlighted the potential for new housing developments on cleared lands, expressing support for revitalizing the west Windsor region through constructive initiatives.
While previous discussions hinted at improved relations between Windsor officials and the bridge owners, recent developments have raised uncertainties about the future. The evolving dynamics underscore the complexities surrounding the vacant properties and plaza expansion plans, signaling a pivotal phase for the neighborhood’s transformation.