City to keep, lease retail space at Pelissier parking garage

Windsor City Council voted last night to keep retail space on the ground level of a city-owned parking garage on Pelissier Street.

The move came after more than two hours of discussion, which included pleas from two developers and the Downtown Windsor Business Association to maintain the spaces.

"I mean, it's what we wanted and I'm just so glad council took the leadership they didtonight," said Paul Twigg, finance chair of the business association.

Some councillors didn't want to be in the commercial space leasing business and believed an administration report that said the downtown core will need more parking spaces in the future.

"I really don't think the city should be competing in the landlord business against landlords," Coun. Fred Francis said.

Others argued the best use of the space is retail and getting rid of it would disrupt the flow of foot traffic along Pelissier Street.

"The highest and best use for that space is commercial and retail,"Coun. Bill Marra said.

Coun. Rino Bortolin argued in favour of keeping the retail space, saying it is a myth that parking is lacking in the downtown core. He said the city wouldn't be competing against private landlords.

"If we were to give it over to a private entity to run," Bortolin said, "we remove ourselves from that situation."

Council will now sit down with developers and interested parties to negotiate a public-private partnership in leasing the spaces.

Larry Horwitz, of Horwitz Holdings, is proposing a plan that would see the city remediate the mould issues within the retail spaces. Horwitz Holdings would collect rent and pay for capital repairs. Horwitz is also head of the DWBIA.

"Ultimately, my goal is a downtown that is vibrant; the heart of the city. That brings people to Windsor," Horwitz said.

Real estate agent Rhys Trenhaille told council he had five or six prospective tenants lined up.