A major new development could soon reshape the skyline along Riverside Drive in downtown Windsor.

An $80 million mixed use project has been brought forward for 621 Riverside Drive West at Janette Avenue. The proposal calls for a 27 storey building featuring 188 residential units above ground floor commercial space. If approved, it would represent one of the more significant private sector investments in the downtown core in recent years.

What’s Being Proposed

The development would sit on currently vacant land and include:

• 188 residential units
• Ground floor commercial space
• 245 parking spaces (196 in a two-level underground garage, 49 on a neighbouring property)
• 19 bicycle parking spaces

From a planning perspective, this is a clear push toward higher density along the waterfront corridor. Projects like this are designed to bring more full-time residents into the downtown core, which in theory supports restaurants, retail, and service-based businesses.

Catalyst Project Status and Incentives

City administration is recommending the development be designated as a Catalyst Project under Windsor’s Downtown Enhancement Strategy and Community Improvement Plan.

If approved, the project would receive $50,000 per year in grant funding for five years, with the potential for an additional five years. These types of incentives are meant to offset some of the financial risk developers take when building at scale in emerging or transitioning areas.

Ward 1 Councillor Fred Francis has publicly supported the project, noting that attracting more residents downtown is key to driving business activity and long-term vibrancy.

The Developer Behind the Proposal

The application comes from Shmuel Farhi, one of the most active private investors in Windsor over the past decade.

Between recent announcements on Riverside Drive, the Caron Avenue parking lot redevelopment, and other projects across the city, total investment over a ten year period is approaching the billion dollar mark. Regardless of where you stand on specific developments, the scale of capital being deployed into Windsor is meaningful.

What This Means for Downtown Windsor Real Estate

As someone who watches Windsor real estate closely, here’s the practical takeaway.

More residential density downtown changes the economics of the core. More units mean more potential buyers, renters, and consumers within walking distance of businesses. That can strengthen commercial leasing demand and increase confidence for other developers considering projects in the area.

At the same time, projects of this height and scale naturally raise questions about infrastructure, traffic, parking, and overall fit with the existing streetscape. Those conversations are healthy. Growth without scrutiny is not responsible growth.

The proposal has been recommended for approval at committee, but it still requires final approval from city council.

The Bigger Picture

Windsor is at an inflection point. We are seeing serious capital flow into key corridors, particularly along Riverside Drive and in the downtown core. The question is not whether the city will grow. It is how that growth is managed and at what pace.

A 27-storey tower is not subtle. It is a statement about the direction of downtown Windsor.

We will continue to follow this file as it moves through council.

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