Former HMCS Hunter site to be cleaned up this week, DND says
The unkempt grounds around the former HMCS Hunter Armoury on Ouellette Avenue should be tidied up by the end of the week, according to an official with the Department of National Defence.
The sorry condition of the former naval reserve base and surrounding grounds was brought to the forefront by Brian Masse, the NDP member of Parliament for Windsor West.
In response to constituent complaints, Masse sent a work order request to federal Minister of Defence Harjit Sajjan last week.
The defence department is responsible for managing the site.
“Regarding the groundskeeping issue (garbage, needles and grass cutting), this will be resolved by the end of this week,” said Evan Koronewski, spokesperson in the DND’s media relations office.
Masse described the condition of the building at 960 Ouellette Ave. as “reprehensible” in a weekend interview with a reporter from the Windsor Star.
The building served as a naval base for 74 years before a new state-of-the-art facility opened on Mill Street in 2015.
Koronewski said the Ouellette property was subsequently declared surplus and “the Department of National Defence is currently in the process of divesting the former HMCS Hunter Armoury.
“As part of the divestment process, DND is currently reviewing the building maintenance and repair requirements.”
Masse contends the building’s facade is crumbling.
“Repair work on the brick and facade of the building exterior is ongoing,” Koronewski said.
Masse sent a copy of his request to Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens. Dilkens was out of the country and unavailable for comment Monday.
Coun. Rino Bortolin hopes the federal government will sit down with interested stakeholders “so that if they do sell it, it’s something that benefits the community.”
The building falls within his Ward 3 boundaries.
Bortolin is concerned an out-oftown speculator might purchase the site and sit on it for years while the building continues to deteriorate.
“That’s a worst-case scenario for us. Then it’s just boarded-up blight,” he said. “It’s a prime piece of property on Ouellette. I hope they will meet with the neighbours, meet with the local community, meet with the local municipality and have a conversation.”