RAZING ON INDIAN ROAD
First house demolished
The first Indian Road home ordered demolished as part of the federal government’s approval of a second span of the Ambassador Bridge came down Tuesday.
The bungalow at 590 Indian Rd. at Wyandotte Street West was demolished by a crew from Gagnon Demolition Inc.
Mayor Drew Dilkens said the permit was the first issued for a home since the company that owns the Ambassador Bridge made the surprise announcement Sept. 6 that it had received cabinet approval in Canada to build a new span between Windsor and Detroit.
“This is no surprise because the federal government is part of the permit that was issued to the Ambassador Bridge,” said Dilkens.
“The actual language says the Ambassador Bridge shall acquire these properties, and the Ambassador Bridge shall demolish these properties. And so it’s not even a question of if they can or not, it’s saying they must take them down and make them public parkland.”
But at Tuesday night’s Ward 2 public meeting at Mackenzie Hall, Olde Sandwich Towne community activist Terrence Kennedy said the residents of the area have been sold out.
“Fifteen thousand people are being abandoned by (Ward 2 Coun.) John Elliott and the mayor,” said Kennedy. “That smacks of collusion.” Kennedy said bridge owner Matty Moroun had an obligation to renovate the homes along Indian Road.
Elliott said the city is bound by the federal government’s decisions. “It’s all within the process,” Elliott said.
“It is what it is. What is happening is being dictated by the feds.”
Retired architect Rosemarie Denunzio, who has conducted many digs for native artifacts along Windsor’s waterfront and elsewhere, said given the number of demolitions, and depending on the amount of digging, there may be a number of things found.
“As soon as that happens all work stops and they notify people in Walpole Island,” said Denunzio.
Dilkens said there are 32 more demolition applications queued up with city staff in the first phase, between University Avenue West and Wyandotte.
“We know the Ambassador Bridge wanted to get going on that because they came in and met with our team to get the demolition permits and we know they had contacted Enwin to get the utility locates needed,” said Dilkens.
“So they were working on getting all of the things they needed to effect demolition of the homes the federal government has ordered them to tear down.”
Dilkens said Gagnon and the bridge company have agreed to a number of stipulations to keep disruption for nearby residents to a minimum.
“Under the noise bylaw they must demolish between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m., and with respect to how they are going to do this, the contractor is Gagnon and they have agreed to do only one house at a time to minimize dust and other impacts,” said Dilkens.
He said all of the properties have been reviewed for designated substances, such as asbestos, and it has all been removed.
Dilkens said the city forester is also working with Gagnon to determine which trees along the boulevard and on private property should be preserved for the park.
He said there is not much the city can do but approve the demolition applications.
“The federal government’s authority supersedes the province or municipal authority,” said Dilkens.
“The federal government gave the Ambassador Bridge a permit that says you shall demolish or shall cause to be demolished certain properties and so they’re starting that demolition process as ordered by the federal government.
“I know this issue has been outstanding for some time and there are some issues outstanding that remain unresolved with the Ambassador Bridge with respect to some of the other properties that are owned by the Ambassador Bridge that are outside of the order by the federal government.”
Dilkens said wildlife that may have moved into the homes will have to be dealt with.
“I just don’t know what’s in there,” said Dilkens.
“Some of these places have been vacant for 10 years, so I am sure there are things living in there that the demolition company is going to have to deal with.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if our team got a call saying we have an issue with wildlife and we have to activate some sort of a resource to assist in that regard or the Ambassador Bridge must use in that regard.”