‘Big-ticket development’ project planned for Tecumseh

Skyline Real Estate Holdings hopes to start construction of two new apartment buildings in Tecumseh next spring, according to Mayor Gary Mcnamara.

Tecumseh council voted Tuesday to schedule a public meeting Jan. 14 on the proposal for two four-storey apartment buildings, one with 71 units and the other with 79 units, on 10.9 acres on the southeast corner of Tecumseh Road and Southfield Drive.

“It’s a big-ticket development,” said Mcnamara. “It’s a very exciting project.”

Mcnamara called it a “21st century build” — an energy-efficient building with high-end insulation, solar panels and plug-ins for electric vehicles.

The apartments would be built on the south end of the land. There are already two apartment buildings on the north end, a six-storey, 149-unit building and a seven-storey, 98-unit building. The site is located within the Tecumseh Road Main Street Community Improvement Plan (CIP) area.

The development will include a building with indoor amenities located between the proposed apartment buildings and an outdoor patio and two pickle ball courts.

The existing parking lot will be expanded to include 220 more spaces. A new driveway would be built onto Southfield Drive.

Skyline will convey a five-metre strip of land along the southern boundary of the property to the town to provide the ability to widen and enhance pedestrian access between the west end of Arbour Street and Southfield Park.

The extra land will also help to provide emergency-vehicle access from Arbour Street. There will also be a sidewalk connecting to Southfield Drive and sidewalks through the site to Tecumseh Road.

The two apartment buildings still have to be approved by council. Skyline has been meeting with the town’s planning and building departments.

The company already hosted a public meeting in October. Most of the comments were about issues related to the existing buildings, primarily maintenance, traffic and parking. There were no major planning concerns regarding the proposed buildings.

The company is looking for Official Plan and zoning amendments to change the site from commercial and residential to residential.

The Tecumseh Road Main Street Community Improvement Plan identifies the importance of residential development to rejuvenate the entire CIP area. It encourages the development of higher density residential units and a mix of housing, including duplexes, town houses and apartment buildings.

The idea is “to provide options for seniors and young people … and allow for housing in mixed-use developments to ensure the street is active and alive all days of the week and all times of the day,” stated a report to council.

Earlier this year, council approved a 97-unit condominium on Tecumseh Road facing Southfield Drive and the 64-unit luxury Harbour View Condominium in St. Clair Beach at the old Pud’s Marina site. It will boast a marina and underground parking.

“The exciting part is bringing close to 600 people to live in the core area,” said Mcnamara. “These developments are the anchors that make these (CIP) projects work. There’s a lot of activity. We’re pretty excited about it.”