Historic jail remains in limbo as owners take property off market
The `For Sale' sign outside the former Windsor Jail in Old Sandwich Town has come down, but that doesn't mean it's been sold or that any new purpose has been found for the unique historic structure.
After half a year on the market in search of a new buyer, the owners “don't want to sell it now,” Aman Ranu, of listing agent Re/max Preferred Realty Ltd., told the Windsor Star.
Ranu said the owners — local investors who don't want to be identified — aren't willing to say much more at this point. But while not actively on the market, Ranu said the property remains for sale and the owners are “pretty flexible with the price.”
Meanwhile, Ranu said plans are underway to fix up the registry building — built in 1877 and located adjacent to the jail building erected in 1925 — and then offer it for lease. The city is already leasing the parking lot attached to the nearly acre-sized property, to accommodate visitors to Mackenzie Hall next door.
The jail property and surrounding heritage properties — all contained within the Sandwich Heritage Conservation District — are “extremely valuable” to the local community, said Ward 2 Coun. Fabio Costante.
When the Windsor Jail was last put up for sale in the fall, city hall sources now tell the Star that administration was directed to investigate a possible purchase by the municipality. But those sources said there was either no response from or “no meaningful discussions” with the owners, and an update during an in-camera session of city council in December indicated there'd been no progress made.
But Ranu told the Star in a phone interview last week: “We didn't get any query from the city.”
The current price would likely be a major sticking point for any purchase by the city. After the Windsor Jail was closed in 2014 — inmates were moved across town to the new South West Detention Centre — the province offered the property to the municipality for a dollar.
No thanks, replied the City of Windsor.
Infrastructure Ontario put it up for auction on an “as-is” basis and sold it in 2019 for $150,000. Last fall, unable to pursue proposals for the property, including conversion into student housing, it was offered again for sale, but this time there was a $1.4-million asking price.
Mayor Drew Dilkens told the Star last September that the city was “in a different financial position” at the time of the loonie offer nearly a decade earlier and that “it was not the right time.” Last fall, however, he said the city would now be interested in acquiring “a key asset ... and essential part of the story of Sandwich Towne,” and that it would explore a purchase.
But sources contacted last week told the Star the listed price ($1.4 million) is far too steep.
Hearing the current owners advised the Star they might be “flexible” on the price, Costante said he'd like administration to take another look at the city acquiring the property. “I'm hopeful (administration) can re-engage and report back to council — sooner than later.
“This parcel is important to the city, it's important to the identity of Sandwich.”
Meanwhile, the exterior of the property shows signs of continued deterioration, windows are boarded up, there's broken glass and litter.
While there's “a general consensus we have to do something with that property,” Costante said he's “open-minded” about a possible purchase but wants to hear from the community.
The former registry building's “bones are in good condition,” and the parking lot has “a lot of practical value” for Mackenzie Hall but also for vehicle overflow from the adjacent Sandwich business area.
Asked about the missed opportunity to buy it for a buck in 2018, Costante diplomatically responded: “I don't want to (Monday) quarterback decisions of the past.”
At that time, Dilkens told the Star's then-city hall reporter that developing the site could cost between $20 million and $40 million and that simply owning and keeping the property closed would cost $400,000 annually.