The permit is expected to go out this week for a total revamping of Windsor's former Veteran's Affairs building on University Ave. W.
John Revell, chief building official at the City of Windsor, confirms the $10.8-million project.
"It's a complete gut and renovation of the building," he says. "It's largely going to be offices for federal government employees. It'll include some exterior work, some renovations of the facade at the front, and parking at the rear."
The updated location will house office space for hundreds of federal government employees and include a separate suite for retail at the front of the building.
Revell figures work to fix up the building will start soon after the permit is received, but he is less sure when construction will wrap up.
"Being renovation work, it'll likely be about half a year or so," he estimates.
Right now, federal employees are housed at the Paul Martin Sr. Building on Ouellette Ave.
A plan to turn it into a law school for the University of Windsor has hit a snag. The provincial government appears to be backing away from its agreement with the City of Windsor and the federal government, a move that has been criticized by Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown who is an alumnus of the school.
The Veteran's Affairs office on University Ave. closed in February 2014 over the protest of veterans who were directed to services either online or at the nearest office in London.
Last April, a new Veteran's Affairs office opened on the sixth floor of 1 Riverside Dr. W, or the Chrysler Building at the corner of Ouellette Ave. and Riverside Dr.
