The company on board to re-develop the former Grace Hospital site has reached significant agreements to move the project forward.
Fairmount Properties has created a vision for the proposed $100 million multi-use development consisting of housing, retail, and medical facilities.
"We're not interested in building a free-standing apartment building or a free-standing strip centre or medical building. We bring all these uses together in a holistic way with great place-making," said Randy Ruttenberg, principal of Fairmount Properties.
The company has reached affiliation agreements with St. Clair College and the University of Windsor to co-market housing for around 500 students. The intent is to provide safe and affordable housing for international students coming to the region.
The development will also include market-rate housing and townhouses to better integrate with the existing neighbourhood.
The company has also signed a letter of intent with a major operator of healthcare practice groups which will lease 14,000 sq. ft. of space within the development.
In addition, the development will include a small format grocery store and other operators of health and fitness, coffee, fast casual food offerings, sit-down restaurants, and small boutiques.
The company hopes to have most agreements in place by the beginning of next year and to start construction by the end of 2023. Ruttenberg admitted the pandemic delayed the project slightly, but it allowed them to do more planning behind the scenes.