Roseland golf course heritage designation lifted by Windsor city council

Windsor city council has voted to remove the heritage designation from clubhouse and parking lot at Roseland Golf Club, a decision that divided councillors and frustrated residents who fear it could open the door to further development.

The decision, passed during the Feb. 10 council meeting, is part of the city’s broader push to create housing under the “Housing Solutions Made for Windsor” plan.

Coun. Fred Francis strongly opposed the motion, arguing that removing the designation could have long-term consequences.

“There’s a reason that in 20 years, not one motion has been made like this,” he said.

Roseland Golf Course, designed by renowned golf course architect Donald Ross in 1926, has been municipally owned since 1973.

In 2003, City Council designated the entire property under the Ontario Heritage Act, a move that supporters at the time said was meant to protect the site from future development.

While administration said the 2003 bylaw only intended to protect the main 18-hole course, residents and some councillors argued that the entire site, including the clubhouse, parking lot, and the smaller nine-hole par three course, was covered by the designation.

Francis said he believed the decision contradicted the intent of the council that designated the property, pointing to letters from former city officials who opposed the change.

“When was the last time we’ve heard from previous members of council clarifying their own position? I can’t remember that ever happening, certainly not to this extent,” he said.

“I can’t support something that might have, even if it’s a one per cent chance, a detrimental effect on the Roseland neighborhood.”

He also dismissed the argument that the designation was only being removed from the clubhouse and parking lot, calling it “a bad precedent” that could lead to future changes.

“What really is concerning to me is now we have the professional heritage consultant that has, in writing, said the par three has no historical features,” Francis said.

“That’s out there, that’s on the public record. So, if anybody did want to do anything with the par three, they now have the support and ammunition to do it.”

The par three, a shorter, beginner-friendly course located east of the main course, was developed in the 1960s and has been a key part of Roseland’s operations for decades.

While the current motion does not touch that portion of the property, some residents worry that removing any heritage protections could make it easier to redevelop more land in the future.

Residents who opposed the decision said they felt ignored.

“They’re just looking at costs. They’re not really looking at history or value,” said Roseland resident Silvio Barresi.

Barresi, who presented a petition against the change, said council’s decision left him feeling betrayed.

“I didn’t want to use that word, but now I wish I did,” he said. “Because it is insulting.”

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens defended the decision, saying it does not impact the golf course itself and is part of a broader city strategy.

“We’re talking about an asphalt parking lot and a building that the heritage consultant says doesn’t have heritage features worth protecting,” he said.

“If we move forward with an expression of interest and it comes back with something that is a monstrosity, something that is cheap, that does not fit the character of the neighborhood, I will be the first to push the eject button.”

Coun. Kieran McKenzie, who supported the motion, said a new clubhouse is necessary to keep the golf course financially viable.

“The clubhouse needs to be demolished and replaced with an appropriate building that can help it succeed even greater than it already is,” he said.

“And the reason I know this, and I’m speaking with total certainty, is because we proved it. The first year we closed the clubhouse because of the pandemic, the course made more money than it’s ever made in its history.”

Demolition of the clubhouse expected by the end of the year.

An Expression of Interest (EOI) still needs to be issued to develop the property and build a new clubhouse.

If a project is approved, construction could begin sometime in 2026.