Two towers approved for downtown Amherstburg

Two new towers will be featured in Amherstburg’s skyline after town council approved a monumental development on Monday evening. Robert Lothian reports.

Two new towers will be featured in Amherstburg’s skyline after town council approved a monumental development on Monday evening.

Council voted 6-1 in favour of allowing Valente Developments to move forward with 8-storey and 11-storey mixed-use towers at the site of the former General Amherst High School.

In addressing opposition from neighbouring residents, council members admitted provincial regulations meant rejecting the proposal could open the town to legal blowback, if the developer chose to pursue the matter.

“So, we’re never going to agree on this, but we have to come up with a vision for the property along with the developer,” explained Chris Gibb, the town’s deputy mayor.

The plan includes 144 residential units consisting of condominiums and rental units. The ground floor will feature a mix of retail space and restaurants.

In the months leading up to the decision, residents showed opposition to the plan. At an April 29 meeting, concerns were raised about the building height, lighting, parking and traffic.

“If we vote in favour of this tonight, council loses control, we lose control over this development,” noted Coun. Diane Pouget, who cast the lone vote against the proposal.

On Monday, councillors noted the developer worked alongside administrative staff to address as many concerns as possible.

“It really seems that a lot of the concerns are being addressed and that this project is being a project of compromise in many aspects,” said Coun. Linden Crain.

Ahead of deliberations, council heard from a lawyer retained by the town to consult on topics raised by the community.

“In my opinion, it wouldn’t be defensible to refuse these applications based on the concerns around compliance with federal heritage legislation, insufficient parking or matters that fall squarely within the scope of the site planning process, or an alleged conflict of interest,” explained Analee Baroudi, a lawyer who specializes in land development and municipal law.

Speaking to CTV News after the meeting, Peter Valente, the project developer, said he always expected there to be many questions about the project given the site’s prominent location and historical significance.

“I’ve been doing developing for almost 30 years in Windsor, Essex County and this has been the biggest file and the most investment I’ve made before having any sort of approval whatsoever,” he noted.

If the project receives enough interest in the pre-selling market, Valente believes they could break ground in early 2026 and open the doors the following year.