The price tag is $55-$60 million to turn the former Windsor Arena into an indoor village that could house and support people experiencing homelessness, mental health, or addiction issues. A report going to the June 29 meeting of Windsor City Council provides the high-level cost estimate for “The Village at The Barn,” a plan first introduced at the end of May. The administration report going to council says the project still needs to undertake the design process, and existing site and building conditions are not yet fully understood, so the cost estimate may change. It also doesn’t consider annual operating costs. Council is being asked to endorse the proposal and $2.5 million in funding previously approved in principle in the 2026 Capital Budget for the H4 Housing Hub project to move the process along. “The Village at The Barn” is described as a supportive pod-style village set up like a campus-style multi-building facility that would provide housing and wrap-around support services. The proposal calls for renovations inside the old arena to provide a number of services and amenities, including 102 private, lockable dwellings located within a larger, secure structure. When the plan was first unveiled, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said at the time that the city is prepared to invest money into this, but they can’t do it without federal and provincial financial support, something they will be seeking. Ward 3 Coun. Renaldo Agostino says they’re not looking to fund this with the Windsor tax base. “Certainly, we’ll have to do our part, but we have to start advocating to the province and the federal government to move forward,” he says. “We can’t do that without a plan and a price tag, and that’s what we’ve put together for council on Monday.” Agostino says he feels strongly they’re going to have a great case to put forward to the federal government and the provincial government. “They’re going to look at us and say these guys have put in the work; they want to try something different; they want to do something to help the community, and they want to do something to help the downtown,” he says. “The question is, if not this, then what?” “The Village at The Barn” would operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The concept is being modelled after Avivo Village in Minneapolis, Minnesota, a low-barrier transitional housing sanctuary that offers 100 private units and holistic support services in a repurposed former industrial warehouse. Agostino says that saying “no” is not an option. “We understand that nobody else wants to deal with this. The city has to move forward with this. Things are not changing unless we step forward, step up, and get something done,” he says. The overall goal is to have it work in coordination with the Housing and Homelessness Help Hub, or H4, which is next to the arena. City councillor Fred Francis questions both the projected cost and the long-term viability of the proposal, suggesting the city should consider demolishing the former arena and redeveloping the site instead. “It’s not going to be $60 million,” Francis said. “When you look at the Minnesota model, you’re at $4.6 million to operate this thing. So that’s going to hit the tax base.” Francis said preserving the former arena could limit redevelopment opportunities and argued a vacant site would provide more flexibility for future housing options. “I’m not opposed to tearing down Windsor Arena,” he said. “If we have a clean site there, then the options to replace that arena are endless. You could do transitional housing, temporary housing. You could do mixed-use commercial and residential.” Francis told CTV News that he believes public consultation should play a significant role in determining the property’s future. “We need a real plan with real numbers and real time frames,” he said. “What can we build there that people can actually afford and can actually improve that entire area of the city?” He also questioned whether a housing model based on a project in Minnesota would align with provincial expectations, noting the province has expressed concerns about harm-reduction approaches that permit on-site drug use. “When you look at the Minnesota model, one of the hallmarks of that model is harm reduction,” Francis said. “The province doesn’t want anything to do with that. So if you’re taking that out of this model, I’m not sure how the operating model works.” Francis said addressing homelessness and housing affordability should remain a priority, but argued council should focus on developing a long-term strategy before moving forward. “We can’t be busy campaigning. We got to be busy planning,” he said. “Right now is the time to talk about the plan and the details.” The arena at the corner of McDougall Avenue and Wyandotte Street East was built in 1927 but has been unused for several years after being permanently closed in 2012.
