Frustration over boarded up homes on Windsor's west-end

Mike Lobzun's neighbour isan empty house. Across the street sits another, covered in plywood and property of the City of Windsor. In the alley behind his Queen Street home, one more.

"I'm surrounded by homes that have been boarded up," Lobzun said.

After a string of recent fires across the city, Lobzun is worried the empty homes in his west-end neighbourhood might become a target.

I'm just tired of it, to the point that it doesn't matter. If somebody has to cause the stink that'll be me. I'll take the brunt of it.- Mike Lobzun, west-send resident

Lobzun began photographing the decay around his home, posting the photos online. He's trying to gain the attention of his neighbours and the city.

He's tried calling 311 about the properties, and while he says some work orders have been issued, nothing seems to get done.

"I'm just tired of it, to the point that it doesn't matter. If somebody has to cause the stink that'll be me. I'll take the brunt of it," he said.

On a tour in the back alley of his house, a mattress is leaning up against a fence. Behind it, a rusting e-bike, a children's pool and a section of what looks like a washing machine. Piles of concrete and bricks are scattered across the grass.

"Anything past the bridge seems to be neglected," he said.

Boarded up and vacant

A few blocks away Ward 2 Councillor John Elliott is standing on Indian Road. The street is lined with boarded up homes.

It's the elephant in the room. It's not anything one has to go looking for. It's all around the city.- City of WindsorWard 2CouncillorJohn Elliott

The Canadian Transit Company, ownerof the Ambassador Bridge, owns 124 buildings west of the bridge, the majority boarded up.

"It's the elephant in the room. It's not anything one has to go looking for. It's all around the city," Elliott said.

Twinning the bridge

Before Matty Maroun's Canadian Transit Company can move forward with plans to twin the Ambassador Bridge, the federal government will sort through more than 400 submissions from the public and decide whether or not to issue a permit.

Elliott's hoping once a decision is made, the city can move forward and come up with a plan to clean up the west end.

"Once that federal decision is made one way or another, then I really want to be part of ramping up our community to put it on the map as a touristy, old historical area," he said.

"But first, let's make sure the appearance is welcoming."

Brighter future

According to one business owner, the west-side is starting to trend in a positive direction. Mike Cardinal owns a retirement home on Peter Street, a couple blocks away from Indian Road.

With a newly named Gordie Howe International Bridge on the way, he says property values are increasing.
But, he says the community is in need of buy-in from landlords.

"It's a definite, difficult issue, because we're caught in the middle between a billionaire who'strying to get his way and pave the neighbourhood and the city doing what they can to defend our neighbourhood," he said.

"But the run-down homes are really the responsibility of the owner. The neighbours end up being victims of that blight."

Funding available

The city does provide incentives to home owners in the west end. Two years ago, the city announced $400,000 for the Sandwich Incentive Program. It offers grants for both business and residential properties.

The Neighbourhood Residential Rehabilitation Program would cover half the costs up to $15,000 for home renovation projects, specifically in the west end.

Since the program launched, not a single residential rehab grant has been issued. No one has bothered applying.