Majority of blighted homes targeted for demolition razed

The City of Windsor has managed to knock down the majority of the 50 buildings it put on its blight list three years ago.

Now, those properties have become yards overgrown with weeds, and people are using them as dumping grounds, according to one city councillor.

Coun. Fulvio Valentinis says knocking the building down was just the first step.

"It's almost like having a rotten tooth in your mouth. It's great that you got it out but now you've got a hole in your mouth," Valentinis said. "The good part is it's one step. But it's a step, it's not the ultimate solution. The ultimate solution is to make it a viable property."

Valentinis is pushing for redevelopment of those sites.

"This is only a step, to take the old building down, the inappropriate building, the eyesore, the blight, but then you want to encourage development," he said. "Now if we can get the vacant lot developed."

The city expects to add another six properties to the blight list later this summer.

According to the city`s blight mitigation strategy, a vacant building is defined as a place that has not been used or occupied by the owner for at least 120 days.

A building is derelict when it`s been left vacant for two years or more or has been damaged by fire and is beyond reasonable repair.