More than a dozen vacant homes are being demolished in Sandwich Town

Chris Ensing · CBC News

· Posted: Mar 20, 2025 4:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 11 minutes ago

As a bulldozer clears the rubble of a demolished location that erstwhile stood successful the shadiness of the Ambassador Bridge, west extremity Coun. Fabio Costante says there's a hopeful aboriginal ahead.

"This is the past portion of the puzzle to truly wholly spot a revitalization of Sandwich Town," helium said, lasting connected the sidewalk.

"I'm overmuch much hopeful and optimistic than I've ever been."

More than a twelve abandoned and boarded up homes are being torn to the crushed connected Indian Road and Rosedale Avenue aft the Canadian Transit Company (CTC) had demolition permits approved by the city. 

The homes were purchased by CTC to wide a way for a 2nd planetary crossing adjacent to the Ambassador Bridge. 

However, the Ambassador Bridge owner said there is nary program to determination guardant with the task aft the national licence expired successful 2022.

But the proprietor is moving guardant with hold of the plaza astatine the basal of the Canadian entranceway to relocate the secondary inspection country for transport trucks person to the larboard of entry. 

Representatives did not reply to CBC's petition for an interrogation astir aboriginal plans for the area.

Changing narration betwixt city, span company

Costante and Mayor Drew Dilkens both said the institution is making an effort to amended its relationship with the city. 

"I deliberation Mr. Moroun genuinely wants to enactment each of these issues and immoderate of the sick volition that has travel successful the past levelled against his begetter and the Canadian Transit Company, helium wants to enactment that to furniture and crook the page," said Dilkens. 

The Moroun family has owned the Ambassador Bridge since 1979 and has successful the past battled with the section and national governments. 

Those fights see a ineligible conflict to halt the authorities from opening the Gordie Howe International Bridge that failed successful 2021 and the ongoing negotiations astir what to bash with the vacant, abandoned properties.

"We've got a large narration with the Ambassador Bridge, with Mr. Moroun, trying to get to the different broadside of this," said Dilkens.

"It's the likes of which I've ne'er felt earlier successful presumption of that benignant of relationship. So I'm precise affirmative that we're going to find a communal crushed that resolves the issues."

Those issues see what happens adjacent with the enlargement of the relocation of the Canadian Border Services Agency's operations adjacent College Avenue and Huron Church. 

"The nuances and immoderate of the intricacies are things that are being worked retired close present among parties and I can't stock details," said Costante.

"I'm precise hopeful that we're going to spot thing sooner than later."