From November, 1927 – A huge plan was announced by a company called the Greater Windsor Development Company. The plan included transforming a downtown block into a world class property.
The first phase announced was for the erection of a four story Apartment Building, along with a three story ramp parking garage. The boundary of the development was to run from University to Park along Dougall Ave. This first phase was to cost $600,000 (about $7.4 million in 2009 dollars).
The second phase that was to be erected later called for the construction of a 25 story hotel, that was to be the tallest hotel in the British Empire. The apartment building was to contain 64 units and was designed by the firm of Trace, O’Dell and Diehl. John Edward trace was a local architect, while Augustus O’Dell and Gerald Diehl were both Detroit architects. This firm also designed the old Windsor City Market.
The value of the hotel was pegged at $1.5 million (about $18.4 million in 2009 dollars).
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The drawing on the top looks a bit like that apartment building on Dougall and Giles...if you really squint.
I wonder if the blueprints are still around, and if something with the same style would float if it was built today. This is the type of apartment complex that would look great and suit the needs of downtown.
About 10 years ago they started to refurbish those apartments, which use Kahn's concrete truss system, but I don't know if they ever finished them.
This should be a gem in Windsor, like it would be in most cities but like most things it is neglected (or half-assed to keep rent cheap) as it is surrounded by slums and drugs.
Too bad because we don't have enough of these style of apartments downtown. I guess that is what happens when cities turn a blind eye to the more downtrodden areas of our city.
Brendan, I used to live in that complex on Giles (Parkside, Park Place?) and I can tell you they wre in almost original shape. Very quiet and quaint. However a previous owner a few years decided to do soe "rehab" and painted the mahogany wood a turd brown colour in some of the apartments before they sold it.
Anyway, there aren't much left of these types of apartments in Windsor anymore so we need to keep an eye on the one's we have.
Had this complex been built at the time, it would no doubt have been torn down by now to make way for a parking lot.
Many other classy structures of notoriety in the downtown have suffered this fate and have been replaced by empty lots or cheap structures. Norton Palmer, Prince Edward...
What happened to the parking garage? Was it ever built?
It's a really nice building, but I've gotta agree with ME again. It's surrounded by slums and drugs. But, then again, the landlords are not doing their share to clean up the neighbourhood as I keep noticing the rags, torn bedsheets, etc., they allow tenants to hang up in the windows, which is not conducive to getting the kind of professional type clientelle it deserves and once had. Put it in their leases that that's not allowed and manage your tenants instead of being an absentee landlord, for Chrissake!
David, no the garage never was built. But notice how nice it is and how it fints into the landscape. Now compare that with the turds the city and other developers have built within our core.
If we want to be a world class city we have to act and design our city like one. Talking is cheap, I ask the city where is the action?
Yes, the Garage was built, I think it came down in the 1970's.
The apartment I think Bendan was refering to is the Grenada.
Allegedly, it was the same architects, (or so I've been told) I however, have yet to confrim that.
Are you sure the garage was built next to the Royal Windsor? I just spoke to a senior who was convinced that the second picture was of the Old Windsor Market, where they built the casino addition and that up until the 1950s there were two houses on that parking lot next to the Royal Windsor that were moved to Janette St. 432, 441, 493 Janette St. (one of which was across the street) for more parking for the Norton Palmer. 1251 Janette St. came from Victoria St. behind the Norton Palmer.
David might be right and that drawing may be for the old market - it looks exactly like it, and I'm pretty sure it was a garage before they turned it into a market so that make sense.