5.0 CONCLUSIONS

The existing building has been under utilized for a number of years with the main floor commercial has not been rented in a number of years. The neighbourhood of the subject building is mixed use with existing residential along Wellington Ave and predominately vacant commercial buildings along University Ave. The adaptive re-use and rejuvenation of the existing building, in my professional opinion, is well suited to residential apartment units and can be considered to support neighbourhood institutional uses (University of Windsor, Adult Education Centre, and St. Clair College).

Minor exterior modifications of the existing building to clean the bricks, repair damages, install new doors and windows but the building profile will not be altered. The building will remain as a low profile, 8 unit residential building and will provide a transitional building or gateway into the single, detached low profile residential neighbourhood along Wellington Street. As well, in my professional opinion, the minor exterior modifications and adaptative re-use of the interior of the building will help to encourage, in my professional opinion, other under-utilized and somewhat derelict buildings in the neighbourhood fronting University Ave to rejuvenate and upgrade, spurning on a neighbourhood improvement.

In my professional opinion, the requested OPA and ZBA makes sound planning for many different reasons but mainly will result in the efficient and effective re-use of an existing building and infrastructure for the provision of alternative residential apartment units. The structure is sound with existing infrastructure in place that will only require minor changes to the building to accommodate the 8 residential units.

Official Plan policies for the mixed use area recognize and support alternative options to on-site parking when dealing with the re-establishment of historical building profiles and revitalization of buildings and streetscapes. With the change of the existing building from 4 residential apartment units and 3 commercial main floor to a low profile, 8 unit residential building will allow the building to be maintained and support the re-adaptive and re-use of the existing infrastructure. As well, the adaptive re-use of the existing building will assist with the conservation and preservation of a historically existing example of a 1920’s commercial building.

With the conversion of the main floor from commercial (a heavy parking requirement land use) to residential (a low parking requirement land use), there will be the continuation that there is no on-site parking, eliminating the dependency on the motor vehicle and a greater utilization of alternative transportation. New tenants will be informed that there is no parking available for the residential units.

Bike parking will be provided with 17 bike parking spaces to be provided, supporting active transportation. There is capacity on the University Ave bus route, available bike trails, and through the provision of bike racks on site, in my professional opinion, the re-development supports the healthy community initiative of both the Province and the City of Windsor.