Village at the Barn: where it stands after the election

Windsor's Village at the Barn, about 102 supportive homes in the old arena, now faces a mayor-elect who voted no in June. Council endorsed the idea but never approved building it. A staff report is due next spring, and the new council decides.

By Kyle L. Stewart | Published Oct. 28, 2026, 12:35 p.m. ET | Windsor, Ontario

Topics: Election 2026 Council and City Hall

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Windsor's plan to turn the empty Windsor Arena downtown into supportive housing now faces a mayor-elect who voted against it in June.

The plan

The Village at the Barn would convert the former Windsor Arena, at McDougall Street and Wyandotte Street East, into about 102 small, private, lockable homes with supports for people who are homeless or dealing with addiction or mental health challenges. It would run alongside the City's Homelessness and Housing Help Hub (H4) next door. Then-Mayor Drew Dilkens announced the concept in May.

What council decided

On June 29, 2026, council endorsed the concept for 572 McDougall Street and 328, 334 and 344 Wyandotte Street East (decision CR298/2026). The decision:

let the chief administrative officer talk with funding partners about offsetting capital and operating costs for H4 and the future village;

asked staff to report back with a recommended way to run it and a plan to pay for building and operating it; and

told staff to study the condition of the arena site and report back on its findings.

It did not approve construction or the full cost. The motion carried, with Councillor Fred Francis the only no vote, according to the City's minutes.

What has changed

Francis won the mayor's race on Monday, according to the City's unofficial results. On election night he said he doesn't think the project will work "from a numbers standpoint," and that if the province offered $50 million or $60 million, the City could use it to build permanent affordable housing that would help more people. He said he would discuss it with council when the staff report is done, expected next spring.

Ward 3 Coun. Renaldo Agostino, who was re-elected and championed the project, said he still supports supportive housing with wraparound services and is open to discussing alternatives, including another location.

What it means for you

Cost estimates for the village have run up to about $60 million, and then-Mayor Dilkens said in May the City could not do it without provincial and federal partners. No final decision has been made. The new council takes office Nov. 15, and it will decide what happens when the staff report comes back. Windsor News will follow that report.

Records: City of Windsor council minutes, June 29, 2026 (CR298/2026) and City of Windsor unofficial election results.