So October’s housing data was just released, let’s jump in. All of the data comes from the Monthly CMHC Housing Market Survey for the Windsor region (covering all of Essex County).

Housing Starts in October

• Starts in October were kind of slow but not surprising given the recent downwards trends. The bulk of October’s units were new Apartments in Essex (somewhere in Leamington, Kingsville, Essex – I didn’t name it) which is great as those units are desperately needed in the county. A smattering of single family homes make up the bulk of the month’s builds

Housing Starts Year to Date

• Year to date the County is still out starting Windsor 662 units 301.

Completion in October

• Completions come from units started in some cases a long time ago (more on that in a bit). Totals make pretty good sense and for urbanist, the lack of inner city units coming on line points to the fact that a ship has sailed in many ways.
• Although I guess today it was hinted that the Grace Site redevelopment will be completed in the next 2 years….

Completions Year to Date

County leads the City 1,284 to 433

Units Under Construction Oct 2023

• I was asked after last month’s post, how many units are under construction. Across the region there are 1,520 units under construction and if they were to all finish construction by Xmas we would hit our region wide target of approximately ~3,500 units.
• Unfortunately they won’t and what I find most surprising is that the county is building significantly more apartments than the City of Windsor. I admit this may just be a fluke in the construction schedule and we hear about project going to Council in Windsor, but the urbanization and densification of parts of the county is well underway.

Average Length of Construction

• For the average length, I didn’t look at by zone as there many housing types and zones that had very few units all year to year to compare too. As a result 1 delayed project in one neighbourhood skews that zone’s values. The above is a region wide number with the additional challenge that survey area changed in 2023 to include all of Essex County rather than just the 2016 CMA boundaries. So the data for 2021, 2022 do not include Leamington, Kingsville or Essex.
• I honestly don’t know how to take these numbers- why did semi-detach construction times drop so far this year? Or what is going on with apartment buildings are just building bigger buildings so it takes longer but we are getting more total units? Lots to think about.

A Few Other Thoughts

• Imagining building is not the same actually building – that has been a problem with the Liberal government on this file for a number of year. The HMCS Hunter building is Federal property and should be redeveloped, the problem is where was this idea 5 years ago. I actually remember a conversation about this several years ago with the MP about that building. Where has that file been? Why is the conversation starting now? Where is the conversation about the heritage elements of the building that might need to removed or accommodated? We are well beyond the point of imagining what a property could be.
• Although I am all for the Housing Accelerator Funds going directly to municipalities and that should continue. It doesn’t help us in the short term – if Windsor even gets it.
• People are in a tizzy over strong mayor powers, despite the uncouth nature of your firing/termination from employment having to be posted as a mayoral proclamation on a City website for posterity, this was a procedural mechanism that the Municipal Act requires.
  • Unlike previous removals, which occurred in-camera meeting of Council, and didn’t allow councillors to speak, this was a decision so if there is an issue I am sure they can find a platform to share their displeasure.
  • Does it speed up housing construction, probably not, but as budget season is upon us, the removal of two executive leaders from the City’s corporate structure will likely over the long term bare some minor cost savings that are probably playing a role in getting the property tax number to a value that the Mayor desires..