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Detroit-Windsor Tunnel Development Constraints
Background on Constraints Prior to the tunnel being built in the late 1920s, the developers acquired the lands needed for that purpose and took easements where required. The City acquired title to the tunnel from Detroit & Canada Tunnel Corporation/DWSC in about 1990 and prepared a strata plan that defines the tunnel lands. This plan defines City ownership, which is not at ground level in some instances, but below the surface. At various locations the City's ownership starts a couple feet below the surface and extends below the tunnel. What is actually owned is a corridor that is below the surface and is of various depths. Presently, there are no easements or registered property restrictions on development of properties adjacent the Detroit Windsor Tunnel. Developers currently submit plans to the City for review under Site Plan Control where it is left to City Administration to request an easement or impose site plan restrictions. Potential Sites Currently, there are several sites adjacent the Detroit Windsor Tunnel on Freedom Way and University Avenue that have potential for development or redevelopment in the foreseeable future. These include:
Therefore, there is a need for a consultant to review each site adjacent to the tunnel lands from Park Street to the Detroit River and determine the structural limitation to ensure new developments do not negatively impact the tunnel structure. Further, zoning controls need to be established and registered to prohibit the construction within a certain depth or distance from the tunnel structure. Resources:
Engineering & Corporate Projects Phone: For general information, call 311. For detailed inquires, call Greg St. Louis, P.Eng., at 519-255-6350 ext. 6472 |
