A “framework of a deal” has been reached that will see federal employees move into a new city hall and the University of Windsor law faculty lured into the Paul Martin Building, Mayor Eddie Francis announced Monday.
The city “will have a financial role” in attracting the university to make the new investment in the downtown, he added. Getting city backing will help the university “leverage” additional funding from senior government, he told reporters.
to get university of windsor law faculty downtown, mayor proposing $7.5M city grant in each of 2019 and 2020—
Doug Schmidt (@schmidtcity) December 02, 2013
The federal Public Works and Government Services ministry has approved a “tenant framework” that Francis said could see a $12-million expansion added to a new city hall for which council has already earmarked $35 million. Final approval must still be obtained from Ottawa, said the mayor.
Getting the feds to partner as a tenant in the new city hall means keeping federal employees in the downtown core. Francis said about 350 fed employees currently work out of the Paul Martin Building, which Public Works Canada has announced the federal government wishes to vacate by 2017.
City council on Monday approved the tentative city hall lease deal during a closed-door session ahead of the 2014 budget debate in public.
City council’s 2014 budget session continues.
Follow city hall reporter Doug Schmidt on Twitter @schmidtcity
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