The City of Windsor is expropriating two properties near the Windsor International Airport.
The two sites are the last privately owned lands in the block that makes up the airport.
Mayor Drew Dilkens says expropriation is only used in rare circumstances. He says the properties are needed to expand economic development opportunities.
"We attempted to negotiate this, we were unsuccessful and were granted the authority to do what we think is in the best interest of the residents of the City of Windsor for the long term," says Dilkens.
The lawyer for one of the property owners, Ondrej Sabo, says his client is disappointed but will not fight the expropriation.
"I'm of the opinion, from what I've heard, that it's not absolutely necessary. There's plenty of other land but it's like swimming upstream when you're trying to fight a recommendation that says it's in the city's best interest," says Sabo.
Dilkens says the city has lost out on investment because the property in question was not available.
"It makes sense to take these last two properties to consolidate into those employment lands at the airport because it fits into the master plan and these are the last two pieces of the puzzle that allow us to unlock a whole bunch of different opportunities," says Dilkens.
The city has agreed to negotiate a lease agreement with the current owner so she can stay in her home while there is no immediate use for the land.
