Residents, council seek progress on former Duffy’s site

By Ron Giofu

The progress at the former Duffy’s site, or lack thereof, was the subject of a delegation Monday night with both the delegate and town council looking for answers.

Amherstburg resident Larry Amlin appeared before town council noting the Duffy’s property was once active with a bar, restaurant, motel, marina and a townowned boat launch.

“This was great for our downtown, as it brought a number of our U.S. friends and our local boaters here to stay, shop and dine,” he said. “But more importantly, it provided our residents access to the water.”

After Duffy’s closed, the town purchased the site in Feb. 2017 for $1.15 million, he added, which included all 57,824 square feet of property inclusive to water rights. The site was used as part of a festival not long after, but when the remediation of the site started, a six-foot perimeter fence went up and it’s been there ever since.”

“That’s the way we look at our waterfront ever since,” he said. “Almost seven years with nothing happening.”

Amlin, who was representing a group known as the Amherstburg Residents Forum, said that group has had “lengthy discussions” about the site and want answers. The group also offered to help push the project along.

“It is felt there is no political will to push this project into completion. It sits and sits,” said Amlin. “All we are asking is to reposition the six-foot fencing back to the breakwall to isolate the docks from the greenspace and landscape the remaining up to the street until a complete site plan can be done.”

Canada Day festivities showed people like to gather and that more waterfront space is needed, Amlin added, and pleaded for a solution to be found to allow something to happen on the former Duffy’s site.

“Let’s work on this together and get it done to show investors nationwide that we can develop this property we already own,” said Amlin. “We do not have to look far at what other communities are doing with their waterfront properties. I’d like to see us move on this.”

Councillor Don McArthur added he would also like to see more done at the site.

“I agree with you 100 per cent,” he told Amlin. “It’s a lost opportunity and an eyesore.”

McArthur said he would like to see the fencing come down and people be able to use the property but administration has advised they can’t right now.

Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb added the biggest thing he wants to see this term is the fence torn down and the site developed. He said the town arranged a meeting with Essex MPP Anthony Leardi where the issue was discussed and encouraged residents to reach out to Leardi and the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) to share their concerns.

“We can all work together to try and make this move faster,” said Gibb.

CAO Valerie Critchley noted a round of environmental testing was already done but when the results came in, more testing was asked for. Another round of testing was completed and results from that are expected in the coming weeks, as she noted there are a minimum of 16 weeks per testing cycle to await results.

“Right now we are waiting for the (MECP) to come back,” she said. “Until we have environmental clearance, we can’t open the site.”

“We all want to do what you want done but we can’t,” Mayor Michael Prue told Amlin.

Director of parks, facilities, recreation and culture Heidi Baillargeon said the town was told mid-July for the next round of results. She hoped when they get the results, it will allow them the knowledge to know how to proceed next.

Councillor Diane Pouget suggested Prue be given the necessary documentation in order to travel to Toronto to meet with provincial officials. Prue said he was willing to do that, but noted results from the government are expected in the next week or two.

Pouget added town council has taken several steps to try and move the project along, from moving forward on engineering contracts to allowing Critchley and her staff to authorize agreements.

“I want the province to move it along too,” stated Councillor Peter Courtney.

Critchley added that as a municipality, Amherstburg is held to a higher standard in matters such as this.