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A revitalized downtown landmark had its official ribbon cutting Tuesday after a $25-million investment from a London developer turned the long-decaying building into a gleaming new hotel.
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The former Radisson hotel at 333 Riverside Dr. W. is now a DoubleTree by Hilton.
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It’s one of many past and ongoing developments Shmuel Farhi has made in Windsor, which he called the most investment-friendly city he’s ever dealt with.
“In my lifetime I can see a $1.5- to $2.5-billion investment in the city of Windsor,” said Farhi, head of London-based Farhi Holdings.
When you walk in you can see, everything got rebuilt
“I believe in Windsor. I believe in the economy. I believe in the people here. And it’s one municipality that understands business.”
Dozens of people including city councillors, hotel representatives and business community members showed up for Tuesday’s grand opening, which followed a soft opening in June.
The project took years to finish, hindered in part by extensive delays and cost increases during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Mayor Drew Dilkens said the new hotel will create about 100 jobs.
“(Farhi) fought through the pandemic to get the project done,” said Dilkens. “Despite rising inflation rates, despite supply chain challenges, he got it done. So this is great for employment, it’s great for our property tax base, and it’s great to see something alive on the riverfront, which is a $1-million view in the city of Windsor.”
Farhi said he spent about $25 million to buy and renovate the former Radisson, which had 208 rooms, into the luxury Doubletree with 140 rooms and 41 suites.
“We did everything,” said Farhi, who bought the building in 2013. “Brand new windows, brand new mechanical, brand new electrical. It’s basically a brand new hotel. When you walk in you can see, everything got rebuilt.”
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His company also spent millions of dollars renovating other downtown hotels including the Travelodge, Best Western, and Holiday Inn Express.
“We have over 640 suites together,” said Farhi. “Usually a hotel is about 100 suites. It’s like six hotels you have on the riverfront that are actually now literally brand new.”
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Farhi Holdings to build 28-storey riverfront apartment tower
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A ‘catalyst’ for the core — DoubleTree by Hilton takes over former downtown Radisson Hotel
The city put up $3.3 million for the Hilton project through the Community Improvement Plan.
“Hotels pay a lot of property taxes,” said Dilkens. “They’re good investments to have and they are built knowing they can be profitable, which means attracting visitors to the community. So this is great in terms of another piece for downtown revitalization. It speaks to what the private sector sees in our city that we don’t always see ourselves.”
The hotel renovations are among many new developments Farhi has planned for Windsor, including large apartment projects on Lauzon Road and downtown on a long-vacant plot of land at Riverside Drive and Janette Avenue.
When those projects are done, Farhi said he plans to start a $300- to $500-million hotel development on a 53-acre piece of land across from the new mega-hospital site.