When Andrea Horwath used her strong-mayor powers to designate two downtown Stoney Creek parking lots because of the urgency to create affordable housing, some likely assumed that meant construction was about to get started.

So, how much work has been done on the lots on Lake Avenue in the 16 months since?

“Nothing,” says Coun. Matt Francis.

That’s not exactly true. There has been some soil testing and some topographical surveys, according to the city.

“But no work,” he says.

It does indeed look exactly the same as it did back in April 2024, when Horwath’s edict took effect. He’s not wrong about that. And because little has happened thus far, the parking lots could theoretically be preserved.

Thus, Francis says folks should expect this to be a key issue in the next municipal election.

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