The next vacant property on Windsor's west side could be the largest one yet: the Waterfront Villa.

Sitting in the shadow of the Ambassador Bridge, the property at 2856 Riverside Dr. W. has been operating privately as an off-campus student residence since 2004.

But now the large facility -- capable of housing almost 200 students -- shows no signs of activity.

On Monday afternoon, all the building's doors were locked, blinds had been closed in all of its windows, and no staff appeared to be present.

"Our intention is not to close it," insisted Phil Frame, a spokesman for the Ambassador Bridge company, which owns the property.

"We want to keep it going, as it is. Even if it's not occupied during the summer, doesn't mean it won't be coming back for the fall term."

Bridge owner Matty Moroun bought the property from James King in 2006 for an estimated $4.5 million.

Since then, King has been running the facility under contract with the bridge company.

Frame said that contract expires this year, and that is the reason the building appears empty. "We may have missed an opportunity to get students in during the summer, but we're hoping that by the fall term, it will be back in action again."

King could not be reached for comment Monday.

The two phone numbers listed on the Waterfront Villa's business website are out of service.

The website does not have application forms for students seeking residence for the 2010-11 academic year.

The most recent student residence agreements with the property ended April 24.