Bayside Concept Revealed.

Looking west along Lochiel St., from the Bayside Mall entrance. Zach Neal photo.

Tyler Kula, Sarnia Observer.

Lochiel Street could stretch to Vidal in a few years’ time if everything goes according to plan for the owners of the Bayside Centre.

Seasons Retirement Communities intends to make a pedestrian walkway through the heart of the current mall, amid an ambitious, more-than-$40-million scheme to overhaul the long-half-empty structure and build a 12-storey retirement complex.

“We’re nowhere near being finalized,” said Seasons CEO Mike Lavallée, updating city council and the community on the latest Monday.

Negotiations are still pending to move the County of Lambton Shared Services Centre – housing, Ontario Works, court services and other county services – to to-be renovated mall space south of where the Lochiel Street extension would run, Lavallée said.

The retirement complex, to be built to the north atop a two-storey parking garage, so building tenants could see above the skyline and to the water, would come after, he said.

There are also plans to improve the ramp and add new lighting to the underground parking garage, and to make it accessible 24/7 with an automated entry and pay system, he said.

“I think if we are successful in our concepts and with our negotiations that we should begin construction in the fall and find ourselves with a completed and completely renovated downtown core by 2022.”

Link to the rest here.

Images. Zach Neal photos and a handout site-rendering from Seasons.

Thank you for reading.