Community Consultation: Sarnia General Site Redevelopment.

From Tyler Kula, Sarnia Observer.

Some love it; some want more residential.

There wasn’t much room in the middle Tuesday as about 50 people took in the preliminary – a point stressed by proponents – plans for the former Sarnia General Hospital property, should city council give rezoning approval.

“All along we’ve tried to do what the community wants,” said Mark Lumley, one of five businessmen – branded GFive Inc. – tearing down the 1890s-built hospital to make way for new residential, commercial and medical on three hectares (7.5 acres) of land.

Coming out of community consultations last year, what the community wanted first and foremost was to get rid of the blighted buildings, then get mixed-use new builds in, he said.

“That’s what we tried to do here.”

The proposal is tweaked from GFive’s original pitch last summer, when city council agreed to sell 220 Mitton St. and 327 George St. to the group for $1,000 – conditional on GFive knocking down the former hospital and auxiliary buildings and tearing out asbestos, and with more than $5 million thrown in from city coffers to help with demolition cost.

That work is on track to be done by August, Lumley said.

Where the original proposal had two residential lots on Mackenzie Street, the new version instead has three potential Habitat for Humanity build sites on Bright Street.

Eight residential lots are also proposed for Essex Street.

Link to the rest here.

Image. Google Maps.

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New Senior's Projects for Sarnia.

From Tara Jeffrey, The Sarnia Journal.

Two large housing projects announced last year have fueled hopes for an economic boost in the city’s south end and downtown core.

An Oakville-based retirement home company is preparing to build an assisted living complex at the Bayside Centre in the heart of downtown Sarnia.

Seasons Retirement Communities plans to build 140 to 160 suites on the 3.5-hectare (8.5-acre) property. The company has also purchased several Christina Street buildings between George and Lochiel streets as part of its “overall master plan for the Bayside Mall,” CEO Rick Smyth told The Journal, pointing to some 75 full-time and part-time jobs when construction is complete.

“I’m very excited about it,” longtime merchant Jim Hall told The Journal in November. The owner of Sarnia Coin Exchange closed a real estate deal on his Christina Street building and is preparing to vacate in February.

“Part of the reason I agreed to sell is that it’s going to be a really positive thing,” he said.

The mall opened 1982 as the Sarnia Eaton Centre, thrived for years, fell on hard times after Eaton’s closed, and slid to occupancy rates of 30% and lower.

Link to the rest here.

From their own website.

Image Credit. Seasons Retirement Communities.

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International Students Enrich Our Community.

Guest column by Judith Morris, Sarnia Journal.

At Lambton College we are fortunate to welcome students to our campus from all across the globe. As President & CEO, I’m very thankful for the diversity, innovation and economic contribution our international students make to the College and community.

Their presence enhances the college and our intercultural understanding.

As a community, we have a responsibility to welcome these students, as well as other newcomers, to our region.

Over the last five years the number of international students who choose to study in Sarnia has nearly doubled, to 772 students. They come from all over the world, including India, Mexico, China, Brazil and Jamaica.

I would like the community to recognize the great benefits these newcomers bring.

Link to the rest here.

Image. Google Images.

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