Seasons Retirement Communities will spend more than $40 million on commercial and residential development, says CEO Mike Lavallee.
“We’ve come to the table saying we’ll carry this through to the end,” he said.
Seasons hopes to relocate the County of Lambton Shared Services Centre to the south end of the mall.
“It makes sense if we can accommodate our main tenant … it forms the backbone to everything else,” Lavallee said.
Negotiations are ongoing with the county, which holds the lease to the centre, currently located in what was once a thriving Eaton’s’ store.
Seasons is working in phases and trying to minimalize disruption for existing tenants, Lavallee explained.
Once all tenants are out of the north end of the former mall it will be demolished to make way for a 12-storey tower.
The tower will have retail space on the ground floor facing Christina Street and 140 to 160 suites for a retirement facility with independent living, supported housing and memory care services.
Retirement home construction is slated for 2020.
“By 2022, Sarnia will have a completely renovated downtown core,” Lavallee told city council last week.
“A lot of work has been done to get to a fairly workable, and I think beneficial, end result for what is currently Bayside Mall.”
While Seasons owns the building it still does not own the land and must purchase it from the city before moving forward, Lavallee said.
That’s the “linchpin” for the entire transaction, he said.
Seasons also intends to modernize the underground parking complex to accommodate retirement home tenants and the public. Lavallee described an automated entrance that will allow 24/7 access, as well as upgraded lighting and new stairwells into the building.
Once of the most creative aspects to Seasons’ concept is the splitting of the building at Lochiel Street. A pedestrian walkway will connect Vidal to Christina Street and the city’s transit terminal at George and Vidal will be maintained.
The company is also considering an apartment building for the property but that decision hasn’t been made.
Lavallee said Tricar’s recent announcement to build a 15-storey apartment building on the waterfront close to downtown might mean there isn’t enough demand to justify another one.
“We haven’t done our due diligence on that yet to see if it makes sense,” he said, noting the entire concept is still subject to change.
Seasons has purchased all of the commercial buildings on the east side of Christina, north of Lochiel, to accommodate new retail space and the retirement tower. The only building on that strip not part of the plan is the shuttered RBC bank right at the corner.
“It’s not needed,” Lavallee said. “We haven’t even looked at it.”
He said the community has been very welcoming to the Oakville-based company.
“We’re happy to see this redevelopment in Sarnia. It takes advantage of the waterfront and the charm of the downtown,” he said. “It’s going to feel like a very nice neighbourhood.”
Mayor Mike Bradley assured Lavallee local support for Seasons’ development is “very significant.”
Coun. Anne Marie Gillis said she was encouraged to see a pedestrian walkway and “Lochiel back to the way it was years ago.”
Coun. Dave Boushy weighed in saying he is “100% in favour” of Seasons’ proposal.
Got a great idea for a business story? Contact cathy.dobson@thesarniajournal.ca.