Deal paves way for Bayside redevelopment to begin

With a lease agreement finally in place, the company redeveloping the Bayside Centre can “start moving forward without hesitation,” its CEO says.

With a lease agreement finally in place, the company redeveloping the Bayside Centre can “start moving forward without hesitation,” its CEO says.

“We would like to thank everyone who has played a role in getting us to this point,” said Mike Lavallée, CEO of Seasons Retirement Communities.

A large portion of the mall building is slated for demolition to accommodate a new retirement community featuring two residential towers and additional assisted-living units.

County staff, social services, court, and public health programs will move to completely renovated office space on the basement, main and second floors.

Those services will be delivered from an alternative location at Bayside while the construction work is under way over the next 18 to 24 months.

The county and Seasons reached agreement on a 20-year lease this month after two years of negotiations.

It triggers the most significant economic project in Sarnia’s downtown in a generation, said Lambton Warden Bill Weber.

“This will alter the landscape of the downtown, for the better, and may very well act as a catalyst for future investments.”