The first signs of the ambitious Bayside Centre redevelopment in downtown Sarnia could be seen this spring. General Manager Michael Service updated a large crowd at the Sarnia Rotary Club Monday, saying demoliton of the former Odeon building, the Industry Theatre, is slated for late spring. A mutli-storey residential seniors building is proposed just east of the centre. Demolition of the Trinity Lounge building is anticipated this fall to allow for a market square off Christina St. Service says they're looking to make Bayside a community centre, rather than a retail giant, to attract people downtown. He says the building itself makes up 34% of the core area. "It has to play nicely with all its neighbours, so to speak, so the whole neighbourhood thrives from the result of this. That was the theory behind the building of it in the first place, we're just taking it to the next level," says Service. He says the new owner, Wilsondale Assets Management, has acquired six downtown buildings, including the Trinity Lounge, Sarnia Christian Fellowship, Sarnia Coin Exchange and the building beside the Industry Theatre. He says they're targeting three more properties to further open up the Bayside Centre's west side. Service expects a grocery chain, possibly a Sobeys or Loblaws, will be secured in the coming months, as well as a pharmacy tenant. Studies are being conducted to determine which residents are best suited for planned lofts in the former Taylor's Furniture building and plans are in the works to relocate the LCBO on Christina St. inside Bayside Centre. Representatives will be making another presentation at the Sarnia-Lambton Chamber of Commerce "Business After Five" event on February 17th.
