Tircar Group developing the long vacant former Sarnia Gazette property at 275 Front St. N. June 4, 2019. (Photo by Colin Gowdy, BlackburnNews)Tircar Group developing the long vacant former Sarnia Gazette property at 275 Front St. N. June 4, 2019. (Photo by Colin Gowdy, BlackburnNews)
Sarnia

City building activity picking up with major permits pending

A couple of major building permits are under review at Sarnia City Hall.

The biggest, with a value of $31.4 million, is for a 15 storey, 123-unit waterfront apartment building at 275 Front St. N.

The Tricar Group in London is developing the long-vacant former Sarnia Gazette property on the west side of the street.

Also under review is a permit for a $7.3 million interior renovation and two storey addition to Lambton College's south building at the bridge entrance.

After a slow start, building activity in Sarnia is picking up with 81 permits, with a total value of about $8.3 million, being issued in May.

The year-to-date total has moved ahead of last year's pace by about a million dollars at nearly $28.8 million.

May's figures include the granting of occupancy for a new Planet Fitness that required $1 million of interior leasehold renovations at 1330 Exmouth Street.

New housing starts in the city are still lagging well behind the 2018 pace.

There were 10 permits for single-family homes in May for a five-month total of 25, compared to 39 last year.

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Photo courtesy of the Sarnia Police Service via X (formerly Twitter).

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UPDATED: Canada Post issues lockout notice to CUPW

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OPP Cruiser. (Photo from WR OPP twitter account)

Driver charged in single vehicle crash

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Photo by the Petrolia and North Enniskillen Fire Department.

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Fire Chief Rick Cousins said when crews arrived on scene an over 100-year-old barn was fully engulfed.

Busy November for Sarnia-Lambton United Way campaign

Director of Development and Communications Ryan Doyle said to date, the annual initiative has brought in $880,000.