After nearly two years, the sale of Sarnia's Bayside Mall lands has been finalized with the city.
Sarnia council approved the $1 million purchase by Seasons Retirement Communities in a teleconference meeting Wednesday morning.
"This has been a very long process for this council," said Mayor Mike Bradley. "The former council did not end up getting a deal that was ratified. We now have put together a deal that now is up to Seasons, the development company, and the county to put their package together and finalize that."
Bradley said he hopes it's a big step forward.
"We recognize in the climate we're in right now with the recession that's hit Canada whether this will proceed or not is debatable. But, we have done our part as a city council to make this happen."
A 7,000 square foot piece of property at the corner of Vidal and George, for a future transit terminal, will be transferred back to the city on closing.
The city agreed to sell the land the mall sits on in 2018, after Seasons acquired the mall in April 2017.
The county is now expected to finalize a 20-year lease with Seasons for part of the site at Christina and Lochiel Streets.
The long term lease agreement gives the county the option to purchase the building.
Renovation of the Lambton County Shared Service Centre was expected to start this spring. It's unknown if that plan has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.