A parcel of land, initially intended for a long-term care development, may soon serve another purpose.
Sarnia City Council will be asked to declare the property at 1597 London Line as surplus land during Monday's meeting.
The site is located in the grass area behind the closed Olives Casual Cuisine.
In 2021, council agreed to sell the property to Revera Inc., in trust. At the time, Revera planned to build a state-of-the-art facility as part of the Sumac Lodge redevelopment project. However, Sumac Lodge went through a change in ownership last year.
As of May 2025, the long-term care facility is owned and operated by Southbridge Care Homes and the city's agreement with Revera was terminated in June 2025.
"My understanding now, going back to the original application, is that Sumac Lodge is looking to redevelop on their present site. There is active interest in the land from a credible purchaser," said Mayor Mike Bradley.
If the land is declared as surplus, Bradley said the city will be able to see what interest is out there for the property.
"I believe that the one [interested party] is looking to do something similar as it relates to a senior home or that type of service," Bradley said. The parcel of land is designated for mixed-use development. However, there are some servicing and access challenges.
"Where the city would be involved, there's a need for a road to come in and that can be done and paid for through the development charges, it doesn't have to go to the taxpayers," Bradley said. "They also have to go through a rezoning process." Future development applications would need to be reviewed by the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority, as the land is located near Perch Creek. Bradley said he doesn't expect there to be any opposition to declaring the land as surplus since the city has no use for it.
The first council meeting of 2026 is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. at city hall.
Sarnia News Today has reached out to Southbridge Care Homes but did not receive a response.
