Sarnia, Ontario

[ZaidTrade]

I've been a lurker here for a while and noticed whenever Sarnia gets mentioned it's usually in disdain..so I thought I'd bring some light on the city.

A $2Billion Dollar plant was announced by Nova that's going to create thousands of construction jobs over the next 5 years and then close to a 1000 direct and in-direct permanent jobs once it's complete. This isn't counting all of the other new plants and other projects launching in the city. Lambton College is doubling down on bringing international students in so that is also another source of growth.

The downtown scene is making a comeback with new restaurants popping up every year and the most people I've seen on weekends in over a decade there. Sarnia's skyline is a mix large chemical plant towers, mid-rise condos of different designs from different eras and a few small-midsize office buildings all along the water. The Bayside mall (former Sarnia Eaton Center) was purchased by a developer and is being turned into a seniors mid-rise condo complex with commercial/retail on the bottom floors. The project once complete will create 75 permanent jobs to operate the entire facility.

Since the announcement of the plant, Tricar has moved along on one of their two empty lots they have in Sarnia and construction is beginning this spring on a mid-rise condo next to their other ones which are sold out. The other lot is in a prime downtown sarnia location along the water across from city hall by centennial park.

I believe Sarnia is poised to have another economic spike similar to when the plants first opened up and the population nearly doubled in a decade. What does everyone else think?

http://blackburnnews.com/sarnia/sarn...lanned-sarnia/
http://http://sarniablight.com/2016/...-front-street/
(The second empty lot tricar owns and potential site for fourth building).
http://blackburnnews.com/sarnia/sarn...ayside-owners/
http://https://www.theglobeandmail.c...ticle37273971/

[ZaidTrade]

The two existing and future third tricar condos are to the left of this picture by 50m-100m




Nice shot of two existing tricar condos overlooking park and water.
http://blackburnnews.com/sarnia/sarn...ntennial-park/

[north 42]

It looks like Sarnia is doing well, just like most of the other SW Ontario cities are. It’s nice to see almost the whole region doing well finally! And how often do you see Windsor with the lowest unemployment rate in the entire province?! Even Chatham Kent is doing well!

[ZaidTrade]

Originally Posted by north 42

It looks like Sarnia is doing well, just like most of the other SW Ontario cities are.

Agreed, this corner of Ontario is a gem and I think with the resurgence of Detroit/MI, we will continue to see stronger development between Windsor, Sarnia, CK and London. It's a very nice blend of GTA, Rural Ontario and USA culture here. Very fun and peaceful atmosphere here.
The last statcanada numbers showed Sarnia shrinking but the new Nova plant was announced less than half a year ago and in that time real-estate has spiked and other new projects have been announced after it. Also, Sarnia has a surrounding population of roughly 30,000 living in communities outside the city that rely on Sarnia a lot. And Port Huron, MI across the boarder has a population of 30,000 itself.