Troy Shantz
City officials and business owners alike are hopeful that a new committee will breathe new life into Mitton Village.
Sarnia city council has given the green-light for the formation of the Mitton Village Community Development Advisory Committee, to help revitalize the south-Sarnia business section.
“I see this place as a unique neighbourhood opportunity,” said Coun. Brian White, who hopes to serve on the committee, approved at the Jan. 11 council meeting. “I see this as a potentially trendy, walkable neighbourhood, with its unique characteristics of the five corners.”
White says the committee is based on a broader proposal he submitted in 2016, designed to address vacant properties in Sarnia.
Council endorsed a draft terms of reference for the committee, with a mission to provide information and direction to help rejuvenate the area.
Members will include officials from city council, the Planning Advisory Committee, along with neighbourhood residents and business owners. The city also plans to invite school board officials, Lambton Public Health, Habitat for Humanity, the Sarnia Real Estate Board and GFive Inc. – the group behind the Sarnia General Hospital project.
The committee will monitor the area on and surrounding Mitton Street from London Road south to Wellington Road (known as “the five corners”), and southeast along Ontario Street, and west towards Great Lakes Secondary School.
White noted a similar approach used in Brantford, which partnered planners, developers and community members collaborating on “new visions for larger spaces.”
“Rather than trying to market vacant buildings, of which there are countless… let’s revision the neighbourhood,” he explained. “When you’re now marketing out these properties, you’re marketing it as part of a bigger vision, rather than just an empty plot of land or an empty storefront.”
Perry Cassetta helps manage Italia Pizza, his family’s business which has called Mitton Village home for nearly 41 years. He hopes the new committee helps return the south-end neighbourhood to its former glory.
“There were all kinds of businesses, and they were all doing pretty good,” he said of years past in the neighbourhood. “Everything was full… there were people walking all the time.”
Mitton Village has been hit hard over the past few years. The fate of Great Lakes Secondary School has yet to be determined and shop owners seem to come and go weekly, including the most recent vacancy of cornerstone variety store 7-11.
“I like the neighbourhood during the day,” says Marc Piquette, owner of Mitton-based Piquette Frozen Foods.
“There’s definitely been some shady stuff that’s happened here, and I think it turns a lot of people off from the area for sure.”
He welcomes the committee and fresh interest from City Hall. He suggested support for improving storefront appearances as well as the introduction of street festivals would be a great starting point.
Patti Pike manages Harry’s Restaurant on Mitton Street. She says the city’s interest in Mitton Village is definitely welcomed.
“This end of town is unique, and we really need some upgrading of the buildings,” she said. “This could be a really cool spot.”
