Cathy Dobson
A Toronto-based company wants to build a trio of nine-storey student residences on land it owns on the south side of London Road at Afton Drive.
If approved, the Cantam Group housing project would be the first of its kind in Sarnia and create 234 units with 910 bedrooms, says the company’s local realtor, Mario Fazio.
Cantam Group owns the land already partially occupied by a Swiss Chalet, Subway, Starbucks and the former Harvey’s bingo plaza.
The busy commercial stretch is about 800 metres (half a mile) from Lambton College.
“The Group wants to do something with the empty property behind there and was originally going to put a plaza in,” said Fazio.
“But there’s a real need for student housing in Sarnia and this is a beautiful spot for dorms. This could solve a big problem for the city.”
Lambton College has grown rapidly in recent years but has just one residence for about 280 students. Fuelling that growth has been international students recruited from Mexico, India, Panama and elsewhere.
About 1,000 of the college’s 3,400 full-time students come from outside the country, and housing them has contributed to a local housing shortage, driven up rents, and created problems in some quiet residential neighbourhoods.
Entrepreneurs converting homes to students housing has changed the character of neighbourhoods and led to noise and traffic complaints, said Fazio.
In 2019, a citizen’s group called Home Owners Watch Sarnia (HOWS) complained to city council about illegal student accommodation, and council took measures to limit the number that can live in each house.
At the same time, college officials say they have no plans to build another residence.
Fazio said student populations can fluctuate and the college doesn’t want to risk owning an empty residence.
“But we are designing these three buildings so they can also be used for older adults,” he said. “That’s something the college can’t do.”
International students are dependent on regulatory bodies allowing them into Canada, and things can change, said Fazio.
“We don’t even know if they’ll be allowed to come back this fall because of the pandemic. No one knows the answer to that one yet.”
Cantam Group would build one tower at a time, as demand requires. One building would have commercial space on the ground level, he said.
Two towers would be at the south end of the site, while the third would occupy space now occupied by the former Harvey’s Bingo building.
Lambton College is not aware of the project, said spokesperson Cindy Buchanan.
“We’re not a part of it but we’re pleased (Sarnia) will have good student accommodation choices,” she said.
The $10-million to $15-million project includes more than 430 parking spaces.
City planner Max Williams said the project requires Official Plan and zoning bylaw amendments from council. But it would “meet a lot of shortcomings that we have in the city,” he said
A public meeting is scheduled for Sept. 14 to consider the proposal.
To view the planning info and a preliminary architectural plan, visit https://www.sarnia.ca/current-land-use-applications/
and click on 1271-1289 London Rd.