Word is spreading fast about a new high-rise on the drawing board that would rival Kenwick Place as Sarnia's tallest building.
Coldwell Banker Southwest Realty Sales Representative Patrick Coutu is working with the owner of Sarnia Rent-All to develop 135 Water St.
"It's preliminary at this stage so there's still some things to be worked out with the planning department, but the developer is Henry Mehta and he's hired the architectural company Baird, which did the design," said Coutu.
Coutu said a 19 storey condo development with approximately 120 units is proposed.
Coutu said the first four levels would be designated for parking, with some commercial space available on the ground level.
"The views would be great! They'd be starting up high enough that even the lower floor condos would have an amazing view," he said.
Coutu said they're still working on some minor details so a construction timeline hasn't been set, but he said Mehta has secured other locations to move his Sarnia Rent-All business to.
"The zoning is in place, there's just some variables when it comes down to planning, there's lots of issues to be considered to make sure neighbouring properties are happy, those types of things," Coutu said.
The site of a new 19-storey high-rise in Sarnia at 135 Water Street. July 10, 2019. (BlackburnNews photo by Colin Gowdy)
Coutu said project details could be finalized within the next few months.
"It's interesting, I've had calls from three realtors already this morning, wanting to reserve units for their clients," he said. "So, it seems like there's a pretty good demand for this."
Sarnia City Councillor and local realtor Bill Dennis said he is excited about the project.
"I'm ecstatic," said Dennis. "It's going to be tremendous. It's going to totally change the skyline of Sarnia. It's going to bring people into the area. It's going to have beautiful views of Centennial Park and Sarnia Bay and from what I can see, the architecture is going to be a lot different than some of the other buildings."
Dennis said it's encouraging to see the city moving in such a positive direction.
"It's never been a better time to live in Sarnia. There's is so much on the drawing board. There's so much to feel proud about. A person could come back to Sarnia in five years and almost not recognize the place," said Dennis.