A new long-term care facility expected to cost as much as $50 million is proposed off London Line.
Sarnia council will consider a $250,000 offer from Revera Inc. Monday. The company wants to purchase property at 1597 London Line for a new facility to replace its aging Sumac Lodge Long Term Care Home at 1464 Blackwell Road.
Site of possible $50 million LTC facility off London Line. (Image via Sarnia council agenda)
Mayor Mike Bradley said they've been discussing possible locations with the company for a few years now.
"Council had a lot of good questions and wanted to make sure it was the right deal," said Bradley. "So now, after two years, we've arrived at a deal that will sell that four acres to them and that they will construct, on ministry approval, a new facility."
Mayor Bradley said the proposed agreement, conditional on approvals from the Ministry of Long Term Care, is for 128 to 256 long-term care beds.
"What the city wants to see is one that's up in the 250 bed range, not the present number, which is around 120," Bradley said.
He thinks the site is appropriate and won't impact future growth of the Western Ontario Research Park to its south.
"They looked at private sector lands, they came back a number of times to the lands the city owns on London Line, which is near Bethel Pentecostal Church and is part of the 300 acre business park we have towards the research park."
It's expected the new facility would retain 100 full and part time positions, and could provide 100 new jobs in the community.
The London Line property was purchased by the city in 2003 as part of a larger sale associated with the research and business park.
Mayor Bradley said plans for the present site on Blackwell Road have not been shared, but he thinks the land would be very valuable for residential development.
The current Sumac Lodge has 96 beds, and provides 24-hour nursing and personal care to 28 semi-private rooms and 68 basic rooms.