Sudbury mayor expected to announce start of demolition of former hospital

All signs are pointing to the imminent demolition of the former St. Joseph’s Health Centre in Sudbury, which has become a notorious eyesore in the community.

After years of delays – and growing public frustration – it appears that an infamous eyesore in Greater Sudbury is finally coming down.

There is now demolition equipment outside the former St. Joseph’s Health Centre on Paris Street, with new demolition signage on the fences surrounding the property.

News conference Friday

Even more telling, Mayor Paul Lefebvre has scheduled a news conference for 11 a.m. Friday in the parking lot of the old hospital where he will give “an update on a site of significant community interest, marking an important step forward in local development efforts.”

On Thursday, the city confirmed it has received an application for demolition that is currently under review by city staff.

Demolition of the site can’t come fast enough for many people in the city. In May, the body of a man was found on the property and there was also a suspicious fire just days later.

At the time, Lefebvre said the derelict building is an ongoing risk to public safety and is unacceptable.

The vacant building has been owned by the Niagara based company Panoramic Properties since 2010, which did not return our email or phone calls Thursday looking for information about the demolition.

Three new buildings planned

Panoramic’s plan for the site includes three new buildings, including a 20-storey condominium, 16-storey urban loft (rental) building and a 12-storey retirement residence, providing a total of 222 condominium units, 199 apartments, and 109 retirement guest suites.

The project also includes up to three levels of underground parking and 380 square metres of restaurant space.

The retirement home would be a maximum of 12 storeys, while the tallest building – an apartment building with 222 units – would be a maximum of 20 storeys.

Calls for the site to be developed have grown since the hospital closed in 2010, around the time that three city hospitals merged into a single site at Health Sciences North.

Panoramic originally planned a condominium development in 2013, but a lengthy planning approvals process led to delays. Eventually, market conditions changed and the condo plan was shelved.

An 80,000-square-foot mural was completed at the site by street artist RISK in summer 2019.

The mural has since deteriorated, with the bright colours gradually blending in. The fact it is located in a prominent spot on the shores of Ramsey Lake has made it an especially visible source of frustration for many residents.