The proposed redevelopment of the long-vacant Sudbury General Hospital property on Paris Street has received mixed reviews from area residents.
Sudbury.com went doorknocking in the neighbourhood this week, during which residents’ opinions on the Panoramic Properties project ranged from “not positive” to “great.”
Their opinion on the likelihood of the development moving forward ranged from optimistic (though likely scaled down), to one resident dismissing it as a “farce.”
Panoramic Properties issued a media release earlier this month outlining their plans for the property, which has been vacant since they purchased it in 2010.
Although company owner Angelo Butera declined to answer Sudbury.com’s follow-up questions, their media release outlined the basic plan, including three buildings lined up north to south, all facing Paris Street:
- A 20-storey condominium project with 222 units at the centre of the property
- A 12-storey retirement residence with 109 units to the north
- A 16-storey “urban loft” rental building with 199 units to the south
A restaurant is proposed for the top floor of the condominium building, open to the public, and a café would take shape at the ground floor of the retirement building.
Although area residents’ reviews were mixed, the majority expressed either negative feelings toward the project, or concerns about some aspects of what has been proposed..
In most cases, the proposal is considered less-than ideal.
Elizabeth Schmidt has lived on Facer Street, across the street from the hospital building, for more than 25 years and said her review is “not positive.”
“The only good part of it is that this mess will be gone,” she said, pointing to the existing hospital building.
The vacant hospital building has been a point of contention in the community for years.
In 2019, Los Angeles-based muralist RISK — a.k.a. Kelly Graval — painted Canada’s largest mural on the building, consisting of rainbow colours and butterflies, during the annual Up Here urban art and music festival.
As the years passed, the public’s perception of the mural faded, with area residents sharing mixed feelings about the mural in early 2022, at which time they urged Panoramic Properties to do something with the building.
This summer, Up Here festival staff wrote a public letter indicating it was their impression the mural would be a temporary thing, and that the building would be demolished by now.
Although Butera declined to answer Sudbury.com’s inquiry as to whether any of the existing hospital structure would be salvaged in their plans for the property, a conceptual drawing issued as part of this month’s media release implies it will be torn down.
Area resident Mario Delriccio said his chief concern is with how much construction material will fill a landfill site when the building, which he considers an “eyesore,” finally comes down.
A common thread between many area residents’ comments centred on a belief the proposed development is too big.
“I think it’s overbuilt for the neighbourhood and site,” Schmidt said, adding that she doesn’t believe the project will ever come to fruition.
“I hope it doesn’t, with all the traffic it will bring,” she added.
One area resident who declined to be named shrugged the project off as a “farce,” another declared that “Nothing will happen,” and one resident who went only by Bertilla said Panoramic Properties’ previous proposal, which would have repurposed the existing building, was superior.
This $80-million, 190-unit condominium development, which included a proposed restaurant and wellness centre, was mothballed in 2017.
A Panoramic Properties resident of the time herself, Bertilla said she would have considered moving into the “beautiful white building” proposed at the time.
“I thought it was a good idea. It was a gorgeous building,” she said, adding that the three buildings currently proposed, including a 20-storey structure, are too big and “lack soul.”
“I liked the previous plan better,” one of her neighbours said, adding that traffic will be a concern with so many units amassed in such a small area.
One of the more optimistic area residents was Mary Hopkins, who said that although 20 storeys is a bit tall, she’s optimistic it’s a starting point and that a building of a more agreeable size will end up pushing through city council.
“I think it would be a great quality of life for the people living there,” she said, adding that she likes the proposed design. Its proximity to the city’s downtown will aid in its rejuvenation, and with housing in short supply of late, the city needs all that it can get.
“I think they’re great,” said another area resident, who declined to share his name. ”More housing is always good.”
Two area residents lamented the fact the City of Greater Sudbury didn’t purchase the property when they had the chance, offering that they could have turned it into an extension of Bell Park.
An area resident of 15 years, Thandeka Robinson said expanding the Ramsey Lake-area park would have been much preferred to a building. But, when the city opted against purchasing the property several years ago, it fell into private hands.
“I guess we have to live with the consequences of that,” said one resident who declined to share his name. “I can’t stop progress.”
Earlier this month, the city’s elected officials expressed optimism that Panoramic Properties would pull through this time, with both Ward 11 Coun. Bill Leduc and Ward 5 Coun. Mike Parent saying they hope the city is able to fast-track the development.
According to their media release, Panoramic Properties will submit official plan and zoning applications for the project to the planning committee of city council sometime this year.
Tyler Clarke covers city hall and political affairs for Sudbury.com.
