The city has issued Panoramic Properties a demolition permit to tear down the old hospital building on Paris Street.
Mayor Paul Lefebvre made the announcement on Friday morning during a media conference at the municipal parking lot adjacent to the property.
“This is a major milestone in the life of our city,” he told local journalists, bookended by Ward 10 Coun. Fern Cormier and Ward 9 Coun. Deb McIntosh for the announcement.
In addition to clearing out a long-vacant building regarded by some to be an eyesore, Lefebvre said the property is poised to house 530 residential units, per Panoramic Properties’ plans.
“We have developed a good working relationship with Panoramic, and staff have done a really good job of moving this file forward,” he said, crediting staff with following through on his push to fast-track the development permit application process, which came in at half the time as usual.
This, despite the property carrying various complicating factors, including building size and its proximity to Paris Street, Bell Park and residential properties.
Engineers reporters to support the building's demolition maintained health safety at the forefront, he said, clarifying that these were not forfeited for expediency.
“Sites like this are ripe for transformation, and they’re exactly where we need to focus our energy if we want to create the kind of community we believe in,” he said.
Demolition of the main structure would begin “imminently,” he said, with a slow tear-down by heavy machinery anticipated to take place over the course of the next several weeks.
He relayed that Panoramic Properties had assured him that they’re not stopping once the building is torn down, and that they’d proceed with the construction of three tall residential buildings in the spring.
That said, Lefebvre clarified, “The city doesn’t control that, the developer does.”
Following Friday’s formal remarks, Cormier told Sudbury.com that the community has been “fairly consistent over the years” in urging the city and Panoramic Properties to do something with the long-vacant building.
“With the change of (city) administration, we’ve developed a new relationship with Panoramic Properties, and frankly, I’m delighted for Panoramic Properties,” he said.
“The investment they’re making in our community is truly a win-win. It demonstrates the confidence they have in our market, and it’s good for them, obviously, they're building out their portfolio.”
Friday’s media conference comes approximately one week after “danger due to demolition” signs were noticed posted to the fence surrounding the property. Earlier this week, heavy machines began mobilizing on site and a pile of rubble was seen amassed north of the main building.
The hospital opened in 1950 and closed in 2010. Panoramic Properties purchased the property in 2010 and it has remained vacant ever since.
While a past condominium plan fell through several years ago, Panoramic Properties’ latest proposal, a 530-unit residential project consisting of three towers, was greenlit by city council last year.
Meanwhile, there’s been a sustained push among members of the community for the old hospital building to come down. During the series of town hall-style meetings Lefebvre hosted throughout Greater Sudbury’s 12 wards in 2023, the old hospital was a frequent talking point.
On Friday, he told Sudbury.com that residents brought up the building during every one of the 12 meetings and has remained a frequent topic of discussion since that time.
In 2019, Canada’s largest mural was painted on the west-facing side of the building, but as organizers later pointed out, it was always meant to be temporary. Their understanding was that the building would be torn down the following year.
Last year, Panoramic Properties applied for $1.7 million in municipal grants toward the redevelopment of the Scotia Tower building in downtown Sudbury, which the company also owns.
Lefebvre introduced a successful motion at the time for the $1.7-million in grants to only be delivered in the event the 83-unit residential complex at the Scotia Tower building is fully realized and the old hospital is torn down.
In recent days, work at the Scotia Tower appears to have commenced, with the west-facing side of the building opened up by crews.
On May 22, the day after a suspicious fire broke out at the old hospital building, Lefebvre publicly urged Panoramic Properties to take “immediate, urgent action” to tear down the building.
The building had become a safety concern, he said at the time, pointing to ongoing trespassing complaints as evidence. In addition to the fire, the body of a 24-year-old man was discovered at the property on May 17.
Tyler Clarke covers city hall and political affairs for Sudbury.com.