An agreement to purchase and redevelop the former Sarnia General Hospital site has received provincial approval.
City solicitor Scott McEachran says obtaining Ontario Ministry of Health approval was the only condition of the sale, which is required under the public hospitals act.
"We anticipate on closing in the next two or three weeks," says McEachran. "My understanding is that they will start immediately. They have to take out the asbestos first and then get into the demolition."
Five local businessmen have plans for a multi-faceted development including residential and commercial components, and possible construction of a new Withdrawal Management Centre proposed by Bluewater Health.
The city will borrow externally to pay the buyers, known as GFIVE Inc., $5.35-million toward remediation and demolition.
McEachran says it will be nice to move onto the next chapter.
"Absolutely. This started back in the spring of 2014, when the same group of five individuals were interested in purchasing it and we've gone through a lot of things in the last three years in terms of ownership and conditions and this, of course, is the second attempt to sell it. So, yes, it has been a long process," he says.
The derelict building has been sitting empty since it closed in late 2011.
