By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The next step has been taken towards developing a four-tower high-rise complex in north Chatham.
At its Oct. 20 council meeting, Chatham-Kent council approved changes to zoning and the official plan to greenlight the York Development project.
To be located at 770 St. Clair St., the development when completed would eventually house 774 units in two 14-storey towers and two 12-storey towers.
However, to start, the London-based company will build only one tower, as that is all the current sanitary sewer capacity can handle.
York development co-ordinator Frank Gerrits said the start of the project will depend on how quickly the company can obtain site plan approval, which can take up to a year for a “project of this magnitude.
“Ideally, we would like to start excavation in the first quarter of 2027,” Gerrits said.
Council’s unanimous approval followed a presentation about the proposal from Lauren Sooley of Siv-ik Planning and Design. According to Sooley, York Developments is one of the most active developers in the southwest region, with a number of projects in the pipeline.
“These projects include apartments, condominiums, mixed-use office and big-box retail,” Sooley said, noting York also owns Tim Hortons, Popeyes, Chatham Cinema and the Micheals store adjacent to the high-rise site.
The vacant parcel was originally intended for use as a home-improvement outlet, Sooley said, but added that over time the market for that type of store has not materialized.
“York is seeing a shift in demand over what this type of property could be used for,” she told council, adding there’s a shift across Ontario to include high-density residential developments near commercial centres.
In his remarks to council, municipal planning manager Anthony Jas explained that the site will now have a holding zone designation until further development takes places.
“It’s anticipated that the first building will go up and then there would be eventual improvements to the infrastructure on St. Clair and then the full development would proceed from there,” Jas told council, adding improvements are expected as development occurs.
Following a question from North Kent Coun. Jamie McGrail as to how an increase in traffic will be handled along the busy stretch of road, council learned the matter will be studied.
Edward Soldo, general manager of infrastructure and engineering services, said the municipality is set to begin a C-K mobility master plan that will include examining traffic flow along St. Clair and how it can be improved.
In his comments, South Kent Coun. Anthony Ceccacci commended York Developments for choosing Chatham-Kent, adding he’s also pleased the build is a high rise, rather than low-rise buildings that eat up valuable farmland.
“This is a huge investment, one of the biggest ones we’ve seen,” Ceccacci said. ” I look forward to it being established.”
Sooley clarified there is no connection between York Developments and York Demolition (part of the GTA-based York1 company).
I work in Wallaceburg. I often go through the 3 sets of lights between Popeyes and Walmart at 5am or earlier. I’d love for someone to tell me why the lights turn red at 5am when there is no one or no cars around for miles. Ghosts? Perhaps consider changing them to only turn red when there is actually traffic stopped waiting to go on St Clair Street?
Oh, man, if the municipality did that around Chatham, north-south travel would be wonderfully accelerated.
Chatham Kent should consider & develope bypasses ( ” ring ” ) for trucks on Hwy 40 from 401, north to Sarnia , & Bloomfield Rd North to Sarnia.