Input sought for Sarnia neighborhood revitalization project

City hall is looking for input on ways to improve Sarnia’s downtown and Mitton Village.

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Two surveys opened Friday for businesses, and for residents, community visitors and others to have their say on what they’d like to see in the core commerce areas.

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City officials want to hear about business owners’ experiences operating, what improvements they’d like to see and what they think the city can offer, said city economic development direct Kelly Provost.

“From the residents and visitors, we want to know about their experience as well, things that they do when they go there, what improvements they’d like to see, how often they’re shopping local,” she said.

Results will be analyzed to shape “shorter and longer-term strategies for the revitalization efforts,” she said, noting a summary of the results will be made public at investsarnia.ca.

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There’s no specific end date for the surveys yet, Provost said, but people will have until sometime in early 2024.

“We’re kind of going to review the amount of results that we have over the next couple of months and then we’ll determine and post a closing date for that survey, and do a final call out for participation,” she said.

Sarnia recently grant received funding for a two-year neighborhood-revitalization project for Mitton Village and downtown.

These surveys are among the first parts of the project’s consultation process to form plans for the areas—both part of a city community improvement plan that’s led Sarnia to offer grants for facade improvements, building renovations and extra residential units.

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This plan, approved by council in 2020, is designed to encourage private investment in the areas via the city’s official plan, as well as via city upgrades.

Suggestions at the time included more shared-use, pedestrian-friendly streets, bumpouts and gardens, upgraded wayfinding signs, larger sidewalks, and expanding the Sarnia Farmers Market into part of Ontario Street.

The CIP and neighborhood revitalization project operate in tandem, city officials have said.

“We’re just in this preliminary part of developing those plans for both of those areas,” Provost said. “We’re hoping the community feedback that we receive through this survey is going to help shape those activities that we take over the next two years of this project.”

To take the surveys, visit speakupsarnia.ca/nrp.

[email protected]

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