Lambton County Council voted on March 4, 2026, to move forward with a new affordable housing project at 718 Cathcart Boulevard in Sarnia, aiming to address the needs of over 1,000 households currently on the regional waitlist.
The County of Lambton Council decided that the project will be owned and operated by the county as rent-geared-to-income housing. This decision follows community consultations held in February 2026, where 160 participants provided feedback on the former church site. While residents largely supported the creation of affordable housing at this location, the county confirmed that the project will not include supportive housing.
The planned development features a four-storey building with 94 one-bedroom units. This includes 16 units designed to be barrier-free, along with 68 parking spaces. The county originally purchased the property, which previously held St. Bartholomew’s Church, for $1.95 million on April 25, 2025. According to official records, a total of approximately $3 million has been allocated for the site to cover the purchase, demolition costs, and necessary pre-development work.
Before construction begins, the project must undergo a rezoning process. Officials anticipate this stage will take between one year and 18 months, followed by a construction period of approximately 24 months. The Housing Services Department continues to manage the existing waitlist for housing assistance, which currently exceeds 1,000 eligible households.
In addition to this project, the council finalized the 2026 Tax Policy, which includes changes to property tax ratios for multi-residential and landfill classes. These measures were part of a broader county budget of $321.9 million for 2026, which was passed to support local services and infrastructure.
