With its interior largely gutted and its west-facing side opened up, the 83-unit residential project at 30 Cedar St. in Sudbury appears to be well underway.
The renovation by Niagara Falls-headquartered Panoramic Properties is slated to see much of the 86,225-square-foot office building turn residential, with its main floor and part of its second floor remaining in use as a Scotiabank.
“I’m delighted to see it proceeding and the speed with which it’s moved forward,” Ward 10 Coun. Fern Cormier told Sudbury.com this week of the “substantial and significant” project.
“I’m happy it’s Panoramic doing it,” he said. “I’d be happy with anyone doing it, but Panoramic has done several projects in the city, and they do good work aesthetically. Their buildings look good when they’re finished, they’re well maintained, and that’s all positive as far as I’m concerned.”
Within the context of Greater Sudbury’s population boom and its well-established housing shortfall, Cormier said, “we need housing across the entire spectrum of housing types.”
It’s particularly important to see housing take shape in downtown Sudbury, said Cormier, who represents the area on city council.
Mixed-use ensures there’s foot traffic at all times of the day and night, which creates a “cyclical win-win situation” between both area residents and business owners. It’s beneficial, he said, “for those who want to live in an area where they can walk out their front door and within a few steps or blocks have access to the services and amenities they need.”
“When you look at any successful urban core of any mid- or large-sized city, you see exactly this type of development that works well,” he said.
With a number of downtown office buildings listed for sale in recent years, local real estate companies have been marketing them as candidates for residential conversions.
Sudbury.com reached out to Panoramic Properties for comment but they did not respond, as has consistently been the case in recent years.
In the plan submitted to the finance and administration committee of city council in October 2024, all four sides of the building’s exterior were slated to have their facades similarly renovated.
The total project cost was estimated at $19.8 million, of which the city has pledged $1,717,500 in grants. Included within this $1.7-million total is $1.66-million in per-door grants to support the creation of 83 residential units, $20,000 under a facade improvement incentive, $30,000 under a building permit fee rebate program and $7,500 under a feasibility study grant program.
In the report submitted to city council members in October 2024, city staff noted, “The work is anticipated to begin in the fall and to be completed by the end of 2025.” With Panoramic Properties declining to comment, it’s unclear whether this timeline is being followed.
The grants will only be delivered in the event the 83-unit residential complex is fully realized, which is normal for the city’s collection of Community Improvement Plan municipal incentives.
In a unique move spurred by Mayor Paul Lefebvre and approved by city council, the $1.7-million in grants are also reliant on Panoramic Properties tearing down the old hospital on Paris Street, which they also own.
With the city issuing a demolition permit in early August and heavy machinery seen tearing away at the building in recent weeks, Panoramic Properties appears poised to qualify for the municipal funds.
Tyler Clarke covers city hall and political affairs for Sudbury.com.
