Sarnia is home to many oil refineries and is the biggest city on Lake Huron. It has a few decent highrises but the skyline is dominated by industry. The population is 71,000 and I took the pics on Mar. 15, 2005.



The Sarnia skyline
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Bluewater Bridge connecting Sarnia to Port Huron, Michigan - it was just twinned about 8 years ago
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Fugly charity casino
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A few pics of Port Huron, Michigan across the river
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Im not a fan of Sarnia, depressing little industrial town...nice pics though.

in need of a serious makeover and revitalization.

Sarnia is a good example of wasted potential. Very bland dead and depressing. Fix it up and it could be ok.

Sarnia isn't as bad as I thought. In fact, I expected A TON more stores boarded up like in Brantford. But there is a considerable amount of vacant storefronts, though, which is never a good sign for any downtown. But I agree downtown had a lot of potential and was wasted. BTW, that IMPERIAL THEATRE is a performing arts centre and is still operating well.

Either way, this city still looks a ton better than Brantford.

It looks better now than i remember it looking when i was last in downtown Sarnia a few years ago. There seemed to be more vacant stores back then.

Brutally dead town.
I head up there once in a bluemoon to visit my friend Chantelle, but she obviously comes to Windsor more often cause she thinks it's a huge great party city.
Sarnia isn't the worst of the worst, but it needs help, and it needs it fast.

I haven't been to Sarnia in 20 years and god has its downtown gone downhill.
Neglect and poor planning. Chatham 60km to the south has half Sarnia's population but is a very pretty little city with an attractive and vibrant downtown. It, unlike Sarnia, has not allowed itself to be "malled" to death.

^ yes, that is true, and actually Chatham was in a decline for some time, but while some parts of Chatham may be dumpy, its downtown is very nice... I got a few pics of downtown Chatham I took two years ago and I plan to go back down there again to take some more with my new digital camera. :) Mainly, because downtown Chatham has the only mall in the municipality of Chatham-Kent in the downtown Chatham Centre, and millions of dollars have been put in to revitalize store front and historic buildings, and even a new walkway and sidewalk. It's very unique. Things are looking up for Chatham now...

My phototour of Chatham
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=156787

Why is Sarnia's downtown like that? It looks like it is on the verge of becoming another Brantford.

In the east end of the city near the 402, there is a ton of big box junk there, and Sarnia's largest shopping mall as well, similar to what Brantford has, and, IMO, it is A LOT for a city of 70,000, definitely drawing people away from downtown. As well, for things to do in Sarnia, NOTHING is downtown and is far from it, and Sarnia's considered an industrial-like city, and basically no people taking pride in downtown, I don't think, which is never a good sign. I just hope Sarnia's downtown doesn't get any worse than what it is now. It's bad enough.

Sarnia is also a relativly new city compared to Chatham so it never had many interesting and old buildings downtown to begin with.
Yes, Sarnia allowed London Road to become a mall/strip mall haven and downtown is proff of that.
To bad because it has a nice little waterfront and some cute villages right around it ie Corruna, Bright's Grove.

The city looks depressing, but nise pics. :)

Sarnia has Bayfest its not all so bad.

Since i live in Sarnia, i can say that downtown has alot of old buildings and isn't much of a "tourist attraction"...also, it really needs to be fixed. But, Sarnia does look alot nicer in the summer and the city has finally come around and started working on parts of it; like repaving the roads and fixing up sewer lines and highway exits (like front street). Now, it seems that downtown is the Lambton Mall/London road shopping district. If the city wants more visitors to visit the city and have a higher population (which would be nice)... I recommend fixing up most of the buildings downtown, and hopefully there will be some more vacant stores like they had years ago...The city needs to get a bit more things to do that occur through the whole year and not annually like Bayfest.

^
Where's Bayfest?????
Is that the same as the Lambton Mall?

The downtown looks kinda boring and depressing, a typical look for many smaller Canadian towns. But that bridge looks really nice. Would be nice to see some residential neighborhoods too.

It's funny for all the flack that Sarnia has gotten over the years for its rough appearance, having lived there when I was young. The pictures actually make it look uglier than it really is. The Bayside Mall is what use to be the Eaton Centre when it opened in the 80's. It was a very big deal when it first opened, with below ground parking and located Downtown. The Lambton Mall is out by all the big box stores on London Road, but before anyone knocks the death of the Sarnia Downtown on these big box stores, this has been the hub of shopping in Sarnia for over 40 years. I think Sarnia has one of the best routes for Shopping I have seen located on London road, very little exists outside of this road in the city worth mentioning, and the Eaton Centre mall died because of the lack of desire of residents to attend a mall taken over by Drug users and rif raf. The Downtown died with the arrival of these people, not the arrival of big box stores! The truth is that the city is actually doing very well for skilled tradesman right now.

^
Where's Bayfest?????
Is that the same as the Lambton Mall?

Bayfest is a big outdoor summer music festival.

I have to say that a good amount of the town is unimpressive.

What about little Point Edward? It was always a separate little place and as I recall it had its own little downtown to serve its few thousand. Is it still there and the little downtown still there?

Oh yeah and don't ever call it Sarnia they are pretty adamant about there own identity, Sarnia people and some Michiganders will know about the fries under the bridge in Point Edward, not as big a deal as before but still popular!

That charity casino looks more like a large farming shed!

What about little Point Edward? It was always a separate little place and as I recall it had its own little downtown to serve its few thousand. Is it still there and the little downtown still there?

Yes, Point Edward is still here :) and it does have its own downtown which seems to be very popular in the summer.

Interesting pictures

Those pictures are pretty old. Sarnia has a new building to add to the skyline and another one which they should be starting to build quite soon. I will have to get some new pictures to post.

They're building another one? :).. btw that new walmart opened up. Its huge.

Yeah they are building another one, right on the bay. I think it will be constructed beside the "first sarnia" building right in front of where the Duc d' Orleans is parked. And yeah that wal-mart is Huge! I had a look on opening day

your city is a dying whore.

i like sarnia. good neighbourhoods.

What a way to revitalize downtown with a brand new gigantic Wal-Mart.

What a way to revitalize downtown with a brand new gigantic Wal-Mart.

The Walmart is nowhere near downtown.

These are about the most unflattering photos of Sarnia possible. Its a great town especially in the summertime. Sure the downtown isnt in top shape but the waterfront is the best in Ontario

Sarnia 2010

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I have to say that a good amount of the town is unimpressive.

There's quite a few cool old buildings that can be freshened up and add a pleasing element to this city. Overall though it's a bit raw. Love the industry. :)

Some various Sarnia shots from the summer of 09. The downtown has 1 more new highrise luxury condo since then that was under construction when these where taken.

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