City can't speed up redevelopment of old Sudbury hospital

The old general hospital on Paris Street in Sudbury, Ont. is expected to remain abandoned for the foreseeable future.

The owner, 2226553 Ontario Inc., which is an affiliate of Panoramic Properties, is tentatively putting an $80 million redevelopment project of the site on hold while it concentrates on other developments to balance its portfolio.

"In order to move forward in a financially sound manner, it is imperative that some focus also be placed in other jurisdictions," the company wrote in a news release.

"100% focus can be placed on the 700 Paris Street development once it [work] commences."

No penalties for not developing

Panoramic Properties is planning to build 215 luxury apartments or condos and an accompanying parking structure by using the skeleton of the old hospital, and building a new tower.

The company told CBC News in 2016 that it was aiming to have the units ready for tenants by the end of 2017.

There are no penalties for not developing the project.

The company has not submitted a building application for a permit, according to the city, which added that the onus to develop lies with the company and not the municipality.

sudburynews@cbc.ca