Location chosen for new downtown ambulance base

The former Sacred Heart School at 721 Wellington St. E. will be home to a new downtown ambulance base, SooToday has learned.

"Many months ago it became apparent that paramedic services needed a second base within the city due to growth in calls for service and the number of staff," Mike Nadeau, chief executive officer for District of Sault Ste Marie Social Services (DSSMSSAB), said in a confidential memo to staff obtained by SooToday.

"We utilized the services of ACORN (division of Sault Ste, Marie Innovation Centre) to map our paramedic calls for service and it was clear that a second base was required closer to the downtown area." 

"This property fits that need nicely and the plans for this site include the addition of a second paramedic base within the community," Nadeau wrote.

Sault Ste. Marie Housing Corp., which holds most of DSSMSSAB's real estate, agreed to buy the property at a closed meeting last week for $500,000.

The old school is between East Street and Pilgrim.

Located on a 1.7-acre lot with 215 feet of street frontage, the building has 19,253 square feet on four levels.

Steel City MMA is currently a tenant there.

At the same meeting, the housing board also decided to buy the six-storey Station 49 Apartments at 49 St. Mary's Drive for $6,250,000.

Nadeau's confidential memo said that 721 Wellington St. E. was chosen for its size and strategic location. 

"The addition of these properties to our organization took many months of work and will complement our community and service offering very well."

"While the purchase of the properties is public knowledge, the intended use has not been communicated at this time.  We intend to write a full report and briefing on November 12 to the board in open which will detail the specific intended use and vision of such."

A source close to negotiations tells SooToday that the deal for ambulance use of the building is "signed, sealed and delivered."

DSSMSSAB is hoping to also use the former school site for a co-located service delivery operation similar to what the now-closed Neighbourhood Resource Centre used to offer on Gore Street.

That part of the initiative is still being developed, with co-operation and funding required from other agencies and higher levels of government.