The Buzz · Northern Ontario Morning Wire

Your Sault council just said non to a prime waterfront bid. Why?

Your city council said non, and you won't believe why

Bonjour from the North — three cities, one corridor, and the stories that don't make it south of Barrie.

Okay, so I’m looking at the news from the Sault, and you know how city council meetings can sometimes be a bit… *plateau*? Well, this week, our Sault Ste. Marie city council said "no" to the *only* bid they got for the Pointe des Chenes property. *Tabarnak!* They put out a Request for Proposal for this prime piece of waterfront real estate, 28.7 acres right there by the lake, and when a single bidder steps up, council just says *non, merci*. What are we even doing here?

### The Pointe des Chenes Puzzle

This isn't just some back forty, eh? Pointe des Chenes is a beautiful spot, right on Lake Superior, a place where families from the west end to the east end of the Sault have gone for picnics and to cool off for generations. It’s got history, it’s got community memories, and it’s got *waterfront access*, which is gold up here. So, to have only one bid come in for such a significant property, and then for council to just toss it out? That really makes you scratch your head. You wonder what kind of offers they were expecting, or what the plan is now.

Here’s what we know:

* **The Property:** 28.7 acres with direct access to the water. * **The Process:** An RFP was issued earlier this year. * **The Outcome:** Only one bid was received. * **Council's Decision:** They rejected the sole bid.

This isn’t just about a piece of land; it’s about how we see the future of the Sault. Are we holding out for some big-city developer with deep pockets, or are we missing opportunities right in front of us? It’s not like prime waterfront property is growing on trees, especially not up here, where the St. Marys River and Lake Superior define so much of our identity. What happens to Pointe des Chenes now, *là*? Do we just let it sit, another piece of potential just waiting, while families wonder if they'll ever get to enjoy it again? It makes you think about our priorities, doesn't it?

Marc-André Desjardins, MiTL Sports Desk, Sault Ste. Marie.

My friends on the morning show are always talking about these local mysteries – check them out at mornings.live.

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