A proposed development at a long vacant property in Owen Sound is progressing through the planning process.
City council voted unanimously Monday night to grant conditional site plan approval to an application from Hansa Financial & Property to construct six, four-storey purpose-built apartment buildings at 1144 1st Avenue West.
The residential development will include 224 units, as well as a common amenity building, parking area and sidewalks.
“As tight as the real estate market is, the rental market is even tighter,” says Coun. Brock Hamley. “And these are 224 desperately needed units.”
The subject property on 1st Avenue West — across from the Community Waterfront Heritage Centre — is the site of the former Black-Clawson Kennedy Foundry, where propellers for Canadian-built ships were cast until the site closed permanently in 1996.
Hansa Financial has owned the eight-acre property since 2004.
Coun. Richard Thomas says this development will get rid of an eye-sore in the “most beautiful part” of Owen Sound.
“I can’t think of another community along the Great Lakes that a property like that would have sat empty for as long as that one has,” Thomas says. “I’m glad that the market is finally in the condition that the developer feels that they can move forward.”
Owen Sound’s Director of Community Services Pam Coulter told councillors the vacant lot makes up an entire city block on 1st Avenue West between 11th and 12th Streets, and the proposed development is considered a positive addition to the west harbour planning area.
“It’s likely the largest redevelopment site in the west harbour planning area,” Coulter explains.
A number of studies, including a Record of Site Condition and Traffic Impact Study, were submitted to support the applications.
