Property of proposed apartment building on 10th Street East. (image from OS council files)
Owen Sound council signed off on a zoning change for a proposed rental apartment development in Owen Sound’s east end.
Council approved a staff recommendation during Monday’s meeting to rezone lands at 1115 10th Street East from institutional to general residential to allow for a 36-unit apartment building at the site of a former long-term care facility.
Georgian Heights long-term care home closed in 2022 when Southbridge Care Homes opened its new 160-bed facility on 16th Avenue East. The building at 1115 10th Street East has sat vacant since then. The current property owner, Paaji Inc., plans to convert the former long-term care home and construct an addition to create a three-storey apartment structure. Its 36 units will be one- and two-bedroom rentals.
Deputy Mayor Scott Greig says he believes the proposal represents good planning, to make use of a vacant, under-utilized property.
“Hopefully the proponent is able to progress quite quickly and enhance the existing building, and move people in and support the need for housing in the community,” Greig says.
Residents of a neighbouring townhouse condominium community flooded a public meeting last month, objecting to the planned apartment redevelopment. Increased noise, traffic and privacy concerns were communicated to council members at a June 16 public meeting. The Bayview Heights condo board also sent a letter to the city expressing concerns about changes to “our neighbourhood’s character.”
The public comments were noted in a staff report to council reviewed during Monday’s meeting.
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