A longtime eyesore near one of downtown Owen Sound's major intersections may finally be addressed soon.
At Monday's city council meeting, Coun. Travis Dodd asked the city clerk for an update on the status of 1010 2nd Avenue East — the building just north of 10th Street and 2nd Avenue East which used to house Good Fellas Pizza and Kornblum's Menswear — saying several residents have inquired about timelines of when the building owner would be conducting work and what the the city's steps are for ensuring it gets done.
The building has sat vacant and decrepit with boarded up windows and doors since an arson fire in September 2017.
City clerk Briana Bloomfield told councillors there has been a lot of back and forth between the property owner and city departments. She said a final compliance letter was recently sent to the property owner requiring a building permit be issued and a contractor secured by the end of June.
Bloomfield said both those requirements were met, but the contractor has since found out a fill permit is required from the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority. Once that is issued, the contractor will begin work on site.
Bloomfield said the city is “hopeful” this will happen in the near future, but if it doesn't there are enforcement tools bylaw can use to gain compliance.
She noted the property owner has also submitted a facade grant application to the city for the building.
Owen Sound Mayor Ian Boddy says: “That is one of the most important corners with traffic going across 10th Street Bridge once we get it open … it will be nice to get it back up as people drive by and see it refurbished and back in shape.”