Odawa Heights in Owen Sound. (City of Owen Sound Twitter photo)
Development activity in Owen Sound boomed in 2020 as city officials report construction value reached the second highest level in the past 20 years.
New statistics released by the city show total construction value in Owen Sound topped $66.4-million last year. The city’s building division issued 204 building permits.
According to a development report provided by the city, Owen Sound has not seen construction values this high since 2010 — a year buoyed by a major public infrastructure project as a $33.9-million building permit was issued for the construction of the Julie McArthur Regional Recreation Centre.
Owen Sound Mayor Ian Boddy says 2020 was the city’s best in “a lot of years” for private investment and development.
“These are the things we’ve been talking about and working towards for the past number of years to try and build our tax assessment base,” Boddy says. “That way we can continue to provide and maybe even enhance services, and spread the cost over more taxpayers.”
“This has been the goal we’ve been trying to attain,” continues Boddy. “And we hope we can keep it going.”
Among the highest value building permits issued in Owen Sound last year are a 126-unit retirement home being built on 14th Street East ($20-million), an 160-bed long-term care facility on 16th Avenue East ($20-million) and a five-storey, 60-unit apartment building at Odawa Heights ($10-million).
Nearly 120 new residential units were built in Owen Sound in 2020, according to data from the city. This includes more than 80 apartments or condo units.
Boddy notes the city is starting to see more residential projects underway after years of fairly modest housing development.
“The last two years in total we’ve added about 264 new residential units to the city,” Boddy adds. “That’s pretty darn good.”
Total construction value in Owen Sound in 2020 was nearly $20-million higher than 2019, when $46.7-million in permits were issued.