Lands acquired by city for affordable housing, 2181 8th Ave E., 2207 8th Ave E., and 2229 8th Ave E. (image from Owen Sound council files)
A late Owen Sound councillor who was passionate about affordable housing, will be honoured in a future development.
Council passed a motion at its meeting Monday to add a condition to a pending land transfer to the Owen Sound Housing Company that Peter Lemon be recognized with naming of the building or complex constructed on the properties being donated.
Lemon died in 2020 due to complications from a foot infection. He was 76.
He served 33 years as an Owen Sound councillor, and is credited with introducing a plan that led to the creation of the Owen Sound Municipal Non-Profit Housing Corporation in 1986.
“From working with Peter, this is something we’d been discussing since he left council in 2018, recognizing him in some manner when we got the opportunity with regard to housing,” Owen Sound Mayor Ian Boddy says. “I guarantee this is important to all of the councillors that worked with Peter in the past.”
Deputy Mayor Scott Greig brought up the idea of having Lemon honoured through naming of an affordable housing project: “Peter Lemon was a great champion of Owen Sound Municipal Non-Profit Housing.”
The future affordable housing project that would bear Lemon’s name is still in its early stages. Council decided Monday to proceed with the transfer of three lots of land in the city’s north east end to the Owen Sound Housing Company, which will be used for an affordable housing build.
The city spent $260,000 to purchase three lots on 8th Avenue East from the Ministry of Infrastructure, lands that were forfeited to the Crown when a former corporation which owned them dissolved. The properties are located on the east side of 8th Avenue East, just down the road from Saint-Dominique Savio School. Grey County also contributed $45,000 to support the land acquisition.
The city bought the properties with the intent of using them for a future affordable housing project.
“While there are no formal plans currently, the director of the housing corporation indicated that she believes eight to 10 units can be built on the lands,” Owen Sound’s Director of Corporate Services Kate Allan tells councillors. “And that there will be efficiencies realized with the proximity to other non-profit housing developments.”