- Anne Finlay-Stewart, Editor

"100% of the commercial properties we own or manage are currently leased.
The longest time a commercial property under our control has stood vacant: 65 days.
Why are there so many vacant commercial properties downtown? Leasing them isn't a priority for their owners." - Tibbs Management

This post caught my eye this morning, partly because Tibbs is, in fact, our own landlord at the Owen Sound Hub. Tibbs and I are the dreamers behind the fledgling Community Incubator who are patiently waiting for the pandemic to pass to fill it with action.

But amid a flurry of activity in our neighbourhood, including the sale of the Coach Inn and the City's participation in the buyer's promotional videos, Tibbs' question was interesting. Why do certain properties sit vacant so long?

The City's planning documents say that 10th Street East is primarily a vehicular thoroughfare. Technically part of the DIA, it is almost invisible in any Downtown social media or promotional material because it is not considered a pedestrian area.

I would argue that our little block has a lot to offer to a visitor on foot. A full-service bike shop. The only downtown sushi restaurant and Owen Sound's first and only bubble tea location. The former rose from the ashes of a devastating fire, and the latter opened during the pandemic and is one of our downtown businesses open on Sunday – something our Economic Development and Tourism committee have been wanting for a long time.

Intersections Wood Gallery and Studio, on the corner of 10th and 3rd, has one of the most interesting windows in the City. One of only a few galleries in all of tree-filled Canada to specialize in wood, it is owned by Stephen Hogbin, recognized by the Owen Sound Cultural Awards  with a Lifetime Achievement award. The gallery and workshop are filled with the works of the artist, his colleagues and students.

While I would agree our street is far from “pedestrian”, there are three stops on Owen Sound's Historic Walking Tour in our block. The 1887 Seldon House (The Coach), our late-Victorian revival Chicago Building, and the Sloan Building at 229 10th Street East. Now home to the local offices of Women's House serving Bruce and Grey, and formerly Scenic Colour, the red brick building was once John Sloan's melodian factory, where the Irish-born craftsman built and sold “Canadian instruments for Canadian use”.

But mid-block there is an empty commercial space. When was the last time there was anything in that space? The front windows and door have been broken and boarded up and there is water damage in the front display. The back entrance still has a marquee for Beauty Licious, a Hair Salon that has not been in business for at least a decade, and the front has the scraped off remains of a Salvation Army Christmas headquarters sign from at least two moves ago. There are two different For Rent signs in front and another (and a half) in back, but it remains an empty space.

You are currently subsidizing their “vacant property tax rebate” with your own property taxes. They have steady residential income from their upper floors and have been advocating at city council to be allowed to convert their street level spaces to residential units.

So we'll agree with Tibbs' statement. Leasing some of these commercial properties is clearly not a priority for their owners. Years after their properties were last occupied, they are in no hurry to bring you another shop or service or restaurant, because as other owners have learned - if they wanted a commercial tenant, they are out there.