The City of Owen Sound has finalized the sale of the historic Jail and Courthouse buildings on 3rd Avenue East.
The City purchased the former County Courthouse in 1960, and acquired the former Jail facility in 2013 from the County of Grey.
The courthouse is designated under the Ontario Heritage Act, and the jail property is listed on the City’s Heritage Register. The buildings have been vacant since 2014.
In March of 2022, Council approved a recommendation to proceed with the sale of the historic Jail and Courthouse property to Nick Ainis for $50,000.
According to Ainis, they intend to convert the courthouse, jailhouse, and governor’s residence into an event venue, dining, and entertainment complex, including an interactive museum and shared workspace.
The development will be subject to the City’s standard development process. There will be several milestones to meet as redevelopment moves forward, including heritage permits to ensure alterations are in keeping with the building’s character.
“Our history and heritage are what give our city character. It will be great to see this beautiful, historic building brought back to life when it opens its doors again,” said Mayor Ian Boddy
A media release said one of Council’s Strategic Priorities is City Building, with the objective of creating great places that cultivate a vibrant and diverse art, culture, and heritage environment throughout the City. The adaptive re-use of heritage buildings is an important part of building community identity.
