The Edgewater Reopens as Downtown Owen Sound Apartment Building
Once home to the Grey Bruce Health Unit, The Edgewater has been redeveloped by Northridge Property Management into modern rental apartments with shared rooftop amenities.
A downtown Owen Sound landmark has been given a new life.
The Edgewater Building at 920 1st Avenue West — once home to Cooperators Insurance and later the Grey Bruce Health Unit — will reopen on November 1, 2025, as a newly converted residential property.
The building, owned by Northridge Property Management Inc., has undergone a complete interior redevelopment. Originally built as a purpose-designed corporate office, it’s now been refitted into 21 one-bedroom and one-bedroom-plus-den apartments, with shared amenities including an indoor community room and a 1,500-square-foot rooftop patio outfitted with an outdoor kitchen, dining area, and lounge space.
Rents range from $1,950 for a 1-bedroom to $2,250 for a 1-bedroom plus den, and include phone, internet, cable TV (Rogers), hydro, natural gas, and water/sewer.
According to Northridge, several apartments have already been leased, with additional units still available.
Adapting to Changing Housing Needs
Trevor Heathers of Northridge said the project was guided by changing housing needs and cost-of-living pressures in the region.
“The cost-of-living crisis combined with the rise of single households across all demographics is creating new demand for this type of product,” said Heathers. “My goal is to offer a compact, high-quality leasing alternative with manageable overhead compared to other housing options.”
Heathers said the project was designed for people who might not qualify for subsidized housing but are still struggling to find modern, efficient spaces that fit within their budgets. It’s a growing segment that includes both younger professionals and older adults choosing to downsize.
“This appeals to renters who might otherwise, for lack of alternatives, be looking at leasing a larger suite with higher rent and operating costs, or in an older building that doesn’t meet their lifestyle needs,” he said.
Energy Efficiency and Shared Design
The redevelopment preserved the original exterior while completely rebuilding the interior, including new insulation, vapour barriers, windows, electrical, and mechanical systems.
Each apartment is equipped with Energy Star appliances, LED lighting, and a hydronic HVAC system, designed for energy efficiency and individual temperature control.
Heathers said Northridge opted for a four-pipe hydronic system — a more expensive setup than the two-pipe systems found in most new buildings — because it allows each tenant to switch between heating and cooling independently, reducing the need for inefficient workarounds such as space heaters or open windows.
The company also chose to forgo private balconies in favour of a shared rooftop space, citing both social and environmental considerations.
“Balconies are costly to build and don’t get used by renters as often as they might imagine,” said Heathers. “Shared amenities create more opportunities to socialize and reduce the energy loss that comes from constantly opened and closed patio doors.”
The building’s location — within walking distance of shops, restaurants, and the waterfront — aligns with what Heathers described as the growing preference for “walkable, low-maintenance living.”
Located within walking distance of shops, restaurants, and the waterfront, the redeveloped Edgewater is one of several adaptive reuse projects reshaping Owen Sound’s downtown core.
With rising rents and limited supply in Owen Sound’s downtown core, the conversion represents a modest addition to the city’s rental stock at a time when demand for smaller, well-finished units is growing.