A view of the original property. It was occupied by the boat-building company McGruer and Clark, which manufactured small sailboats such as the Lightning and the Albacore.
The foundation for Harbourfront Condominium, the first luxury Condo for Owen Sound, was started in the Fall of 1989. Many steel girders were pounded into the silty sand to reach the bedrock. [Oct 28th]
Many steel girders were pounded into the rocky base. More than were originally planned were needed as the shore is mostly sand. We never have to worry about the stability of Harbourfront because the contractor saw the need of more steel! [Nov 12]
John Hall’s construction team worked through the winter and Harbourfront slowly took shape. [Nov 19]
OK, super sleuths! Can you guess the woman who is standing with 2 children by the front door? Who drove a blue car with a Maple Leaf sticker in the back window? [Dec 10]
Unfortunately, as it neared time for people to buy and move in, the bottom fell out of the market. Many locals who gambled on an investment, were disappointed as only 6 condos were sold.
Eileen & Art More (401); Jean & Milt Bye (505); Ted & Mary Horton (209); Isabelle & Bill Brown (412); Walter & Beatrice Muncaster (411) and George & Gerry Henderson (415) moved in the first of September 1990.
Sandra Morley wallpapered all the halls and then the fun began. Many of the services, lighting, closet installers went bankrupt so it was difficult to finish each unit to the satisfaction of the owners.
John Hall, the developer, left the project but Royal Insurance, who held the mortgage, took over. As the electric heating was shown to be extremely expensive, the heating was changed to natural gas. Many of the kitchen appliances were also upgraded.