This month’s planning meeting is all about heritage, or rather it’s all about getting rid of heritage. One of the two applications at least has the endorsement of staff, but if you’re concerned about the fate of an historic farmhouse and its accompanying barn in the south end, you might want to perk up because being told that they have to live with protecting that heritage on their land is not sitting well with the property owner.
NOTE #1: Delegates will be able to appear at this meeting in-person or via tele-presense but you do have to register with the clerks office before 10 am on Friday May 10. You can also submit written delegations and correspondences for agenda items.
NOTE #2: In addition to meeting in-person, this meeting will also be live-streamed on the City of Guelph’s website here.
2187 Gordon Street: Intention to Demolish a Cultural Heritage Resource – Although council upheld its decision to approve the heritage designation for the Kidd Barn and the Blair Farmhouse back in February, the owners of the property have decided to forget the whole thing and demolish all the buildings on the property. The property owner has repeatedly asserted the building is too far gone, and would be too expensive to save, so now they’re looking to destroy it all. Staff are recommending that the demo permit be refused, which is also the advice they’re giving Heritage Guelph who will discuss this matter at their May 6 meeting.
9 Omar Street: Removal from Municipal Register of Cultural Heritage Properties and Notice of Intention to Demolish – Although this house is notable for its “small, single-storey, wood frame dwelling with a side gable roof and a transverse gable roof tail” the analysis from heritage planning staff says that the house does not meeting any of the nine prescribed criteria for heritage designation, ergo it can be demolished without regret. Removing this property from the list got the approval of Heritage Guelph, now it just needs the approval of council.
Guelph Politico 