There’s one big thing on the agenda for the April meeting of the Heritage Advisory Committee. The advice that the committee will be asked for concerns that third heritage conservation district that’s currently in the works, the one that focuses on Guelph’s most famous neighbourhood outside of downtown. There will also be a couple of new designations and a proposed demolition, but for all those details you will have to dig into the preview below!
NOTE #1: If you would like to delegate to one of the items at the meeting, or to access an alternative meeting format, get in touch with the clerk’s office, by email at advisorycommittees [at] guelph.ca or by calling (519) 822-1260 ext. 5603. Deadline is March 30 at 10 am.
NOTE #2: This meeting will take place in-person at City Hall and virtually on Cisco Webex. You can find the link on the agenda page for this meeting on the City’s website.
144 Dublin Street North: Draft Council Designation Report – Built in 1872 by carpenter Mark Tovell, an early Guelph settler, the house has historical ties to a locally significant family and reflects the city’s early residential development. It was altered in the middle of the last century, but it does retain several key defining features, and thus meets two of the nine
prescribed criteria for determining cultural heritage value or interest, according to
Ontario Regulation 9/06. This is another one of the voluntary designations to come to committee after the call out last year.
245 Dublin Street North: Draft Council Designation Report – Several doors up, this home build in 1900 is closely associated with Samuel Carter who was the founder of the Royal Knitting Company, a city councillor, mayor, MPP, and he played a key role in founding Canada’s co-operative movement. The house itself is a well-preserved example of an early 20th-century Queen Anne Revival/Edwardian style, and meets three of the nine prescribed criteria according to Ontario Regulation 9/06. This is also a property brought forward by the owner for designation.
Ward Heritage Conservation District Plan and Guideline Consultation 2 – Formally known as the Ward West Heritage Conservation District, ASI consultants Rebecca Sciarra and Meredith Stewart will update the committee about the development of the plan and guidelines, and the feedback received from Guelphites during the recent public engagement efforts. Some of themes people gathered around were the Ward’s walkability, the unique mix of buildings, connections between people, a sense of community, and freedom of self-expression. Committee will also learn about how modifications to property will be handled in the guidelines and when getting a heritage permit will become necessary. The final recommendation should be coming to council sometime this summer.
221 Arthur Street North: Intention to Demolish a Listed Cultural Heritage Resource – According to an accompanying letter with the staff report, the property owner sought ways to save the property, but their own assessment shows that the building is too far gone. Although it isn’t designated, they still need council’s permission to take it off the heritage list, and staff are recommending to committee to endorse that action as it is not significant enough historically or stylistically to make a fuss about.
Guelph Politico 