In the west part of Guelph, a tower attached to a two-story building may be demolished.
Council approved a resolution in July to designate the property at 50-60 Fife Rd. as a heritage site under the Heritage Act.
Up Building non-profit houses, the developer, recently requested the council reconsider the designation, citing increased expenditures to preserve the skyscraper.
At the council meeting on Tuesday, a 7-6 majority approved removing the designation.
Mayor Cam Guthrie, one of those in favour of the removal, acknowledged that it was a difficult choice to make but thought the community needed more affordable housing.
On a green site, Guthrie added, “it is obviously easier to create these types of apartments especially targeted to our community.” But I fully understand that there are more factors to take into account in situations like this one, where things are more complicated.
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Yesterday, Howard Kennedy of Upbuilding testified before Council on behalf of a delegation, stating that, according to its consultants and engineers, maintaining the tower would cost them an additional $100,000.
“We thought the cost would be about $25,000 when we first recommended if we identify the structure and put up a commemorative structure,” Kennedy said. Since then, the cost has grown considerably, primarily as a result of interest rates and building costs.
The developer wants to build 18 new apartments, half of which would be for low-income people.
One of the six council members who voted to maintain the designation, Coun. Leanne Caron, believed that the decision was rushed and thinks that with additional information, the building may still be spared and used for affordable housing.
“It would have been nice to have both heritage and housing,” she said.
Guthrie stated that if council had voted to maintain the heritage classification, the developer might have brought the case to the Ontario Land Tribunal.
The developer can now enter to submit an application for a demolition permission and begin construction on the 18 affordable units, the man added.
The structure originally housed F. J., a former mayor of Guelph. Chadwick..
Guelph Council changes its mind about designating the building on Fife Road as historic.
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