As plans move forward to convert a former field hospital into a temporary supportive housing project, so, too, do efforts to have the historic Delhi Street building declared a protected heritage site.
Council unanimously approved a motion Tuesday morning to issue notice of intention to designate 65 Delhi St. under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act. If the owner, the County of Wellington, doesn’t object within 30 days of that notice, a bylaw formally designating the property will return to council.
Designated properties require city approval before alterations, renovations or additions can be done that may impact the property’s heritage attributes, including landscape and natural features.
Luisa Artuso, County of Wellington’s social services administrator, previously told GuelphToday it supports designation of the property.
The county, which bought the property from the City of Guelph 2021 after the property was rezoned, plans to open a 28-bedroom temporary supportive housing project aimed at helping people move from homelessness to permanent housing, with a variety of services provided to residents.
Earlier this year county officials pegged the cost of the project at between $7.5 million and $8 million.
The building, which is on the municipal heritage registry, was acquired by the city in 1911 and was used as an isolation hospital. During the 1960s it was converted into recreational space for summer camps, arts programs and more, but that stopped in 2008.
The north half of the building was once used by Guelph Wellington Paramedic Services.
City council declared the building surplus in 2020, opening the way for its sale to the county.
