Three large houses on Yarmouth Street in Downtown Guelph are being targeted for demolition.
A demolition permit application has been made for 62, 68 and 74-76 Yarmouth Street. The three properties are in a row on the west side of the street, separated by large private parking lots.
The properties are all owned by nearby St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church.
The process is currently held up at the heritage level, as 62 Yarmouth St. is a listed heritage property. Before the demolition permit is considered, the city has to get Heritage Advisory Committee's opinion on the matter.
Before the city's Heritage Advisory Committee arrives at that opinion, the applicant has to provide Cultural Heritage Resource Impact Assessment, to be completed by a third-party heritage consultant, said Todd Salter, the city's General Manager Planning, Urban Design and Building Services.
That assessment has not yet been submitted.
"The owner of these listed (non designated) properties is looking to explore redevelopment options for their properties and would like to investigate what is involved," said the Heritage Advisory Committee minutes earlier this year.
Requests for comment from the church were not returned.
Being a "listed" property on the city's heritage register is far less restrictive than being a "designated" property.
Salter said an application for demolition often gets the public's attention but that the applicant is not obligated to state what their intentions are for the property at that time.
If and when the applicant completes the necessary paperwork for the heritage aspect, the advisory committee would inform the city's building department of its stance, which would in turn advice City Council on the heritage element and advise whether it felt the property should be designated as a heritage structure, thus preventing demolition.
If a heritage designation is not on the table, the building department would then advise council on the demolition application.
Either way the ultimate decision would rest in the hands of council.
The public has the opportunity to voice its opinion on the matter when it next comes before the Heritage Advisory Committee or when and if it comes to council, Salter said.
