After years of debate, discussion, frustration and disappointment, it appears the redevelopment of
A new report heading to a special meeting of Guelph City Council on July 17 says that “a major national employer” is interested in expanding and locating its head office in Downtown Guelph.
"This is very exciting," said Mayor Cam Guthrie in an interview, adding that the interest expressed is legitimate, not just tire-kicking.
"Based on several meetings I've had, this is the closest we've ever come to having good, serious discussions" about moving forward with developing the Baker Street lot, the Mayor said.
"Yes, this is good for the downtown, but this is also good for the whole city. The whole city should be excited," he said.
"It's a piece of land that currently does nothing for the city."
City staff is hoping to have a letter of intent signed with a potential development partner by the first quarter of 2018, says the staff report.
“During the development of the RFI (Request For Information), an opportunity materialized to partner with a major national employer, which was contemplating the expansion of its current head office within downtown
The interested party is not identified, but the report says that a post-secondary institution is no longer part of the development plans.
Originally the city had hoped to have a
Staff has also received other interest from developers and investors interested in potential redevelopment of the
“Which in staff’s opinion are serious and suggest the need to advance the Baker District to market as soon as possible,” says a staff report.
No details of what that development may look like, or include, are included in a special staff report.
“The interest that has been expressed appears to be consistent with Council’s development objectives for the Baker District,” it adds.
Council had previously directed staff to seek out potential interest in
The report says interest was found through that process but that there was also unsolicited interest.
A staff recommendation as part of the report is asking council to endorse the issuing of a request for proposal for “Baker District” redevelopment.
The report also recommends making Baker District redevelopment a top priority when it comes to implementation of the Downtown Secondary Plan and that a work plan, funding strategy and business plan be developed.
Next steps include costing of projects, reviewing the city’s capital budget forecasts and capital priorities and identifying potential funding sources.
Council has thus far spent $4.2 million of a $13.3 million budget allocated to purchase property needed for future Baker District redevelopment plans.
Staff contacted 197 potential parties regarding
