A York Road property owner “strenuously opposes” the city’s heritage designation plans for its 1860-built stone farmhouse used by Guelph Reformatory staff as a lookout point for escapees in the early 20th century.
The objection is noted in a letter to city council included in the agenda for its April 11 meeting, along with a report from city staff recommending the heritage designation process for 919 York Rd. move forward.
“Proceeding with designation of the farmhouse will not save it, and there is a pressing public safety interest in having it demolished,” states the letter from lawyer Kevin Thompson on behalf of the owner, Brodie Ltd.
“The property in its current state represents a significant and ongoing safety hazard,” he continues, noting an architect concluded “the cost to make the building structurally safe far exceed the value" following an assessment. “Where public safety is concerned, such issues are paramount.”
Efforts to reach representatives of Brodie Ltd. for comment weren’t immediately successful.
“It is understood that major repairs and replacement of (a) number of architectural elements would be necessary to rehabilitate the farmhouse for a practical future use,” notes the staff report, in response to the objection letter. “Staff maintain the opinion … supported by Heritage Guelph, that the Matthews farmhouse at 919 York Road has significant cultural heritage value and its heritage attributes should be protected by designation under the Ontario Heritage Act.”
In December, city council unanimously approved a motion to advertise intent to designate the property for protection under the OHA. It’s that notice which prompted the letter of objection headed to council.
During its April 11 meeting, council is poised to consider formally approving a bylaw of designation, which opens the door for a 30-day appeal period.
If an appeal is filed, the matter will end up in front of the Ontario Land Tribunal.
As outlined in the staff report, the property has been the subject of numerous property standards bylaw orders in recent years related to the roof, front porch, soffits, fascia and the building not being secured.
The front porch, which was replaced by a previous owner in 1969, is not considered a heritage feature and was demolished last January under a permit approved in 2017.
During an inspection last spring, the building was found not to be secure once again, as the window and door barriers previously installed by the owner had been removed to gain access. A follow-up inspection in July found the main roof was starting to cave in and the building still not secure.
An order was issued that day due to “serious” safety concerns and “the structure being constantly neglected and unsecured, the report explains.
A demolition permit for the building was applied for on July 20, but that was denied by city staff. The application set in motion the process of council considering heritage designation, as the site is already listed on the municipal register of cultural heritage properties.
The property contains a stone farmhouse built in 1860, as well as a stone gate and stone shed associated with the adjacent former Guelph reformatory lands. It was purchased by the provincial government in 1910 and used to house reformatory staff whose duties included watching out for escapees.
Brodie Ltd. bought the property, included as part of the former Guelph Legion site, in 2011.
Designation of stone gate and stone shed on the property are not opposed, notes the letter from Thompson.
Brodie Ltd. previously offered to sell 919 York Rd. to the city for $1, but council has taken no public action on the offer.
