The following article appeared in the July 21 edition of the Guelph Tribune:
Concerns from a north end neighbourhood have Ward 2 Councillors Ian Findlay and Andy Van Hellemond planning to ask council to reconsider its plans for a century-old farmhouse.
“I support the heritage designation, but I’d like to see the city keep the farmhouse and not sell it off,” said Findlay of the property at 80 Simmonds Dr.
The residents are concerned that the city’s plans to have the house designated as a heritage property are slowing down the development of the neighbourhood park, said Findlay, relaying issues raised at a town hall meeting on Sunday night.
The area “is now much more built out and the neighbours are looking for their park to be built,” he said. The house, known both as the Ingram farmhouse and the Wilson farmhouse after former owners, is located in the corner of a block of land that was dedicated to the city for use as a park.
The city had initially hoped to find a community use for the house, but, after surveying neighbourhood groups, found low interest in it. The cost for the city to refurbish the house was deemed too high, and council passed resolutions earlier this year to sever the lot and sell the home after getting an official heritage designation for the building.
Now, though, Van Hellemond and Findlay plan to ask council to reconsider both the decision to designate the house and to sell it.
“The motion to reconsider is going to council this Monday night,” said Findlay.
Neighbourhood residents, whose comments have filled the Ward 2 blog ever since Sunday’s meeting, do not want to see the house sold. Most, it seems, would like to see it levelled.
“I agree with their comments that it’s an eyesore,” said Findlay. But he also said he believes the home has some heritage value and he plans to renew the search “to find a use for it and find funding for it.”
In the meantime, he said he understands that residents are frustrated with the slow progress on the park.
“There are no facilities; there are no swings, there’s no slide, there’s no sandbox,” he said. “All that is on the property right now is the farmhouse and some mature trees.”
The residents would like to see the trees stay in the park, Findlay said. That park should start to take shape by this time next year, regardless of the future of the house, he said.