The following article appeared in the July 26 edition of the Guelph Mercury:
Two out of three ain’t bad.
Coun. Andy Van Hellemond was able to convince his city council colleagues Monday night to revisit two earlier votes, including one which would have seen a historic north-end farmhouse placed for sale on the open market.
However a request to revisit a vote from earlier this year to seek heritage designation for the Wilson farmhouse failed 7-6.
“This gives neighbours a chance to voice their concerns,” Van Hellemond said outside the council meeting.
The dilapidated farmhouse on Simmonds Drive has been the focus of some attention lately, as residents in the new subdivision surrounding it learn of a city plan to have it designated under the Ontario Heritage Act and then offered for sale, along with approximately one-third of an acre surrounding it.
The home is located within designated parkland and initially the city wanted to use it for a community use, such as a library or community centre. However when an appropriate use was not identified — and with the cost of renovations expected to top $350,000 — the former city council voted in April 2010 to sever the property and sell it.
But neighbourhood residents say they paid thousands of dollars in premiums to live across from parkland, with no idea the home could be sold to a private owner.
Van Hellemond and fellow Ward 2 Coun. Ian Findlay attended a recent meeting in the park which attracted approximately 75 concerned residents.
On Monday Findlay said the most pressing issue in the neighbourhood is the city’s stated intention to sell the farmhouse and property. He noted the neighbourhood was not involved in that decision “but I can assure you that they are now very much engaged.”
Monday’s reconsideration votes will see city staff once again looking at what should happen with the property, and could result in another recommendation to sell the home.
“We’ve got to get them to understand the need to make a public use of it or else they’re going to lose the best part of that park,” Van Hellemond said outside the meeting.
Chief Administrative Officer Hans Loewig told councillors the first order of business for staff will be to determine whether the city should keep and reuse the building or sell it, since the overall design of the park will depend on whether that parcel is included or not.
Findlay noted there is money in this year’s budget to begin development of the park — which is presently just a vacant parcel — but that is now up in the air.
“There are intentions to move forward with the park very soon, but this may change things a little bit,” Findlay said of council’s vote.