The following article appeared in the January 24 edition of the Guelph Mercury:
Ian Findlay was enjoying an unusual view from the front of his downtown video shop Tuesday afternoon.
“I’m having the main street exposure without having to change addresses,” the city councillor joked when reached on his cellphone. “It’s certainly opening things up a bit at this end of town.”
Findlay suddenly has a view of Wyndham Street from the front of his Baker Street store, as the demolition of two city-owned buildings on Wyndham Street got into full swing.
The former homes of the Family Thrift Store and Wyndham Art Supplies have been torn down by a crew from Hamilton’s A1 Demolition.
The demolition is part of the proposed redevelopment of Baker Street, which will eventually include a new main library branch.
A total of four buildings along Wyndham Street are to be removed to create an entrance into the Baker Street development, however the city has not yet completed the purchase of the remaining buildings on either side of the demolition site.
During the budget process in December, councillors approved the addition of $3.8 million to the 2012 capital budget to pursue the remaining properties.
Jim Stokes, the city’s manager of realty services, said Tuesday he could not comment on whether those other two properties — which include the current Guelph Concert Theatre — would also be demolished once the city takes ownership or if they would remain standing until the Baker Street project is ready to proceed.
“It depends on the deal we make with the owners,” Stokes said, refusing to comment further while negotiations are underway.
“I think we need to look at all the options (for the remaining buildings),” Findlay said, adding there are obviously different rules at play when buildings are municipally-owned. “My initial thought is we probably wouldn’t be able to use them.”
Stokes said once the buildings currently being demolished are fully removed, clean fill will be brought in to level the site which will then open as a temporary parking lot with a total of approximately 45 spots.
Findlay noted a lack of available parking in the core has been well-documented “so this will certainly help in the short term.”
The councillor added the demolition will be an encouraging sign for those waiting for a new main library branch.
“This is certainly one of the steps to seeing that happen,” Findlay said.