The following editorial appeared in the September 19 edition ot the Guelph Mercury: We’re not sure when brainstorming turned into blue-sky thinking, or where exactly that blue sky came from, but Councillor Ian Findlay was indulging in some of it the other day, and his idea to turn Douglas Street into a pedestrian-only walkway just […]
Category: Going Downtown
Council Voting Record July 16, 2007
Moved by Councillor Laidlaw Seconded by Councillor Beard THAT Council approves the Museum Board recommendation relocate the Guelph Civic Museum to the Loretto Convent; AND THAT staff be directed to negotiate an agreement with the Diocese of Hamilton on the terms outlined in the Loretto Convent report dated July 11, 2007 and report back through […]
Douglas Street for foot traffic only?
The following article appeared in the September 18 edition of the Guelph Mercury: Café tables spill out onto cobblestones. Waiters deliver meals by the light of street lamps. People casually hang out on benches and art installations occasionally fill the street. It might sound like Europe, or at least Quebec City. But if Councillor Ian […]
Councillors Straddle Conflicts of Interest
The following article appeared in the September 11 edition of the Guelph Tribune: At least a couple of Guelph’s new city councillors are finding the city hall terrain to be tricky when it comes to conflict-of-interest concerns. Ward 2 councillor Ian Findlay, a longtime downtown business owner, and Ward 4 councillor Mike Salisbury, whose wife […]
City offers downtown-goers free parking
Beginning September 8th, parking is free for a maximum of two hours once per day, Monday through Saturday, between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. at on-street metered spots in the downtown core. The initiative is a one-year pilot, intended in part to draw more people into Guelph’s downtown core.
Gummer owner asks for city funds
The following article appeared in the September 5 deition of the Guelph Mercury: The City of Guelph has adopted a Heritage Redevelopment Reserve policy that casts a framework for assisting property owners with the costs of restoring or refurbishing heritage buildings. The policy, passed last night at a council planning meeting, will dedicate $205,000 a […]
Downtown garbage
As a downtowner I frequently include my Sunday walks along MacDonnell Street and am appalled at the amount of garbage that is left by bar patrons. There are styrofoam boxes with half eaten food, styrofoam coffee cups, broken glass, condoms and trash of all kinds and sundry. I have personally counted at least 6 bars […]
New Downtown Economic Development Manager hired
City of Guelph Economic Development and Tourism Services is proud to announce that David Corks has accepted the position of Downtown Economic Development Manager and will officially start August 27, 2007. Mr. Corks comes to the City of Guelph with over 25 years of experience in planning
City hall work lags behind
The following article appeared in the July 6 edition of the Guelph Mercury: Guelph’s new city hall is only a fifth of the way to completion, but the city has already spent about half the money in its contingency fund. Just over $1 million of the $2.1 million reserve has been earmarked to cover costs […]
Free Two-Hour Parking Sees Lukewarm Approval
The following article appeared in the June 29 edition of the Guelph Tribune: A 12-month test of free two-hour parking on downtown streets is happening in the face of striking skepticism from four city councillors who changed their votes on the issue this week. “I am almost 100 per cent certain it will fail,” Coun. […]