The following article appeared in the October 17 edition of the Guelph Mercury:
Councillors approved a $1.3-million investment Monday night without realizing it.
The cash was to redevelop two burnt-out downtown buildings.
The funding package, earmarked for protecting heritage elements of the Gummer and Victoria buildings, passed without discussion because most, if not all councillors didn’t realize what they were voting on.
But heritage advocates and downtown stakeholders applauded the decision yesterday, saying it’s a template for future downtown revitalization projects.
The funding proposal was in an addendum to a portion of the council agenda that is passed without discussion unless a councillor makes a specific request to talk about it.
So when councillors voted to accept that portion of the agenda, they were unwittingly voting in favour of the $1.3-million allocation.
Some councillors had questions about the proposal, but didn’t get to ask them because of the way it was passed. Others say they may have had questions if the issue was discussed.
“Had there been any dialogue or presentation, there would have been questions from myself,” Councillor Ian Findlay said last night. “There was some confusion, and it’s regrettable.”
He added this doesn’t mean dialogue is over — councillors always have the opportunity to ask questions of staff, and he posts answers to questions posed by constituents to his blog. But there might not be another chance to publicly ask questions on the funding application, he said.
“It would have been nice to have questions asked in public to hear answers in public so it could have been heard in the televised version,” Coun. Leanne Piper said last night. Council meetings are broadcast live on Rogers Television.
Coun. Kathleen Farrelly said she had questions, but they were about a future phase of redevelopment, so she’ll have a chance to ask them later. “My question is about who is going to occupy (the redevelopment),” she said.
Yesterday, those involved in the redevelopment expressed relief it’s going ahead after more than six months in limbo.
“This really has the opportunity to pilot a strong public-private relationship we can replicate in the future,” said Audrey Jamal, general manager of the Downtown Guelph Business Association.
The city funding is what makes the project viable, said Jason Ashdown of Skyline, the company that owns the building.
“There are certain constraints and restrictions in a burned-out downtown historic building,” he said.
Those restrictions make the project more expensive and complicated than it would be if they were building it new, said Lloyd Grinham, an architect working on the project. The funding made up that gap, he said.
“If it’s easier for people to do stuff in greenfield locations, that’s where they go,” Grinham said.
Retailers on Douglas Street were excited yesterday to hear the proposal is going ahead, and many were relieved that work will now focus on reopening the closed street.
“Needless to say, we’re frustrated after six months of road closure,” said Bryan Florence, owner of Pioneer Furniture. “But we’re very optimistic about Douglas Street for the future. The street was doing fantastically well prior to the fire, and we’ll rise from the ashes.”