The following article appeared in the September 13 edition of the Guelph Tribune:
City hall plans to survey residents of a north end subdivision this month about their views on the future of an old farmhouse and a not-yet-developed neighbourhood park located in the area of the farmhouse property.
The survey follows a city council decision in July to take another look at the park design and the future of the farmhouse, which is known both as the Ingram farmhouse and the Wilson farmhouse after former owners.
It also follows a neighbourhood meeting in late July that drew about 100 residents, who strongly favoured one of four proposals for the future of the farmhouse, says Ward 2 councillor Ian Findlay.
The consensus at the meeting was that it would be best to have the farmhouse demolished and a replicate built by the subdivision developer elsewhere in the subdivision, he said. The farmhouse property would then be incorporated into the community park on Simmonds Drive.
However, this option “may not be possible,” Findlay said in an interview. “I would anticipate that Heritage Guelph would have an opinion on that as a solution . . . perhaps not a favourable opinion,” he said.
Findlay said the heritage designation planned for the farmhouse includes not only physical aspects such as windows, but also “cultural” aspects as “a longstanding farmhouse representing one of the original settlers in our community.”
The subdivision developer has agreed to pay to build a replica house that would be sold as a residence, with a plaque out front indicating that a similar house built by a pioneer family once existed within the subdivision, he noted.
In July, council agreed to two of three parts of a resolution by Ward 2 councillor Andy Van Hellemond, who asked council to reconsider its previous decisions related to the farmhouse and the park. It agreed to reconsider an April 2010 council motion approving severance and sale of the farmhouse and its property. It also agreed to reconsider a September 2010 motion approving the development of a master plan for the park that doesn’t include the farmhouse property.
However, council voted 7-6 against reconsidering a February 2011 motion regarding the intention to designate the farmhouse under the Ontario Heritage Act. Findlay voted no, while Van Hellemond voted yes.
The matter of designation will come back to council for a final decision after the Conservation Review Board rules on an appeal.
Findlay said the three other options presented to neighbourhood residents at the late July meeting included selling it as planned, or having city hall “sit” on the property until someone approaches the city with an idea for a use for it. The final option was for the city to keep the farmhouse and renovate it for some city use, such as a parks department office or library branch.
The city acquired the farmhouse at 80 Simmonds Dr. from the subdivision developer as part of a parkland dedication several years ago.