Imagine coming home from work one day and finding the home next door to yours being torn down without any advanced notice to you. That was the scenario in the minds of the people that live in the area of Glasgow Street North between London Road and Suffolk Street, and they were so concerned that they formed a new neighbourhood group called the Neighbours of Glasgow Street North Community Action Group. Even though the decision had been made to approve the demolition of the historic home, the members of this new group were determined to have their say, better late than never.
On February 8, less than a week after the residents received notice that 202 Glasgow would be soon be torn down and construction on a new dwelling would begin, the new group had sent out a press release to register their dismay; despite the fact that the plan for 202 was approved at a council meeting on November 9, 2015, this was the first they were hearing about it.
In fact, because of the City of Guelph’s deeply problematic approval process, it was only last week - months after the application was approved - that the neighbourhood learned of the planned demolition; and, had it not been for the fact that the owner of 202 Glasgow Street North is seeking variances, which must pass through the Committee of Adjustments, the residents might never have been informed of the plans.
With only a couple of weeks to prepare, they tried to cut the plans off at the pass at the Committee of Adjustment, but now they're being forced to take it all the way to the Ontario Municipal Board, itself a problematic agency, but it's now the group's best chance to get the say they should have had to being with. It's important to note that the Neighbours of Glasgow Street North are not against tearing the house down, nor are they advocating for a specific type of new development to be built there, rather they just wish to be included in the conversation. It's their neighbourhood, and like any members of a neighbourhood they want a say in the development of its future.
In this week's edition of the Guelph Politicast, I talk to Laura Bolton, Daniel Cabena and Mary Cabena of the Neighbours of Glasgow Street North Community Action Group, and get them to tell their story as they attempt to advocate not for a specific outcome, but to advocate for the proper execution of the process.
The theme music for Guelph Politicast is provided by Crazy Pills and their song "Break It Down" courtesy of Free Music Archive.
The host for the Guelph Politicast is Podbean. Find more episodes here.
Remember that the Politicast Podbean channel is also the host for podcast versions of Open Sources Guelph. The previous Thursday's episode of Open Sources will be posted on Mondays.
Stay tuned for future editions of the Guelph Politicast!
Having lived beside 202 Glasgow St. for over 30 years. We are sadly disappointed that we could potentially be living beside a triplex if the Residential classification is permitted to be changed. This is the reason as stated in your podcast with Daniel, Laura and Mary! We moved to Guelph from Toronto 39 years ago and bought our home on Guelph a few years later,which was in desperate need of repair and took on the task of returning it to it's former glory. Our neighbours who lived here at that time were very pleased that we took on the task as it helped improve the neighbourhood. Our home is a large 4 bedroom home which is a semi, but is a unique semi. We personally enjoy the heritage of downtown Guelph and not a fan of all the new subdivisions in town. Our concern is that as less and less land becomes available in Guelph for building new homes more people are looking at tearing down the older homes and putting up new ones. If the Heritage act and the rules are allowed to be tossed aside continuously we have rules. As for meeting with the variance committee it was just a formality......there minds were made up ahead of time. We just got a token concession , the builders in this town have too much pull. And this is why our group has no choice but to go to the OMB even though we have been told we probably won't win! This is all very disconcerting because this all could have been settled at the original city council meeting if we had of been notified as neighbouring owners to this property. Seems so many rules have been made but not implemented.
ReplyDelete