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Fear of a demolition

Interior of 13 Stuart Street was gutted last year. A City of Guelph cease construction/demolition order has been issued

As far as historic architecture goes in Guelph, 13 Stuart Street is considered by many to be one of the most splendid structures in the city, and noteworthy across Ontario for its historic beauty and elegance.  

But some fear that the stately building in the St. George’s Park neighbourhood came close to demolition recently, and may yet get toppled by a wrecking ball.

Currently, there is a bright red City of Guelph notice on the front door of the home, visible from the sidewalk. It represents an order to immediately stop all construction or demolition on the property, which is known as both Duncolm Hall and Cutten House.

The notice, dated May 10, names Crestwood Park Holdings Inc., Pamela Jane Rennie, and John Herbert Rennie as the property owner, and Kieswetter Demolition Ltd. as the contractor. The Rennies live in a more contemporary mansion next door at 21 Stuart.

Last year, the interior of the structure was completely gutted after the home was purchased by the Rennies.

Interior features, many of them with a heritage value, were obliterated in the work. Images of the building’s unique interior and exterior characteristics are highlighted in a Royal City Realty home tour here. Photographs of the gutted interior were provided to GuelphToday.com.

Now there is a scramble underway by Heritage Guelph to have the house designated as a heritage structure before it is too late.

Kirk Roberts, a principal with heritage restoration/development company Tyrcathlen Partners, lives across the street from 13 Stuart. The company he owns with Peregrine Wood is currently restoring the historic Petrie Building on Wyndham Street.

Roberts said he was at a Heritage Guelph meeting in April related to the Petrie Building when he noticed 13 Stuart was on the agenda.

“There had been some word in the community, that I couldn’t believe at first, that the current owners had completely gutted the interior,” he said. “The heritage planner Stephen Robinson reported that he had been in the property and had seen that it was gutted to the bare walls.”

Roberts said the heritage committee has recommended heritage designation for the property.

“Our worry is that the owner intends to demolish it before it is designated,” he added.

Alan Pickersgill, a local community activist, lives about three blocks from the house. He describes himself as a “neighbourhood observer and absorber of local lore,” in an email. He said there are a number of home renovations and property rebuilds happening in the neighbourhood.

The Cutten House at 13 Stuart, he said, was formerly owned by Dr. Carolyn Pelletier, a psychiatrist, and was put up for sale last year. The municipally assessed value of the house was $1.25 million, he said.

A telephone message was left on the Rennie’s answering machine on Thursday, with a request for comment on their actions and plans related to the property. A response was not immediately received.

“There are frantic efforts now to get it designated,” Pickersgill said in the email. “A lot of the old interior heritage features were lost when it was gutted.”

He added that no further work has been done on the property since the interior tear-down, which happened last year.  

Roberts said 13 Stuart has “some amazing features” inside. He said it is within the owner’s discretion to gut the house and repurpose it as a single-family dwelling.

“But if it was gutted with the intention of demolishing it, I would have a strong objection,” he said, adding that the aesthetic and historic value should be preserved.

“I would argue, in terms of street presence, it’s probably the most impressive house in the whole city,” he added.


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Rob O'Flanagan

About the Author: Rob O'Flanagan

Rob O’Flanagan has been a newspaper reporter, photojournalist and columnist for over twenty years. He has won numerous Ontario Newspaper Awards and a National Newspaper Award.
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