Thousands of properties throughout the city could see a new level of protection applied to them in the months ahead, as city officials look at adding them to the municipal heritage registry.
“Our city’s cultural heritage resources contribute to achieving a sustainable, prosperous and healthy city,” said Melissa Aldunate, the city’s manager of policy planning. “We (hope to) have a fuller picture of what heritage resources we have in the city.”
A review of the properties on the Couling inventory, which is an unofficial add-on of the city’s heritage registry, has begun. The city is currently seeking a consultant for the project.
So far two neighbourhoods have been reviewed by city staff and Heritage Guelph (HG) – Exhibition North and Exhibition South – with others to be looked at as the anticipated 18-month process unfolds.
There are about 2,290 properties on the Couling inventory, most of which are around the downtown area, Aldunate noted.
In order for properties to qualify for the municipal registry, they must be considered to have cultural heritage value because of either their design or physical value; historical or associative value; or contextual value.
“Heritage Guelph is very enthusiastic about this process,” offered advisory committee chair P. Brian Skerrett. “We’re very much looking forward to having one complete list on the heritage registry.”
Properties on the municipal registry aren’t afforded the same kind of protection as those designated under the Ontario Heritage Act (OHA), which requires city approval before alterations, renovations or additions can be done that may impact the property’s heritage attributes, including landscape and natural features.
Rather, when it comes to properties on the municipal registry, if a demolition application is applied for, city council has 60 days to consider whether to seek designation under the OHA or approve a demolition permit.
“It gives us an opportunity for sober second thought,” said Skerrett, noting there have been many examples in the past where designation hasn’t been sought and demolition approved.
A review of properties in the Exhibition south area is currently underway, in consultation with HG. At this point in the process, 125 properties are proposed to be moved onto the city’s registry, while three from the Couling list are not (two have been demolished and one that has been significantly altered through the years).
The Couling inventory hasn’t been updated since it was created in 1975 and includes several properties that have since been demolished or significantly altered and lost their heritage value in the process.
Similar reviews will be conducted in areas throughout the city. It’s not yet decided if recommendations for inclusion on the heritage registry will be presented to council for consideration as a whole or on a neighbourhood by neighbourhood basis, Aldunate said.
As part of the review process, public and property owner consultations are expected to get underway early next year. The review process as a whole is expected to wrap up in 2024.
Known as the Couling inventory, the list was created by local artist and architectural historian Gordon Couling in 1975 to identify buildings constructed prior to 1927.
The list is currently used in collaboration with the heritage registry, Aldunate explained. Similar to when a demolition permit is sought for a property on the registry, permits for properties on the Couling list are flagged for OHA designation consideration.
However, there is no legal requirement for that to be done.
