A minor variance has been granted by the city's Committee of Adjustment that helps clear the way for a small licenced establishment to be placed in the basement of the former Guelph Mercury building on Macdonell Street.
The space in question is 219.4 square metres (2,361 square feet).
Downtown Mercury Development Corporation, owners of 8-14 Macdonell St., applied for the minor variance and it was unanimously approved at the city's Committee of Adjustment meeting earlier this month.
There were no questions for the applicant, no delegates on the matter and no correspondence regarding the application.
Property owner Serge Moraca was in attendance.
The variance was for relief of a city bylaw that permits licenced establishments on the first floor only.
“This variance would allow a new, small business to operate in currently unused space in a historic downtown building,” said the application.
“The space is small and intimate with a total space and maximum capacity well under guidelines and would be a positive addition to the neighbourhood and the downtown core.”
Moraca bought the property in 2016 after the closure of the Guelph Mercury newspaper.
There are currently offices on the other floors of the building.
