This site is a collection of resources and input from Citizens concerned about a proposed development project affecting the Goldie Mill Park in downtown Guelph.
The Issue
The City of Guelph has put forward a proposal to expand the parking lot at the Guelph Youth Music Centre, which is a historically designated property located in a downtown neighbourhood.
Currently the parking area is gravel and accomodates about 35 vehicles.
The City plans to expand the lot, remove green space and several mature trees, pave the parking area and add pole lighting.
Area residents and other concerned citizens are strongly opposed to the plan as it was presented by the City and are working together with Council and City Staff to towards a more environmentally conscious and less costly approach for this project. This web site has been created to keep residents informed on project developments and serves as an information resource on this issue.
Property History
The former Goldie Mill site is one of the most historic manufacturing locations in the City. In 1827 David Gilkison, cousin of John Galt, built a saw mill here beside the Speed River. Doctors W. Clarke and H. Orton built the “Wellington Mills” in 1845. After a fire, the mills were rebuilt in stone in 1850 and renamed the “People’s Mills”. They burned again in 1864 and James Goldie purchased the property in 1866, extensively enlarging the stone buildings in 1867. The flour mills continued to expand under the direction of the Goldie family until sold in 1918. The mill operated until a spring flood in 1929 carried away the dam. Most of the structure was unused since a serious fire in 1953. In the 19th Century, the manufacturing complex included a foundry, a sawmill, cooperage, distillery, piggery and tannery. Its growth contributed significantly to the growth and prosperity of Guelph.
Among the unique architectural features of the masonry construction of the thick stone walls were the double-reinforced stone lintels, an unusual type of construction in Ontario. The most impressive remaining section of the structure was built in 1867 with quarry-faced limestone. All stone was quarried on the mill property.
The designation covers all masonry construction which survives after the 1983 stabilization project, the ninety-foot brick chimney as well as the surrounding property as purchased by Grand River Conservation Authority in March, 1976.
We invite you to read through the posts and pages and add your comments on those pages or in the comments section below.
August 14, 2009 at 1:15 am
Hi all,
From the meeting tonight I got the impression an engineering solution will be forced through before the winter. The “safety” concerns rather than funding deadlines seem to be the driving force for the engineers to speed things along.
My main concern is with the draining of the site into the river. I spoke with “Ike”, the quieter engineer, regarding the possiblity of draining into the swail in the adjacent parkland. He responded with reasons why this could not happen. It seems most of the reasoning for the engineering decisions is largely based on what are acceptable costs?
On a related note: What does the Grand River Conservation Authority, who purchased the site in March 1976, have to say about draining an additional site into the river? Is the GRCA at all concerned with water quality, what juristiction do they have here?