Plans for demolition and development at the Homewood Health Centre on Delhi Street have raised a number of concerns among members of a local neighbourhood group.
“The owners promised to hold a public information meeting this past fall but it never happened.” said Arvana Robinson from the Friends of Homewood Grounds. “There was a complete void of information until now.”
The group launched a Facebook site to share what they knew about the project and scheduled a public meeting for May 3.
They invited the health centre’s owners RBJ Schlegel Holdings Inc. but the meeting was canceled when the owners asked to meet with the group Tuesday night.
Brad Schlegel, one of the three Schlegel brothers that run the company, spoke with them and confirmed most of what the FHG had already learned about the project.
“We think it was all the public pressure that convinced them to talk to us,” said Robinson. “He basically told us that they are going to continue what they started.”
The health centre was founded in 1883 and many of the buildings were constructed in the late 1800s and early 1900s. RBJ Schlegel Holdings Inc. of Kitchener bought the property in 2010.
In 2014 they filed an application to sever a 5.8-hectare lot – approximately one third of the property - from the south end as part of a $50-million development plan.
They also plan to clear more than 180 trees to make room for a new hospital building and to tear down three historic buildings on the east side of Delhi Street to expand parking.
“Not a single building on the grounds is protected by heritage designation,” said Robinson. “There are endangered trees on the property as well as habitats for several at-risk species of birds and other wildlife.”
All of the property’s sensitive environmental features were listed in a study commissioned by Schlegel.
“We’ve done a tremendous amount of work with our consultants studying the natural features and wildlife so we can protect them,” said Schlegel. “The natural beauty of the grounds are a very important part of the healing process for our patients.”
Schlegel said he only recently became aware of the FHG’s concerns and is happy that people are interested in the future of the property.
“It is all part of the transformation of Homewood Health and a major investment in health care in Guelph,” he said. “Mental health and addiction are big issues in Canada and these developments will improve our services.”
Schlegel said he was anxious to schedule a public information meeting to share their plans.
“The reason we haven’t is we are still going through the process with the City and it is a complicated application,” said Schlegel. “It is taking longer than we and the City expected but we enjoy a good collaborative relationship with City staff.”
Members of the FHG are hoping that collaborative relationship will extend to them and the neighbouring community.
One of the buildings they are concerned about is the historic limestone gatehouse at the Arthur Street entrance. They fear the building is destined to be torn down and accuse the owners of “demolition by neglect” for allowing it to fall into disrepair.
“There are no plans to tear down the gatehouse,” said Schlegel. “We intend to restore it. We are sensitive to the heritage and we are proud of the Homewood’s history and architectural features. We plan to invest in preserving those features.”
He said the severance is simply part of their financing strategy and they have no plans to sell or develop the property.
He sees no reason for closing the grounds to neighbours or changing the arrangement that allows them to hike along the river and trails on the property.
“That arrangement will continue but our first concern is our patients and their privacy,” said Schlegel. “Many are in a delicate state and it might take one unfortunate incident to set them back.”
