The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

COUNCIL HOTEL NEVER GRANTED OFFICIAL HERITAGE STATUS Continued from page 3 While the housing plan fits into the Town of Hills’ affc able housing agenda, it comes -" the expense of local heritage. The former site of the Ex- eat aie 37 King St. town, is slated to become sore housing through Hab- itat for Humanity Halton-Missis- will be going up on this property,” said Julie Watt, director of com- munications for HHHMD. "It's going to yaa a difference.” HHHMD is to construct four townhomes ‘and one semi- detached house for local families selected through local communi- ty groups, including Community Living North Halton. So far, Habitat has invested more than $1.4 million into the project, including the $645,000 price of the property purchased Watt said, based on the cur- rent environment, $4.2 million would still be required to con- struct the homes. During the May 25 council meeting, Mayor Rick Bonnette expressed disap- pointment in delays and design issues. disappointed," Bonnette told council. "We're going to sup- port this project — yes — but it's how we got here that's disap- inti poin Built j in the 1850s by George- town's namesake and founder, George Kennedy, the Exchange Hotel was a stagecoach-style rail- way hotel, possibly the last in North America to still be situated beside an operational train sta- In 2013, councillor Moya Jounson described the hotel as “one-of-a-kind.” A Heritage Halton Hills mem- ber, Doug Brock, known for re- storing Glen Williams buildings to create the Williams Mill Visual Arts Centre, said in 2013, the Ex- change Hotel was in better condi: tion than the yellow building at the Williams Mill. Despite efforts by Heritage Halton Hills to have the aging building designated as a heritage building, after the previous own- er applied for permission to de- molish the structure, the hotel was never officially de: property i in 2014, the organization tained its intentions were to preserve the origin: tel. "Traditionally with. Habitat, we start fresh," John Gerrard, CEO of HHHMD at the time, said in 2018, “but in this case we made a promise to the town that we would w work to eee the building as best as possible in its form." ear later, in 2019, the hotel was demolished after preserva- tion was deemed unfeasible by a heritage building consultant pred by the to own & the same to waive sear dont te Tees of oft ‘up to $250,000 for the project. "I think Habitat got exactly what it wanted," Coun. Bryan Lewis told council at the May 25. meeting. "They got ‘apiece ofland with nothing on it.’ Peter Roe, who had written an HAL' Promotional consideration * CONTACTLESS & SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES IN PLACE + VOLUNTEERS WILL UNLOAD YOUR VEHICLI + WE ACCEPT DONATIONS IN CASH, DEBIT & CREDIT + SUGGESTED AMOUNT IS $20 PER BANKERS BOX. « A SAFE LOCATION TO DROP OFF IMPORTANT PAPERS -TON REGIONAL POLICE s 2485 NORTH SERVICE RD W OAKVILLE, ON TOQIEOs FUNDRAISER SATURDAY JUNE 19 9:00AM - PROTECT YOUR IDENTITY! SHRED ALL YOUR PERSONAL OR BUSINESS DOCUMENTS, RIGHT ON SITE! 2021 3:00PM a | Information Management economical STARMETROLAND — ww cRIM S STOPP Domtar B Crime Stoppers is anon-nrofit organiztion run by vounteers GREEN Habitat for Humanity photo. Members of Habitat for Humanity Halton-Wellington-Dufferin break Sround on the 37 King St. project. op-ed in the Independent and Free Press urging council to save the hotel in 2013, echoed town council's frustration. “My feeling —now that the Ex- is gone — is one of severe disappointment for the future of heritage in Georgetown," Roe said. While a commemorative plaque will be installed on the property, the new structures will bear little resemblance to the Ex- change Hotel. Some of the materi- als salvaged from the deconstruc- tion will be reintegrated decora- tively within the new homes. TOQ,BLO@ From a variety of beautiful hanging basket: colorful annuals, hardy perennials, plants and herbs that can be grown and shared. SPACIOUS LAYOUT AMPLE PARKING Specimen, large size trees any shrub for instant results. Professional advice available Be of Fine Plauts aud Garden Products aid at the May 25 meeting. “They Jook like they're from Mississau- ga... they don't even fit in with the neighbourhood that is there." of its own time to avoid creating. ag 5 false sense of history. "Since we're not dea! heritage property there is limited 8 8 input we can have in terms of cre- ~ ating a heritage look and feel," Loney told council on May 25. As of June, the project has re- ceived zoning approval and awaits site application and build- ing permits. There is no set date for con- struction, but fundraising is on- going. STORY BEHIND THE STO- 'Y: After seven years, consi tion is set for affordable housing on the former site of the change Hotel, which ‘was Scemol- ished in 2019. We wanted to share what residents and councillors felt about how the project came to be and the loss of a piece of local heritage. *) “TRULY, A PROFUSION OF VISUAL DELIGHTS” 9478 WELLINGTON, ROAD HWY 124 519-833-9313 BLOOMGREEN.CA FOLLOW US GMO