Sorbara changes tune, will preserve historic farmhouse on property and support designation

FERGUS – Sorbara Development Group has changed its tune on wanting to demolish a historic home on property it plans to develop on Garafraxa Street (Wellington Road 19) near 1st Line.

Since the property is now included in the Fergus urban boundary, Sorbara wants to get going on the development and thought demolishing the old farmhouse would afford the best layout for a subdivision on the property.

The farmhouse is listed as a heritage property but has not been designated.

But since meeting with Heritage Centre Wellington in January, the company has changed its mind about demolition, Catherine Pan, senior development manager for Sorbara, told Centre Wellington council on June 29.

“We heard the importance of preserving the home,” said Pan, describing its “unique” Italianate architecture and the fact that descendants of the original family who built it still reside in the home.

“We want to work with the committee to make (the house) an enhancing feature of the development and withdraw our intention to demolish.

“We now support designation.”

The two-storey farmhouse  was built by James Skeoch and his sons sometime between 1880 and 1890, and it has been passed through family descendants ever since.

Pan said the tenant can remain in the house as long as he is willing and able to.

With that, council approved the intention to designate the property. 

A notice of intention to designate will be issued and the designation process will be followed.

Sorbara will also go through the normal planning process as it figures out the best design and layout for the subdivision.