City Council · April 23, 2025 · Item 4.3
City retain 72 Farquhar St. (the Drill Hall) as a city-owned asset and continue to be responsible to fund and maintain the current state of the…
Main motion under the agenda item Results of the Feasibility Study for Potential Future Arts and Culture Uses of the Drill Hall , 2025-56
Carried (11 to 0)
11 in favour, 0 against — unanimous
What was voted on
The motion in its exact words, as recorded in the minutes.
That the City retain 72 Farquhar St. (the Drill Hall) as a city-owned asset and continue to be responsible to fund and maintain the current state of the structural elements and primary systems, estimated at approximately $125 000 annually. That staff be directed to identify potential sources of capital funding for the development of a mixed use space including an arts and cultural centre in the former Drill Hall, as well as to identify operating budget implications as part of the MYB, and that Council supports the Mayoral direction to investigate allocating funds to move the project forward in the 2026 budget. That upon confirmation of available capital funds, city staff be directed to develop an open process to evaluate and identify a community partner(s) to transform the Drill Hall into a mixed use space including an arts and cultural centre, and also respect and incorporate the Council designated heritage attributes of the building per Bylaw (2018)-20332, reporting back to Council on the results of that RFP before awarding to any proponent. That the Chief Administrative Officer be directed to advocate to the provincial government for the necessary permissions to allow residential development at 72 Farquhar Street. If necessary permissions are not obtained, or if no potential development proposals are received by September 30, 2025, that no further staff time to advocate for these permissions is required.
How the room voted
In favour (11)
- Allt
- Billings
- Busuttil
- Caron
- Caton
- Chew
- Downer
- Gibson
- Goller
- Guthrie
- Richardson
What council was given
The staff reports and correspondence attached to this item. The summaries are written automatically, so you can tell what a document is without opening a ninety-page PDF.
- Results of the Feasibility Study for Potential Future Arts and Culture Uses of the Drill Hall - 2025-56.pdf
Results of a feasibility study into turning the Drill Hall at 72 Farquhar Street into an arts and culture hub. Staff found real community demand for affordable space to rehearse, perform and exhibit, but say the building is currently unusable and would need large upfront capital spending plus ongoing City operating support. They recommend declaring it surplus, spending only on maintenance and security, selling it, and continuing to work with the arts community on space needs.
- Attachment 1 – Crocus Cultural Strategies City of Guelph Drill Hall Feasibility Study.pdf
A summary is this site’s description of a document, not the City’s. Open the document before relying on one.
The motion, the vote and the debate come from the City of Guelph’s published record, reproduced rather than interpreted. The document summaries above are the exception: those words were written for this site.