Lynn
I walk at the Old Reformatory (OR) regularly and have heard many stories from people who attach a great deal of meaning to the land at 785 York Road. There is a unanimous feeling that people do not want the land to be developed into housing for a limited number of people; they want to see the land remain accessible to the public.
During the pandemic, many people have visited the lands and say that the Old Reformatory has saved their mental health. It's a good thing for Guelph to have more people who enjoy a higher level of mental health. as a result of spending time in a place with natural surroundings.
I belong to the Yorklands Green Hub. We want to see the OR land being held in a public trust so future generations can enjoy the open spaces and the heritage aspect of the land and buildings. There are many ideas on how to use the land, and some of us would like to see the prison buildings opened up for tours as a fund raiser, similar to the tours at the Kingston Pen. The article below talks about how much money is made from the tours in Kingston, and this money can be used to maintain the land in perpetuity. It would be a good idea to connect with Kingston City Council for guidance around establishing the tours. I believe this would be a win-win for Guelph; it would attract tourism and provide residents with an interesting cultural attraction. It could include a museum, a restaurant, offices, classrooms, and a place to create an environmental hub where organizations could promote their businesses around sustainable living. The OR could also be a venue for meetings, conferences, concerts, and weddings. The land around the buildings would remain accessible for the public to walk, cycle, fish, have picnics, etc.
There is so much potential at the OR - please take this chance to make a decision to save the lands for public use and create something remarkable for Guelph.
Article re Kingston Pen: