No takers for dilapidated Galt furniture factory
As efforts continue to save the little red barn behind the new civic administration building, city officials are wondering what to do with another dilapidated Galt building.
The former Galt Furniture Factory at 188 Water St. S. has been put up for designation by the city’s municipal heritage advisory committee, but no one seems to want it.
The stone structure, which sits just south of the Ainslie Street extension, was partially demolished by Kieswetter Demolition Inc. several years ago.
During demolition, evidence was found that indicated it could be a significant heritage building. Demolition stopped and the structure was boarded up - there remains little more than an empty shell.
According to a city report, the building served several functions over they years. Built by prominent local business man Andrew Elliot, who Elliot Street is named after, the building was once part of a distillery warehouse and was the home of Elliott Soap Works before becoming the Galt Furniture Factory.
The property is currently owned by the Region of Waterloo, which has offered it to the City of Cambridge.
As it sits on the riverbank, adjacent to the city’s trail system, regional staff are suggesting it could become part of the trail system in much the same way as other former factory sites in the Galt core area.
However, the city’s trails advisory committee has already said it doesn’t want it.
Regulatory constraints on the building preclude it being used commercially or residentially because it sits on a contaminated site and is close to Water Street.
Regional staff have asked to meet with their Cambridge counterparts to further discuss what is to be done with the building and city staff Monday were asking council’s permission to hold that meeting.
Ward 5 Coun. Pam Wolf backed the heritage committee in wanting to see the building designated.
Ward 4 Coun. Ben Tucci said he is confident that as a result of the talks, “answers will be found”.
