Cambridge eyes potential heritage district
Mayor Kathryn McGarry thrilled with groundswell of community interest in preserving heritage in the city
CAMBRIDGE — What began as an effort to protect historic architecture along Fountain Street North in Cambridge has turned into a larger endeavour that could include a chunk of Preston’s core.
Last month Michelle Goodridge rallied her neighbours to propose a heritage conservation district designation for the area where Preston Springs Hotel once stood.
Since then, more residents along Fountain Street from north to south have joined Goodridge’s grassroots efforts.
“We’re making great progress,” Goodridge said.
Last week Goodridge and a dozen area residents met with city staff and members of council to discuss the possibility of exploring a heritage conservation district designation for Preston.
This particular designation under the Ontario Heritage Act protects the architectural heritage within a specific set of boundaries. Cambridge already has three such heritage districts: Blair, Dickson Hill and Main Street.
Goodridge said the group of residents, now known as Preston Heritage Conservation District Group, was asked to work on a proposal that could be brought to council during budget deliberations in the fall.
“This has been on my radar for a long time,” said Mayor Kathryn McGarry.
She was glad to see Goodridge and other residents bring forward a plan that resembles one McGarry herself helped draft when the city’s municipal heritage advisory committee worked on the Heritage Master Plan in 2008.
She said the area of Kitchener Road and Fountain Street North was one of 10 areas identified as having significant heritage character in the city’s master plan.
At the time, she hoped council would put more resources into exploring heritage protections for not only the Fountain Street area of Preston, but several other heritage-rich parts of the city.
“It was immensely frustrating because I had no money to work with,” McGarry recalled.
But now, she is happy to see the groundswell of community support to protect heritage in the city.
“We should be trying to move ahead to preserve the character of our city while people have the interest.”
While Goodridge is relieved to see interest from the city and some council members to explore the idea of a heritage conservation district designation for Preston, she is concerned with having to wait.
“We know there are several development proposals in the works and on the way,” Goodridge said.
The city is busy with other heritage studies, such as one to determine if Galt should be designated as a heritage conservation district.
Goodridge is glad to see the city’s efforts in protecting heritage in Cambridge, but after watching the historic Preston Springs Hotel come down before her eyes, she is skeptical about whether similar protections will come to other parts of the city.
“There is this feeling that Preston and Hespeler don’t always get the same attention Galt does,” Goodridge said.
“Preston Springs really triggered this immediate community. We all thought, ‘It’s designated, it’s going to be repurposed’ and then it came down and we thought, ‘Oh goodness, what does that mean for the rest of our area?’ ”
McGarry said while she supports Goodridge’s plan, it unfortunately can’t be executed any time soon.
Council approval and funds are needed to see any kind of heritage study take place, and there is a queue of heritage studies waiting to be completed.
Property taxes are always on the minds of residents, so council needs to be mindful of that as well, McGarry noted.
The mayor hopes continued community interest in heritage can help bolster Goodridge’s efforts in getting council approval for her heritage plan for Preston come budget time later this year.
“We need to have broad-based community support to go forward,” McGarry said.
She said the television and film industry’s interest in Cambridge’s picturesque scenery is a testament to the importance of preserving unique architecture that makes the city attractive.
“There are economic benefits to having wonderful spaces to film in,” she said.