Preston Springs Hotel

December 28, 2020 

Mayor Kathryn McGarry (mayor@cambridge.ca) 

Members of Council: Donna Reid (ReidD@cambridge.ca), Pam Wolf (wolfp@cambridge.ca), Jan Liggett (liggettj@cambridge.ca), Nicholas Ermeta (ErmetaN@cambridge.ca), Mike Devine (devinem@cambridge.ca), Mike Mann (mannm@cambridge.ca), Shannon Adshade (adshades@cambridge.ca), Scott Hamilton (hamiltons@cambridge.ca) 

Dennis Purcell, Chief Building Official, City of Cambridge (Purcelld@cambridge.ca) 

Dear Mayor, Councillors, and Mr. Purcell: 

Re: Preston Springs Hotel 

On behalf of the London Region branch of Architectural Conservancy Ontario (ACO London Region), I am writing to ask the City of Cambridge to rescind the emergency order to demolish the Preston Springs Hotel, a designated heritage building protected under the Ontario Heritage Act. 

In addition, we respectfully request that Mr. Purcell order the property owner, Haastown Holdings (Preston) Inc., to secure the building from trespassers and make required repairs, using his powers under the Building Code Act and following the recommendations of the city’s own engineering reports. 

I lived in the Kitchener-Waterloo area for twelve years, from 1980 to 1992. I am familiar with the Preston Springs Hotel. It truly is an iconic landmark, deserving of a second life. If the current property owner is unwilling or unable to take the required steps to repair, protect, and maintain the building, then it would be appropriate for the city – on behalf of its residents and the larger community – to perform the necessary repairs and then seek reimbursement. 

Demolition by neglect should not be rewarded, whether it occurs in Cambridge, London, or anywhere else in Ontario. 

Thank you for considering my comments. 

Yours truly, 

Kelley McKeating 
President, Architectural Conservancy Ontario – London Region 

Copies: John Calhoun, Senior Planner – Heritage (Calhounj@cambridge.ca), Karl Kiefer, Regional Councillor (Kkiefer@regionofwaterloo.ca), Helen Jowett, Regional Councillor (Hjowett@regionofwaterloo.ca), Karen Redman Regional Chair, (Kredman@regionofwaterloo.ca), Bridget Coady, Principal Planner, Region of Waterloo (Bcoady@regionofwaterloo.ca), Elizabeth Clarke, Regional Councillor appointed to the Heritage Planning Advisory Committee (Eclarke@regionofwaterloo.ca), Kae Elgie, Chair, ACO Board of Directors (president@acontario.ca)