The proposed Abode Student Housing development. Guelph Mercury Photo.

If you had to pick a controversial property in Guelph, none would come to mind sooner than the Best Western at the corner of Stone Rd. and Gordon St., just across from the University of Guelph.

It’s at this location that Abode Varsity Living has proposed a high-density, student rental-focused development, at a scale not unlike the Edinburgh Village complex on Chancellors Way. The difference is the site location (on a busy intersection) and the much-smaller size of the property.

An application for re-zoning was originally filed by the developer in 2010, and has since been met with strong resistance from both the city and surrounding neighbourhood. The proposed facades, while architecturally appealing are also large and imposing. The neighbourhood association wishes for them to be scaled down significantly, and rejected 3 different proposals from the developer.

Last week the Ontario Municipal Board ruled heavily in favour of Abode’s redevelopment after they filed a complaint against the city for perceived stalling and an unwillingness to move, whether or not that was the case. Subject to minor variations for maximum heights, land inclines, setbacks, etc., the OMB felt that the development was reasonable for the plot of land and its location. This ruling should expedite the development process over the coming months.

While this story is far from over, we thought we’d share with you the original proposed rendering. The scale of it is certainly something to behold. Even at a reduced height, the proposal is a far-cry from the current low-rise hotel/conference centre use. Seems like only a matter of time until these renderings become a reality.