[Guelph, ON – November 30, 2012]
On Monday, November 26th, Skyline Group of Companies merged both of its offices together in their relocation to the Gummer Building at 5 Douglas Street in downtown Guelph.
Skyline purchased the Gummer building, as well as the Victoria and Stewart buildings, after all three were damaged in a fire on Easter Weekend of 2007. Since then, Skyline has worked on the site’s redevelopment, while preserving its beautiful stone facades and other historical features. The three buildings have been incorporated into a high-profile, fully accessible commercial complex, and have been deemed a heritage site by the City of Guelph.
Additionally, the redeveloped building offers 18 sophisticated apartment suites on its top-level floors.
The Skyline Group of Companies takes pride in its open-door policy to prospective and current investors alike and welcomes new visitors at any time. You may contact us directly at our new address:
5 Douglas Street, Suite 301
Guelph, ON N1H 2S8
Phone: 519.826.0439
Toll-free: 1.888.977.REIT(7348)
Fax: 519.766.8474
Interesting Facts about the Gummer Building at 5 Douglas Street, Guelph, ON
- Downtown Guelph’s Gummer building is comprised of three landmark buildings, all circa 1870-75. First established by woodworker William Brownlow, the buildings were once collectively known as the “Brownlow Block”.
- Mr. Henry Gummer was one of the original owners of 1-7 Douglas Street, the original Gummer building. In 1916, Mr. Gummer moved his newspaper company, the Guelph Herald (which later became the Guelph Mercury) from its original Quebec Street location to this property. The building featured one of the two oldest manually operated elevators in Ontario.
- The Victoria Hotel, originally owned by businessman J. Hesson, was one of the oldest and best-known hostelries in Guelph.
- 65 Wyndham Street, now known as the Stewart Building, was occupied in 1890 by prominent pharmacist Alex Stewart.
- On April 6, 2007, the Gummer, Victoria and Stewart buildings were badly damaged by fire. After realizing the outcry from the Guelph community, the Skyline partners felt an obligation to execute a collective restoration and redevelopment of the site. Skyline officially moved its Head Office into the Gummer building in November 2012.
- Several challenges were faced during the building’s reconstruction, including the reparation of water damage, bracing the Victoria Building’s façade to restore the masonry, and underpinning and grouting each stone wall to support the building’s new structure. Thousands of tons of cement and steel were needed to accomplish these tasks.
- Following the project’s completion, the City of Guelph has declared the Gummer Building a heritage site. Its architectural features, including distinct façades, have been restored, and give a unique identity to this modernized, fully-accessible and eco-sensitive property.