Ontario Construction News staff writer
The City of Guelph is purchasing the Guelph Public Library’s main branch property at 100 Norfolk St. with plans to transform the site into housing, including below-market affordable housing.
The city is using $3.69 million it received through Ontario’s Building Faster Fund in 2025 to help finance the purchase. The provincial program provides funding for municipal housing-enabling infrastructure and is intended to help municipalities accelerate housing construction.
“Working with the Guelph Public Library Board to facilitate this purchase was key, and we thank them tremendously,” said Mayor Cam Guthrie. “We’re also grateful to the provincial government for the recent Building Faster Fund, which we knew would allow us to bring this vision to life.
“This site’s proximity to transit, schools, services and businesses makes it an ideal spot for new homes that will serve Guelph residents for years to come.”
The existing library is scheduled to move to a new Central Library at 1 Baker St. in 2027, creating an opportunity to repurpose the Norfolk Street property.
Board members helped facilitate the sale to the city, with the goal of keeping the property in public ownership and allowing it to be used to address community needs, including housing affordability.
City staff will spend the coming year examining options for developing housing on the site. Potential approaches include leasing the land or partnering with housing providers or developers to build homes.
The city said the project is intended to provide a range of housing options, including some below-market homes priced according to provincial affordability benchmarks.
Community consultation will take place before any development proceeds. Details about the consultation process are expected in 2027.
The property is within Guelph’s Downtown Community Planning Permit System area, where residential uses are permitted. The site is also within a 15-minute walk of Guelph Central GO Station, local schools, Exhibition Park and downtown stores and services.
The purchase is part of a broader effort by the city to use municipal resources and property to increase the supply of housing.
Other initiatives include planning for housing on city-owned land on Normandy Drive and Eastview Road and working with Thresholds Homes and Supports on affordable rental housing at 14 Edinburgh Rd. S.
Guelph’s rental vacancy rate was 2.9 per cent as of October 2025, slightly below the three per cent rate generally considered indicative of a balanced rental market.
Ontario Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Rob Flack said the Building Faster Fund is intended to support municipalities in creating more housing opportunities.
“Housing has remained one of my most important priorities as mayor and for our community,” Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie said. “Securing property for the public and social good of our city creates the right type of opportunities for housing.”
“As we prepare to welcome patrons to our new Central Library, we’re pleased to contribute to much-needed housing, including affordable housing options,” said Guelph Public Library Board chair Bang Ly.
In recent years, the City of Guelph has been exploring ways to move beyond policies, grants and programs that support housing development, and into new ways to use City resources to get housing built. This includes using City-owned land, funding and collaborative relationships to support new housing in Guelph.
Examples include planning for new housing on City-owned land on Normandy Drive and Eastview Road, as well as working with Thresholds Homes and Supports to deliver affordable rental housing at 14 Edinburgh Rd. S. These projects are just a few of the ways that the City of Guelph is working to address our community’s need for more housing options.
