Rekindling SPS

News Release - City of London

Tuesday Nov. 29, 2016

St. Peter’s Seminary set to complete site works and move forward with $38M heritage restoration

With the required tree permit now in hand, St. Peter’s Seminary will be completing their site works, consistent with the plans previously approved by Council through a heritage alteration permit process. The project is being undertaken on the Huron Street property to allow a $38-million heritage restoration of the iconic Seminary building to proceed.

“We have determined that the tree removal that has occurred is consistent with the heritage alteration permit that was submitted by the Seminary and approved by the London Advisory Committee on Heritage and City Council,” City Planner John Fleming said. “The Seminary has followed up with their required landscape plan showing extensive re-planting and has also acquired the necessary tree permit to move forward. The City’s new Tree Protection By-law was established in August and, as a new by-law, created some confusion relating to all of the permits and processes required to implement the planned work.”

The Seminary and their consulting team have been working closely with City staff to obtain the permits for the four-year project as planned. All permits are now in place.

“Since 1926, when St. Peter’s Seminary first began its mission on this site, it has served to steward the natural environment of this setting: planting and caring for trees, shrubs and flowers that have beautified this land since its humble beginnings as an open field,” said Fr Steven Wlusek, St. Peter's Seminary Rector. “The Seminary is dedicated to continuing its good stewardship of this land and, through its current renovation project, seeks to operate with greater environmental care in its use of resources and be more accessible and welcoming to all who participate in its programs of faith formation and preparation for ministry.”

A total of 125 trees will be removed as planned to allow for the necessary extension of sanitary services, a new driveway to the seminary building, a parking lot and an enhanced vista to the heritage seminary building from the street as required by the approved heritage alteration permit.

The restoration plan calls for retention of more than 2,000 trees on the seminary site as a whole and retention of almost 240 trees within the area adjacent to the seminary building. As well, the seminary will plant almost 300 new trees to replace the 125 trees being removed.

The seminary project represents a $38M investment to restore and improve this important heritage building and make it sustainable within the community for the long-term.

Ward 6 Coun. Phil Squire will hold a community meeting regarding the renovation project in the seminary auditorium Dec. 12 from 6 – 8 p.m.

Media contact:

John Fleming

City Planner

519 661-2500 ext. 5343

jmflemin@london.ca