Calls grow to revive Gillooly’s Farm amid neglect and vandalism
After seeing how Gillooly’s Farm former restaurant and conference hall have been sitting empty for years, councillor Mike da Silva has called for their revival and proper utilisation.
For several years, the state of Gillooly’s Farm in Bedfordview has been deteriorating.
Clr Mike da Silva, who is currently standing in for Ward 20 Clr Jill Humphreys, has suggested that the place be utilised correctly and fully.
As Da Silva and Bedfordview Edenvale News toured the farm on March 30, they were met by a gushing stream of water.
Upon tracing the water all the way up to the source, it turned out to be a burst pipe within the urinals, which the councillor reported.
Meanwhile, Clr da Silva shared that a side of the farm used to have dog kennels and horse stables for the EMPD.
ALSO READ: Gillooly’s Farm stables left in ruins despite offers to revive them
A building was close by, which the councillor said used to be a restaurant but had not been cleaned in a long time.
He added that the former restaurant had been stripped by vagrants and left with electricity portals not functioning. The roof was also leaking.
“If the restaurant was being used, for example, someone would have phoned the city to report the urinal’s water leakage because, as it is, we don’t know how long the water leak has been going on for,” said Clr da Silva.
Further on sat the empty Gillooly’s Farm House, which used to be a conference hall.
The councillor suggested that the long term solution was to revive the buildings and keep them functioning as restaurants and spaces for people to visit or even host weddings at.
He pointed out that the city had underinvested in security by hiring only a handful of security guards who could not cover the entire property.
Da Silva said, “At the moment, the city is not paying its suppliers because there isn’t enough revenue coming in.
“But when you think about it, this is space the city could be renting or rather leasing out, which could generate income for the city while also helping to alleviate the security problem.”
He further acknowledged the need for meaningful public-private partnerships where people are not being exploited and seen as cash cows but rather meaningful partners by the City.
ALSO READ: Letter: Reader pleads to the City for more maintenance at Gillooly’s Farm
Regarding littering in the park, the councillor said it is a double-edged sword. It is the city’s responsibility to ensure the park remains neat and tidy, which includes cutting the grass and picking up litter, especially on busy days when people use the space. At the same time, residents also have a duty to clean up after themselves when using a public space.
“There is no reason to leave the litter lying around everywhere for someone else to pick up. There are a lot of bins around the park. We all need to work together to look after our spaces.”
A request for comment was sent to the CoE on March 31. A response was requested by April 2 at 10:00.
At the time of going to print, no comment had been received.
