The Guelph, Ontario, city council signaled intent to protect the facade of a 19th-century steel building with a heritage designation.

The move, approved at a special council meeting, came within hours of the property owner's application for a permit to demolish what's left of the metal building.

Located on Wyndham St., the commercial steel building was severely damaged in a fire that also ravaged several historic buildings on Douglas Street.

Most of the building, known as the Victoria Hotel when it was built in the 1850s, was demolished after the fire. The footings and stone wall that remain suffered major heat damage.

The metal building's facade can no longer be altered or demolished until council revisits the issue after a 30-day public commenting period.

At that point, council members will decide whether to pass a bylaw that registers the heritage designation on the property or to withdraw the notice, halting the process.

One question still to be answered is who will cover the costs associated with bracing the wall, the recommended course of action given the hazard posed.

Temporary wood bracing for the steel building, which would last until winter, is estimated at $46,000.

A permanent steel building frame, which could be incorporated into a new building, would cost about $100,000.

The property owner, Barry Malinski, who was represented at the meeting by his wife Orycia Malinski, has indicated he does not have the means to pay for the renovations.

But now that the steel building cannot be torn down, alternatives - and how to fund them - will be discussed in the coming months.

The biggest concern of all may not be those costs, but what will happen if the facade isn't reinforced soon.

Winmar Restoration, the contractor in charge of demolition, said the metal building is only being held up by the facades on either side of it.

For that reason, a fence remains on Douglas Street to block pedestrian and vehicle traffic from getting too close.

KML Building Solutions, a firm specializing in steel frame building work, has already provided an engineer at no cost to scope out the site and has indicated a potential interest in donating more.