Advantages of Designating Your Property
Designation is a by-law enacted by council that protects the heritage attributes of a property of cultural heritage value or interest. This follows a process of identifying, evaluating and defining a property as per criteria set out in the Ontario Heritage Act.
Individual and Community Advantages
a) Our heritage is a precious resource, a cultural or natural asset often visible to everyone, which gives identity and distinctiveness to a community
b) Designation is a tangible expression by the community of their appreciation of the value of special properties or events.
c) Designation does not restrict use of the property, but the protection it affords may prevent unsympathetic changes or delay demolition while practical options are explored and advice provided.
d) Designation does not obligate an owner to restore a property to its original condition or its appearance in an earlier period.
e) Planning Staff and the Heritage Committee offer advice on heritage conservation and protection matters.
Economic and Financial Advantages
a) Research has shown over the years that designation has not adversely affected property values; in fact, it has shown that heritage buildings have been less affected where there has been a general downturn in property values.
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c) Designation of heritage properties enhances community renewal and development objectives and contributes to local quality of life and economic development.
d) Designated properties can take on renewed life by being thoughtfully restored and used for contemporary purposes, creating employment and income within the community.
e) According to a recent study, in the year 2000 out of 23.3 million Canadian adults, 2.6 million were heritage tourism enthusiasts. Of this number, 55% visited historic sites while 54% visited historic replicas of cities or towns. Furthermore, in 1999, Canadians spent $3 billion on cultural tourism. Restoring heritage homes can increase tourism, therefore generating revenue for local business and the community as a whole.
Environmental Advantages
a) Conservation of designated property has less impact on the environment than new construction in terms of energy required for renovation, land fill requirements and the recycling of material.
b) Conserving a designated property is a sustainable practice. At the 2009 Ontario Heritage Conference, Donovan Rypkema summarized his argument for heritage conservation into five points:
1. Sustainable development is crucial for economic competitiveness.
2. Sustainable development has more elements than just environmental responsibility.
3. “Green buildings” and sustainable development are not synonyms.
4. Historic preservation is, in and of itself, sustainable development.
5. Development without a historic preservation component is not sustainable.
To read more of what Rypkema says on historic preservation and economic development, click
here.
