Re: We must do more to keep heritage sites, Dec. 9.
Columnist Joanne Chianello makes some great points about heritage. Heritage buildings contribute so much to the well-being of our communities. They create a sense of cohesion and belonging that doesn’t have a dollar figure. A well-maintained heritage building is a green building, and when properly restored, they too can meet LEED standards.
But if you want to talk dollars, think of the tourism revenue generated by heritage places in a city like Ottawa. Places like the ByWard Market Heritage Conservation District are significant generators of income.
A recent series of surveys conducted by the University of Waterloo into heritage conservation districts across the province have shown that owner satisfaction and property values are greater inside heritage conservation districts than in similar neighbourhoods outside the districts.
So we all benefit when an owner reaches into his or her pocket to fix up that heritage building.
For places which benefit us all, shouldn’t individual property owners get a little help? $5,000 isn’t much towards a conservation project but some owners have found it a useful incentive. Just think how much more could be accomplished with a bit more funding.
Heritage Ottawa will encourage this new term of city council to be a bit more generous with their conservation grants, and to consider tax incentives for owners to restore and maintain heritage buildings.
We’ll all benefit!
Leslie Maitland, President, Heritage Ottawa
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