OECD Culture and Local Development.pdf - PACA

2. LOCAL DEVELOPMENT BASED ON ATTRACTING VISITORS AND TOURISTS
- There is a second route available, even in the absence of monuments or symbolic
sites.
For example, the Main Street programme in the United States has produced a
significant leverage effect on spending on the rehabilitation of older dwellings
and related jobs. It has been shown that the rehabilitation of “main streets” in a
score of small towns in Virginia induced private investment of more than $55 million.
Moreover, in the last 15 years the Historical Rehabilitation Tax Credit has created
nearly 13,000 jobs (Rykpema, 1995). States are constantly offering new financial
incentives to undertake such renovations. In a recent case, the partnership
between the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Trust
Community Investment Corporation led to creation of the National Trust Small
Deal Fund, designed to provide funding for small homeowner projects and to limit
the transaction costs of such funding. It covers all states and all types of property 44 .
- As increasing numbers of developing countries are also moving in this direction,
recognising the economic and social benefits of renovation programmes (The
World Bank, 1999). The restoration of historic districts also holds considerable
development potential, whether we speak of protected areas in Europe or of
community rehabilitation in countries like Ecuador (Quito), India (Ahmenabad)
or Laos (Luang Prabang). Although situations, property legislation and financial
resources may differ sharply, the same principles are in play.
With renovations to flagship monuments, generally with government funding,
the hope is generally to encourage private firms and households to upgrade their
own premises or dwellings. Incentives may be of a tax nature, but more often they
involve the offer of ready access to raw materials, advisory services, subsidised
credit, etc. Voluntary networks are often important for coordinating these activities,
which will involve studies, engineering, contracting, and temporary accommodation.
An example is the “Pact Arim”, which helped with the renovation of nearly 30% of
the inquilinato dwellings of old Quito (tiny dwellings resulting from the repeated
subdivision of older, often abandoned, residences) (Amiot, 2000). The local
development impact can be considerable. Jobs have been created or revived,
building improvements have sparked new activities, local craft shops have at least
been saved from being expelled by real estate developments, and skills have
been honed that can be used for other tasks.
- To illustrate the potential of heritage buildings to create new qualifications
and skills, the “school workshops” of Spain offer a good example (OECD, 1996).
The practice here is to set up a “school” for the duration of work on rehabilitating
a square surrounded by heritage buildings or old houses, city parks, or rural
landscapes. Young recruits receive both theoretical and practical training while
64 CULTURE AND LOCAL DEVELOPMENT - ISBN 92-64-00990-6 - © OECD 2005