O•S•C•A•R© Shop Your Local! - Old Ottawa South

Page 14
By John M. Calvert
Every year, infill development and
intensification bring substantial changes to
our neighbourhood. In some cases this results
in complete demolition, such as 900 Colonel By
Drive (see The OSCAR November 2008). We seem
to be gradually losing our cultural heritage and the
essential character of our neighbourhood. What can
we do to protect our built cultural heritage?
Old Ottawa South has a number of well-recognized
heritage landmarks, including the Old Firehall,
the Bank Street Bridge, and Southminster United
Church, but not all of these are protected. There are
currently six public and private properties designated
for protection under the Ontario Heritage Act, and
The OSCAR - OUR 36 th YEAR
OTTAWA SOUTH HISTORY PROJECT
Protecting Our Cultural Heritage in Old Ottawa South
another one (Mayfair Theatre) is currently under
consideration for designation. There are likely other
properties in Old Ottawa South that merit formal
protection under the Ontario Heritage Act.
The Ontario Heritage Act provides for
protection of culturally significant properties. The
Act can be applied to individual properties or to
a conservation district which is a group of two or
more related properties. Properties and districts are
evaluated based on whether they have (1) design or
physical value, (2) historical or associative value, or
(3) contextual value. Heritage protection can apply
to both the exterior and the interior of an individual
building, or just the exterior of buildings in a
district designation. When a property is designated,
heritage planners prepare a Statement of Cultural
Heritage Value or Interest that lists the attributes of
the property that are protected. Only those features
listed are covered by the legal protection, and all
other attributes of the property are not.
Some people are fearful of what a formal heritage
designation for their property could mean, in large
part because of misunderstandings about the effect
of the designation. The most common concerns are
that designation under the Heritage Act will result
in burdensome restrictions on the property, which
would affect the smallest maintenance or renovation
project, and result in extra expenses to conform to
the designation. Further, some fear they will find it
difficult to sell the property, with a resulting loss in
property value.
In fact, research shows these fears to be
unfounded. Dr. Robert Shipley of the School of
Planning, University of Waterloo, has extensively
studied heritage designation and its impact on
property owners and property values. His research,
along with others in the United States, shows that
heritage designations have no measurable negative
impact on property values, and in fact reveal a
possible positive influence. Dr. Shipley is presently
leading a province-wide study to update this
research, including several conservation districts
that are located in Ottawa.
The Ontario Heritage Act allows municipalities
to provide property tax relief of 10% to 40%, and
to establish loan/grant programs to assist property
owners in maintenance and restoration projects.
The City of Ottawa has a grant program with a
maximum grant per property per annum of $5,000
matching funds, and is considering a property tax
relief program.
Many owners of designated heritage properties
discover that there is a significant caché in a heritage
designation and an enhanced pride of ownership.
Such a designation can also enhance the market
value of a property, as the designation highlights
the unique attractiveness of the property.
A less formal means of protection is simply to
document and publicize properties with cultural
significance. This is probably less effective
than a formal designation, but is easier to gain
consensus on and achieve. Given Old Ottawa
South’s recent history of rising to the challenge
to defend our interests, this less formal means of
protection is perhaps sufficient in the short term,
but may not be enough to ensure a cultural legacy
for our grandchildren and future residents of the
neighbourhood.
DEC 2008
In any approach we choose to protect our
heritage, several elements are essential:
1. Community based perspective. Most
successful heritage districts are initiated by
community members themselves, not government.
The broader the community base of support for the
district, the more likely the chances of success, not
only during the designation process, but also in the
management of change over time.
2. Value-based approach. A clear Statement of
Value is one of the most important legal requirements
of heritage designation. Experience shows that the
Ontario Municipal Board will take into account
heritage values when they are clearly and precisely
identified.
3. Inclusive view of heritage. Designation is not
just about buildings, but can include the streetscape
and landscape features and use patterns that form
the glue holding properties together and sustaining
their value.
4. Strong basis in history. One of the key
differences between heritage districts and other
aspects of municipal planning is the use of history.
Good historical research reveals more than just the
past; it provides a way to understand the present and
plan for the future.
5. Dynamic view of heritage. With good
historical research and a clear statement of values,
a community can focus on enhancing things that
are important and letting go of things that do not
contribute. This creates a dynamic rather than static
approach to heritage, although there is a basic
framework of stability.
Please contact the Ottawa South History
Project with your thoughts on the use of heritage
designations, for both individual properties and
districts. If the community supports the above
approach, we will be looking for volunteers in 2009
to help conduct a heritage survey to identify and
document individual properties and street blocks
that might merit designation.
Contact the Ottawa South History Project at
HistoryProject@OldOttawaSouth.ca or visit us
online at www.OldOttawaSouth.ca/HistoryProject.
For further reading, see Dr. Shipley’s article:
The Impact of Heritage Designation on Property
Values. International Journal of Heritage Studies:
6(1), 2000; or the Brookings Institution’s Economics
and Historic Preservation - A Guide and Review of
the Literature: 2005.
The Ontario Heritage Act, Regulation 9/06:
Criteria for Determining Cultural Heritage Value
or Interest can be found at www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/
html/regs/english/elaws_regs_060009_e.htm.
Dr. Shipley’s Heritage Conservation District
Study can be found at www.fes.uwaterloo.ca/
research/hrc/research_and_education/index.html.