Benefits of Heritage Planning
Conserving our historic resources has many positive aspects, which include:
Strengthening the tax base
Municipalities improve their tax base by retaining, enhancing and adapting existing historic structures for new uses.
Job creation
Restoration projects are more labour intensive than new construction, which stimulates demand for a wider range of skills, services and materials within the local economy. It also ensures that a base of specialized tradespeople is developed within the city’s labour market.
Tourism
The preservation and renewal of historic resources creates historical, architectural and cultural attractions, and retains and enhances the character of established communities and neighbourhoods. Whyte Avenue owes its popularity and existence to this fact. Heritage conservation is now inextricably linked with tourism, and is the fastest growing segment of the tourism industry.
Economic Development
The restoration and preservation of heritage buildings can be marketed as a tool to create positive economic development and cultural sustainability in the city. 104 Street Promenade draws its strength and marketing from its historic character, attracting major new investment and development into the area.
Urban Design
Heritage buildings and icons help create a city’s distinctive character. They reflect the rich traditions of the city and enhance the sense of time and place for its citizens. Heritage buildings have cultural and educational benefits that link us to events and styles of the past. Heritage initiatives have a strong positive impact on developing complete communities and creating a vibrant culture of creativity and innovation. They also contribute significantly to attractive pedestrian-oriented spaces.
Reusing resources/sustainability
Recycling of existing buildings makes good use of our building stock and prevents tonnes of materials ending up in landfills. It also prevents the need to expend more energy to create new material. Reusing and adapting buildings is a sustainable and smart choice.
Compensation
Owners are rewarded through the incentive programs and acknowledged through publicity and plaque programs. This ensures that they are financially assisted for contributing to the city’s built legacy.
Stable property values
Historic properties are desirable locations to live or work and are good investments in the long term, as they tend to retain their value when maintained.
Pride
Property owners and businesses are usually proud of their historic properties and choose to maintain them well, as they are unique and distinctive.
Free professional heritage advice
The City provides advice to owners and users of historic resources to enable them to maintain, save or develop their properties in the best possible manner.
Development process liaison
The heritage planners may act as a liaison for owners during the permitting process. Owners may benefit where development regulations may be relaxed or innovative solutions are proposed to ensure buildings remain viable.
For More Information
Robert Geldart
Sustainable Development
6th Floor, 10250 - 101 St NW
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3P4
| Title | Senior Heritage Planner |
|---|---|
| Telephone |
780-496-6123 |
| Fax | 780-401-7052 |
| robert.geldart@edmonton.ca |
David Johnston
Sustainable Development6th Floor, 10250 - 101 St NW
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3P4
| Title | Principal Heritage Planner |
|---|---|
| Telephone | 780-496-5281 |
| Fax | 780-401-7052 |
| david.johnston2@edmonton.ca |
