Heritage properties to get help
$50,000 for fund was already in the city budget, Hann says
Heritage property owners in St. John’s can look forward to a break with certain repairs and renovations after most of council voted to implement a Heritage Financial Incentives Program.
The $50,000 fund was already budgeted for, said Coun. Tom Hann, as the program replaces two others that have been dormant.
“We have rescinded two old bylaws which basically awarded grants and tax incentives. They haven’t been used since 1995. However, given the situation over the last year and a half or so with regard to heritage properties and that, council felt it was time that we did something,” he said at Monday’s council meeting.
The program will allow contractors to apply, but Hann said it is geared toward homeowners in residential properties.
Coun. Dave Lane supported the move, saying it can help residents abide by heritage regulations imposed on them by the city.
“Fifty-thousand dollars, in the grand scheme of a yearly budget, isn’t a lot of money, but it can go a long way to help someone who is just trying to maintain a home in a heritage area, or is a designated heritage property to do regular maintenance, or to add something that it needs to fit in,” he said, adding it can encourage those property owners to apply for other grants.
Deputy Mayor Ron Ellsworth was the only member of council not to support the motion. He said he would certainly consider it if financial qualification were a factor, but as it stands, he’d rather see the money used in other ways.
“I will not be supporting this motion because it’s very looseygoosey in the sense of the qualifying pieces that are required, as far as I’m concerned,” he said.
“This money could certainly go a long way in supporting our seniors, which make close to 25 per cent of our population throughout the city, stay in their own homes, be able to do minor renovations to become more cost effective and energy efficient in their own homes, so they don’t have to make choices during the winter to heat the homes or to leave and go to a mall somewhere to stay warm and stay cozy.”
“I do appreciate the intent of what we’re trying to accomplish here, but if we’re going to do this it needs to be tightened up, and the qualifications need to be around applying for funding based on a means test, not just the properties themselves and the ability to look after the properties.”
The new program replaces the Residential Heritage Grant Program, the Commercial Heritage Grant Program and the Heritage Property-Tax Deferral Program for non-residential designated heritage buildings.
The program will be publicized when it’s all ironed out.