Heritage Bylaw

Originally posted 10/14/06 on PersonPlaceorThing.blogspot.com

I have been thinking lately about how to communicate my frustration with Saint John's Heritage bylaw. I am not yet sure of what to say or who to say it to (likely the Deputy Mayor who seems to champion the law along with the idea that buildings have to be brick to be worthy of central Saint John).

My main idea in this regard is that the bylaw is highly uninhibited. The bylaw is designed to preserve heritage buildings by putting strict limits on development in a designated heritage area.

While I see the history in these buildings as something worth keeping, the rules make it difficult to develop empty lots with buildings that do not have exteriors that have a historic look. This part of the law keeps buildings small and costly (a lot of fancy brick-work and impractical facades). During the last municipal election many politicians promised to address the law's flaws after a lot of publicity around a case where an empty lot would not be developed because the developer was told his modest apartment building was too tall.

If you let people build modern profitable buildings on empty lots they will not stay empty. Right now our heritage preservation is keeping a lot of lots empty - and I don't see gravel parking spaces as that historic. The law is decade old and many historic buildings have come down, and not many faux-historical buildings have gone up to replace them, proving the law ineffective.

I understand that if you let people develop lots with profitable modern buildings owners of less profitable historic or old properties might wish to get rid of history in favour of modernity. Here is where I think any reforms to the law need to be careful. I believe development can happen and heritage can be preserved. Though, if its not profitable to stay historic, subsidies will be needed to keep these buildings up if we as a society think this is worth more than spending tax money on hospitals, education or housing for the poor.