Benefits of Heritage Conservation for Municipalities
Economic
“Heritage conservation has been portrayed as the alternative to economic development, ‘either we have historic preservation, or we have economic growth.’ That is a false choice. In fact, heritage-based economic strategies can advance a wide range of public policy priorities.”
- Donovan Rypkema, European Cultural Heritage Forum 2005
Extensive international research has gone into evaluating the benefits and economic outcomes of conserving heritage in municipalities. Multiple reports have demonstrated the dollars-and-sense value of protecting heritage at the local level. Here are a few reasons why preserving heritage is good economics:
Heritage conservation fosters community revitalization.
Many Albertan municipalities have experienced revitalization through the Alberta Main Street Program and other heritage programs available through Alberta Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture. National Trust studies in the United States have shown that every dollar invested in heritage conservation leveraged nearly $27 of other reinvestment in the local economies.
Heritage conservation encourages heritage tourism.
Cities and towns of any size can take advantage of heritage tourism opportunities. Research shows that heritage tourists tend to include multiple destinations on their trips, spend 60% more and stay 60% longer than non-heritage tourists.
Heritage conservation enhances property values.
Research indicates that the value of historic properties, especially within historic districts, appreciate at rates greater than the local market overall and faster than similar non-designated properties. Across Canada heritage buildings have performed much better than average in the marketplace and the price of heritage houses was less affected by cyclical downturns in property values.
Heritage conservation creates jobs.
Conservation efforts create well-paying jobs in skilled labour, design and promotion, having a ripple effect on local economies. Active and ongoing conservation of historic places ensures that these jobs will be secure for years to come.
Social
Foster a strong sense of place
By conserving their heritage, municipalities can foster a strong local identity based upon a sound understanding of their area’s unique history. The presence of historic places evokes the stories of the significant past, helping to cultivate community knowledge and pride. Municipal Historic Resources, with their unique “sense of place,” can inspire a community to celebrate what makes it special. Community members and groups often work alongside owners of historic places to ensure their stewardship and protection for future generations.
• Historic places tend to bring together people of all ages;
• Historic places often become focal points for important community events and celebrations;
• Historic places and heritage planning provides opportunity for public service and volunteerism.
Cultural
Enhance local cultural life
A municipality’s cultural life can be considerably enhanced by conserving its historic places, working in tandem with the promotion of cultural and artistic activity.
• Heritage resources communicate meanings associated with the historic way of life of the specific cultures that created them;
• Protecting historic places promotes architectural interest and diversity in public spaces;
• Historic districts in both Canadian urban centres and smaller communities are often attractive locations to artistic and cultural groups.
Sustainability
Sustainable development is often highlighted by a three point approach which fosters economic, cultural and environmental sensitivity, awareness and success. Heritage planning and conservation has strong foundations in all three of these areas – it is an ideal contributor to sustainable development strategies.
Heritage conservation is sustainable in the following ways:
Economically – research from across the globe shows that heritage conservation can have multiple economic benefits for a community, including job growth in skilled trades, increased property values, revitalized neighbourhoods and a wide array of tourism opportunities.
Culturally – at its core, heritage conservation is a cultural activity. Not only does it remind us of our past and traditions, it acts as a point of pride and reference that can help foster awareness and confident cultural growth that respects traditions and stories of the area.
Environmentally – Reduce & Re-use. Heritage conservation helps to reduce reliance on new materials, environmentally unfriendly building materials and energy intensive production of new building materials. Heritage conservation encourages the re-use of existing building materials by extending the life of a building and its components, or rehabilitating damaged building materials.
Beat the “big boxes”
Big box retailers and urban sprawl are consistent concerns of municipal planners. Heritage planning and conservation can help fight architectural monotony and other symptoms of big box and sprawl-type architecture.
While it is hard to compete with the types of services offered by large scale retailers, some Alberta communities have found that they can compete by offering what the box boxes don’t. Established downtowns with historic buildings offer architectural and historical variety, character spaces, and unique venues for retail, cafes, restaurants, services and other commercial uses.
By offering unique spaces and a niche market in your historic structures, the onset of big boxes can be lessened and the two may be able to co-exist. A sense of place is a powerful thing to market in your established and historic commercial districts and is something that big box retailers simply cannot compete with.