[URBAN NOTE] "The business case for heritage building preservation"
Sharon Crowther reports from Edmonton for The Globe and Mail, where the issue of preserving the Albertan capital's heritage buildings is starting to make economic sense.
Heritage advocates in Edmonton are making the case that building preservation can not only beautify the city but make economic sense.
A new report commissioned by the Edmonton Historical Board says heritage properties in the city provide significant long-term return on investments for buyers and generate a greater return on taxpayer dollars.
“There’s been nothing like this before for Edmonton,” researcher and author Shirley Lowe says. “We modelled the report on one which was undertaken by the city of Savannah in Georgia. We added in environmental metrics which we felt were an important part of the picture here.”
Currently, Edmonton has 38 recognized heritage neighbourhoods, comprising 6 per cent of the city’s land area.
“Much of the city’s early pioneer buildings were torn down during the boom times,” explains Ms. Lowe, who is herself a heritage advocate. “We consider Edmonton’s current economic slowdown to be a good time to make our case.”
Heritage advocates in Edmonton are making the case that building preservation can not only beautify the city but make economic sense.
A new report commissioned by the Edmonton Historical Board says heritage properties in the city provide significant long-term return on investments for buyers and generate a greater return on taxpayer dollars.
“There’s been nothing like this before for Edmonton,” researcher and author Shirley Lowe says. “We modelled the report on one which was undertaken by the city of Savannah in Georgia. We added in environmental metrics which we felt were an important part of the picture here.”
Currently, Edmonton has 38 recognized heritage neighbourhoods, comprising 6 per cent of the city’s land area.
“Much of the city’s early pioneer buildings were torn down during the boom times,” explains Ms. Lowe, who is herself a heritage advocate. “We consider Edmonton’s current economic slowdown to be a good time to make our case.”