News Release
HRM Helps Preserve Heritage Homes
(Friday, September 27/2002)-- Halifax Regional Municipality will help give some registered heritage properties a face-lift this year with the new Heritage Incentive Program, launched last evening at Heritage Canada's annual meeting in Halifax.
Mayor Peter Kelly said, "The new program is intended to promote heritage tourism, an emerging trend of people traveling to historic locations like our Region to visit historic buildings and sites."
The Mayor added "For the first time since 1997, the Halifax Regional Municipality is able to provide this new incentive to preserve our heritage buildings and we hope to expand the program to other heritage structures in the future. We want to recognize the important role of heritage in our communities."
The incentive program offers a matching grant that would cover 50% of the alterations, up to $5,000, if the owners use traditional materials and historic design. The property must be an owner-occupied residential property within the HRM.
"Visitors to Halifax continue to say the historic homes in our city are one of its top three attractions," says Councillor Sue Uteck, a member of the Heritage Advisory Committee. "We want to preserve that. The new incentive program is designed to encourage registered heritage homeowners to keep their properties historic and in good repair and to encourage the registration of new heritage properties."
The awards will be given to properties meeting specific criteria, including the age of the residence, the use of traditional materials and the nature of the proposed alterations. Older and more traditional residences will take precedence.
As there has been no comparable program in place in the city since 1997, renovations made to heritage properties between 1997 and 2002 will also be eligible for the new grant. - 30 -
Councillor Sue Uteck
(902) 221-7651
Daniel Norris
Manager, Cultural & Heritage Tourism
(902) 490-4339
