What We Heard Released

Today, the City released a summary of what was heard through the consultation process for a new Heritage Plan. It will be shared with Council at the regular meeting on Monday, June 19.

In total, 868 people visited the project page. There were 26 online comments and interactive map pins, 14 email submissions, 23 youth survey responses and 80 people attended public meetings.

Staff also consulted with City committees, designated heritage building owners, Heritage NL, NL Historic Trust, various neighbourhood associations, and the Ecclesiastical District Working Group, to name a few.

Highlights of what we heard include:

  • built heritage is important when creating a Heritage Plan
  • heritage also includes cultural landscapes and streetscapes, the preservation of heritage trails, pathways, green spaces, and burial sites
  • heritage must be inclusive and there are many opportunities to highlight the importance that various cultures have had on the history of the City
  • there are concerns regarding the protections and standards currently in place for historic buildings, including regulations related to when a building can be torn down
  • there is a shifting towards preservation of heritage vs conservation of heritage as evidenced in the Federal standards and guidelines
  • concerns around accessibility of heritage structures and the need for more consultation as upgrades occur
  • the need for more education and awareness about heritage and why it is important to the City
  • financial incentives for built heritage, such as tax incentives, tax credits or grants are important
  • there needs to be strong legislation that should be updated to protect heritage buildings and areas

The draft Heritage Plan will be presented to Council in the fall and shared back with the community for a final opportunity to provide feedback. Ultimately, once approved, it will guide the city in managing, maintaining, and protecting heritage resources in the future. The plan will align with the Envision St. John’s Municipal Plan and the Heritage By-Law.


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