By Melissa Hughes
Ottawa’s economy is booming. That’s an indisputable fact. As established businesses expand and new businesses flourish, Ottawa finds itself in desperate need of commercial space. But where is the room for a new storefront or office building? It’s not that Centretown and the downtown core lack plenty of large, viable lots for development – it’s what’s built on them now that’s the problem.
I’m referring to heritage buildings. Ottawa has lots of them. In fact, whole areas of Ottawa (such as the Byward Market and a large chunk of Centretown) are designated as heritage districts. Rules for making changes to these buildings are tight. Developers must adhere to the city’s guidelines and the criteria set out under the Ontario Heritage Act.
There is no question that historical preservation is extremely important – especially to a city like Ottawa. As the nation’s capital, we should be representative of our past, present, and future. In times of rapid expansion, this balance is difficult to achieve.
A couple of bulldozers and a wrecking ball could fix the problem, but only temporarily. If heritage buildings are destroyed, people will soon start to miss the ambience provided by the old storefronts of these buildings.
Following these guidelines can be expensive and time-consuming, and may act as a deterrent for potential developers. If renovations are made, owners are immediately slapped with a huge increase in property taxes because the value of the land has improved.
The city should be offering incentives, like tax breaks, that would allow developers to afford renovations on historical buildings.
Owners of these designated buildings are stuck in a catch-22. In order to use the space, they have to work within the existing structure. Most importantly, they often have to preserve the look of the building, which involves keeping the façade intact. But renovations inside an existing structure are often not enough.
Frequently, a complete demolition is needed to modernize the building to fit the needs of a new business.
Developers must pay large sums to preserve the façade, a complex process that involves securing the front of the structure with scaffolding and demolishing and rebuilding a new structure behind it.
The Byward Market’s success is partly due to aesthetics. Buildings in this area have conformed to strict heritage guidelines, rules that keep the district looking quaint and attracting tourists as well as shoppers. It’s simply more appealing to shop in a district that’s architecturally invigorating. Bank Street’s hodgepodge of the old, the new and the ugly doesn’t make the grade.
To keep pace with the booming economy, the city needs to actively encourage new developments within heritage buildings.
These structures are not going away, and they shouldn’t. Killing Ottawa’s past isn’t a recipe for future economic success. But embracing it just might be.