Delta Council this week approved a pair of grant applications for restoration projects heritage buildings.
The city will provide a Heritage Conservation Grant of up to $30,000 to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 61 on Delta Street, subject to the Ladner branch providing additional details and quotes to confirm the scope of restoration work.
The city will also provide a $30,000 grant from the fun for the restoration work on the historic Baker House, located on 48 Avenue in Ladner.
The city’s Heritage Conservation Grant is a fund that was created in 2017 from a five percent levy on building permits.
Until 2022, the city awarded just over $100,000. The balance in the fund this summer, after the owners of Frederick Residence on Arthur Drive received a $17,633 grant, was $466,036.
It’s only been in the last year or so that the number of applications for grants handed out has seen an uptick.
Few property owners in the first few years of its existence applied due to the requirements being found to be too onerous.
The city has since made a number of changes including increasing the maximum annual grants from $15,000 to $30,000.
The conditions remain that structures receiving funding be placed in Delta's Heritage Register and that a covenant be signed to protect buildings from demolition for a period of 10 years.
