They’re trying to get a handle on what’s left, and what might be worth saving, when it comes to Delta’s heritage buildings.
The city’s Heritage Advisory Commission is to undertake a heritage inventory review, said community planning director Marcy Sangret.
“The need to update the heritage inventories was identified in the updated Delta Heritage Strategy endorsed by council in 2017. The Heritage Advisory Commission’s 2020 work program includes working with staff to prepare a terms of reference to update the city’s urban and rural heritage inventories. This topic will be discussed at an HAC meeting later this fall. The terms of reference would be subject to council approval and consideration of funding to retain a consultant to complete the inventory starting in 2021,” she explained.
The historic Cammidge House in Boundary Bay was preserved and maintained thanks to the efforts of a volunteer society
The urban heritage inventory was last updated in 2000 and the rural inventory is from 1999.
It’s been recognized that they’re out of date and some heritage buildings have been demolished since that time.
They were also done at a time when heritage valuation was using different methodology, so the commission notes it’s timely to look at a more modern way at looking at heritage.
Consultant Donald Luxton told the commission last year the city should adopt a so-called “value-based” evaluation system that allows people to think more broadly about what constitutes heritage, such as cultural diversity, indigenous heritage and intangible heritage, and not just the age of buildings.
The historic Kittson House in East Ladner, which was built in 1907, was demolished five years ago.
Luxton noted the Canadian Register of Historic Places website lists national, provincial, territorial, municipal and indigenous sites and is actively used by tourists planning visits to Canada.
He explained that the traditional numerical system of heritage evaluation methodology places an emphasis on “privileged architecture” and doesn’t provide evaluation tools for landscapes, streetscapes, vernacular architectures and intangibles heritage.
Recommending Delta undertake an historic context exercise, he cited Vancouver’s Kogawa House as an example of a home having value based on more broadly interpreted factors. It’s a modest 1912 bungalow with historical significance as the family home of celebrated author Joy Kogawa prior to the Japanese internment during World War 2.
Delta’s latest heritage strategy, meanwhile, also includes undertaking a study of designated heritage conservation areas.
The rehabilitation of the century-old Municipal Hall in Ladner Village cost $2.5 million, which included a $500,000 grant from the federal government. For many years it was home to the Delta Museum and Archives.
“The study is to explore the possibility of expanding or adding to existing heritage conservation areas in Ladner. Heritage conservation areas are intended to protect existing heritage landmarks and landscapes, encourage preservation and restoration of heritage buildings or structures, and ensure that new development is sensitive to the heritage context,” according to the city.
Two heritage conservation areas, on Arthur Drive and 48th Avenue, currently exist, which require specific alteration permits prior to changes to land or structures.
Proposals must meet certain guidelines when it comes to building height and setbacks.
A number of other options could be explored including changes in the zoning bylaw to provide density bonuses for property owners to maintain heritage structures.
Council also adopted a bylaw that establishes standards of maintenance for protected heritage properties so the buildings are not allowed to deteriorate through neglect.
Council also approved a policy which prioritizes restoration of heritage buildings when they are part of a larger development.
The historic Roycroft Grant Residence, which was also home of the La Belle Auberge restaurant for 30 years, was retained and repaired in a deal to allow four new homes to be built on the Ladner site
Also new is a heritage conservation levy of five per cent that’s applied to all new building permits, which is added to a fund to promote heritage conservation initiatives.
Owners of heritage buildings in Delta can apply for money from the new fund to complete works that preserve and protect their heritage buildings.
Applications are on a first-come, first-served basis for a maximum of 50 per cent of the capital cost of projects. The maximum any property owner can obtain in a single year is $15,000.
However, the city is now reviewing whether to keep it because it hasn’t been used much since it was adopted.
The interior of the former Delta Museum in Ladner Village. It’s being replaced with a new, modern museum facility, called the Douglas J. Husband Discovery Centre.
Council last year was told the fund had a balance of $230,933.
Staff were to look at several ideas to amend the program and bring them back to council for consideration, including the possibility of using some of the money in the fund for another Delta heritage project.
Mayor George Harvie at the time said the fund wasn’t aimed at building up a pot of money “to squirrel away” and, if it’s not better utilized, maybe the levy should be removed entirely.
