The Citizen, 2015-05-07, Page 18PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015.
Tax incentives available for heritage owners in HE
Continued from page 17
looking, but we’re not going to say
no.”
The committee has even offered
incentives and financial assistance to
individuals in hopes of people par-
ticipating in the program.
“We were trailblazers with the
incentives,” Hoy said. “We can offer
tax rebates on restoration projects.”
Since all work on heritage homes
needs to be applied for, Hoy said
homeowners can fill out an applica-
tion for the work and be labelled as
tax exempt for up to 20 per cent of
the taxes collected for municipal and
school purposes on a property.
“We will look at an application
and say, yes, this part and this part
are in line with heritage conservation
so we can offer you X per cent off
your taxes,” he said.
The committee also has a reserve
fund, a portion of which can be
loaned out with favourable rates on a
three-year term to help out.
“That’s one of the benefits of the
program,” Hoy said.
He went on to say the other bene-
fits of the program are why people
get involved.
“When you sign up, you’re saying
you value the look of your property,
you want to maintain the heritage
aspect and you are committed to the
building,” he said. “It will likely cost
a little more, but the effort is worth-
while.”
One other benefit Hoy outlined
was that heritage properties have
shown to have a higher resale value.
Whether that’s due to the heritage
designation or the work required to
maintain, it isn’t clear, but Hoy said
the evidence was there.
“There was a study done in
Toronto where, on one side of the
street, it was a designated heritage
district and the other was not,” he
said.
The buildings on both sides of the
street are approximately the same
age, but the side that wasn’t desig-
nated had fallen into serious disre-
pair while the designated side was
well-maintained with higher proper-
ty values.
When it does come time for work
on a heritage home, the committee
wants to make sure it’s done proper-
ly, so they offer their advice and
assistance because, if any kind of
modification is done right, it will
increase the value of the home and
increase its value as a heritage struc-
Custom made furniture,
kitchens, vanities, wood trim
and much more...designed to
fit your home.
41496 Moncrieff Road
Blyth, ON N0M 1H0
Laverne Ropp 519-441-0802
Jeff Kuepfer 519-441-7998
Delta P
42787 H
t Squipmener EwoDelta P
a.cerw.deltapowww
a.cerwsales@deltapo
t
th, ON, N0M 1W0oreaffo, Sdo Line Rdry42787 H
thoreaft S
th, ON, N0M 1W0
Shower Her
With Love
and Flowers
Grab your friends
and family!
Come out on
Saturday, May 9th
and support
Maitland River
Elementary School.
Open daily Monday - Saturday
83189 Scott Line, RR 3 Blyth
519-523-9456
Check us out on Facebook too!
Spring Breezesgreenhouses
20%of all sales will go
to support MRES
Don’t forget
to pick up some-
thing for Mom on
her special day!
Showing what was
Maintaining a heritage building can be a bit more work according to Huron East Heritage
Committee Chair Charlie Hoy, however it’s worthwhile. Hoy said that designated homes need
to maintain the appearance that was designated, however, beyond that, many renovations are
possible. Brussels residents need look no further than their own library, shown above mid-ren-
ovation in 2013, to understand that massive changes can still occur, as long as the heritage
appearance is maintained. (File photo)
Continued on page 21