Recent articles
Meaford's Sykes Street Development - the factsA local business and downtown building owner's perspective on Sykes development
Already gone. What we've lost forever, and how it can happen again.
Cherished places worth fighting for
Pillars and Pediments – Musings on the advantages of heritage preservation
Recipe for a livable community
What is heritage conservation? A brief overview
Why heritage preservation is good for business in Meaford
What Meaford is doing about heritage
Meaford's Official Plan and other important documents
Meaford heritage success stories
Photo of Meaford Hall and Firehall in top slideshow courtesy Bill Inglis, Meaford
Heritage Meaford is a branch of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario (ACO)
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Why heritage preservation is good for business in Meaford
By Bonnie AltmanConservation of our main street heritage architecture has many benefits; especially increasing economic growth through tourism and promoting our continued growth towards a greener community.
The cost of a large commercial rehabilitation is approximately 4% lower than a comparable new build on a vacant site and even greater if demolition of an existing building is necessary. (Rypkema 2003)
Heritage buildings do not need to be “Grand” like the Parliament buildings or the Chateaus Frontenac or Laurier to appeal heritage tourism enthusiasts. Heritage architecture, even the common everyday vernacular buildings of many authentic towns, attracts tourists by offering a genuine sense of local differences that assert a sense of place identity. Unfortunately, in part, due to the homogenization of our cultures our vernacular structures are vulnerable to obsolescence and destruction and replacement with sameness. (Built Heritage: Assessing a Tourism Resource)
The tourist sector has seen an increase in tourism in the 18-24 year old range as well as an increase in baby boomer tourists. (Canadian Tourism Commission 2014-2018 Corporate Summary) Both of these groups tend to stay longer and spend more in their chosen destinations. Heritage destinations are most appealing to the retired tourists who have the financial means and time to extend their visits.
Heritage Canada. Built Heritage: Assessing a Tourism Resource...
http://www.nationaltrustcanada.ca/sites/heritagecanada.org/files/Built%20Heritage_lr.pdf
2014-2018 Corporate Plan Summary - Destination Canada
http://en.destinationcanada.com/sites/default/files/pdf/Corporate_reports/cp_summary_2014-2018_-_june_9_e.pdf
More economic reasons to protect and promote Meaford's downtown built heritage
This excerpt from Global Urban Development Magazine summarizes many of the economic advantages of preservation over demolition.
Read the entire article here:
Heritage Conservation and the Local Economy - GUD
www.globalurban.org/GUDMag08Vol4Iss1/Rypkema.htm
This overview from the Heritage Foundation reveals the impact on tourism of leveraging heritage resources.