Deadline: Ongoing Opportunity
The City of Nanaimo is calling applications for its Heritage Home Grants to encourage homeowners of heritage buildings to fix up and maintain their historic homes.
The City of Nanaimo has committed to providing financial incentives for heritage buildings as part of its economic development and revitalization strategy. Incentives are intended for the rehabilitation and enhancement of historic buildings, as well as to promote investment in historic residential neighbourhoods, thereby enhancing the neighbourhood’s historic building stock and long term livability.
Objectives
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Priority will be given to applications achieving the following objectives:
- Demonstration that façade improvements meet or exceed Parks Canada’s Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada;
- facade improvements will enhance the streetscape;
- structural improvements will prolong the life of the building;
- the amount of private contribution the application will leverage and beyond the grant request; and
- historical or architectural importance of the building, as outlined in the City’s Heritage Register.
Funding Information
- Grants will cover up to 50% of total project cost, to a maximum of $2,500 per building, and are, available on a first come first served basis. Please note, the grant total to each property over the life of the grant program cannot exceed $2,500.
Eligibility Criteria
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The Community Charter stipulates that local governments may provide financial assistance to conserve buildings with heritage value. A property owner or business operating from the property is therefore eligible to apply for grant funding if the building is:
- recognized as having heritage status by the local government and is considered to be a protected heritage property (in this case, the property owner has entered into a heritage conservation covenant with the City of Nanaimo); and
- residentially occupied, has no delinquent property taxes and utility user fees, and is compliant with both the City of Nanaimo’s Zoning Bylaw and Building Bylaw.
Grant Conditions
- Only external or structural improvements qualify – rehabilitation work must be consistent with guidelines set out by the Provincial and Federal Governments (i.e. Parks Canada’s Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada).
- The owner(s) and all mortgage holders will register on title of the property a heritage conservation covenant prohibiting demolition or exterior alteration of the building, unless the City approves these actions.
- Work must be substantially underway within six (6) months of grant approval and completed within one (1) year.
- Work must not commence until the grant is approved.
- Work must be of good quality, meet appropriate building/fire codes or approved equivalent, comply with existing bylaws, be conducted in accordance with a valid building permit (if applicable), and pass municipal inspections.
- Work is subject to inspection. If, during the course of the project, it is determined that the work fails to adhere to the program guidelines, then the award of the grant, in whole or in part, may be rescinded.
- The owner will agree to mount a small plaque in close proximity to the home’s main entrance provided by the City indicating the home’s heritage status.
For more information, visit City of Nanaimo.
For more information, visit https://www.nanaimo.ca/your-government/grants/heritage-home-grant
