Theme: Measuring the Benefits
True or False? It is impossible to show any connection between heritage and a healthy economy.
Question: What information do we need to show that heritage has economic benefits – and more importantly, who is that information for?
Here are some of your thought provoking answers
- Tourism potential
- Who is the information for?
- We need valid studies (in large and small communities) demonstrating the economic benefits
- Audience for studies – the voting public, municipal politicians, bureaucrats, OMB members and developers
- Research exists to demonstrate the economic and environmental benefits but it needs to consolidated into a relevant, user-friendly format
- Need information for council, developers, advocacy groups and the general public
- Economic benefits include bringing people back downtown to work, live and play; creates downtowns as destination
- Environmental costs, energy costs, landfill costs, less pressure on existing infrastructure
- Use of historic buildings for educational purposes
- Use Robert Shipley’s studies and economic benefits
- Could compare cities all else being equal
- Aesthetic benefits
- False: It’s impossible to show any connection between heritage and a ‘healthy economy’
- Measuring benefits – case studies of impact – construction, for neighbourhoods, vacancy rates, attraction of businesses
- Give the information to developers, elected officials, heritage planners, economic development officers
- Need local information from local projects
- Need to find developers willing to share economic information
- Research successful projects
- Short-term and long-term economic costs and benefits
- Economic spin-offs – labour higher on heritage but get a higher return on investment
- CMHC studies
- Real estate values
- What – move beyond economics
- We have tried the economic arguments and they haven’t resonated
- Creating an attractive city is important, not the economic health of the city