What We Heard: Heritage Plan Public Engagement

The City of St. John’s has completed the summary of ‘What We Heard’ during public engagement for the development of a Heritage Plan. The report will be received by Council at the Regular Meeting on Monday, June 19.

Public engagement on a new Heritage Plan began in February 2023. Individuals were directed via announcements, advertisements, social media and other communications to the project page at EngageStJohns.ca. A postcard promoting engagement was sent to people living in heritage areas, and a newsletter was distributed to 3,727 registered users from Engage St. John’s.

In total, 868 people visited the project page. There were 26 online comments and interactive map pins, 14 email submissions, 23 youth survey responses and 80 people in attendance during a public meeting.

Multiple stakeholders were consulted including City committees, designated heritage building owners, Heritage NL, NL Historic Trust, various neighbourhood associations, and the Ecclesiastical District Working Group to name a few.

Highlights

• importance of built heritage when creating a Heritage Plan
• heritage includes cultural landscapes and streetscapes, the preservation of heritage trails, pathways, green spaces, and burial sites
• heritage must be inclusive and there are many opportunities to highlight the importance that various cultures have had on the history of the City
• concerns regarding the protections and standards currently in place for historic buildings, including regulations related to when a building can be torn down
• shifting more towards preservation of heritage vs conservation of heritage as evidenced in the Federal standards and guidelines
• accessibility of heritage structures and the need for more consultation as upgrades occur
• the need for more education and awareness about heritage and why it is important to the City.
• financial incentives for built heritage, such as tax incentives, tax credits or grants
• the importance of strong legislation that should be updated to protect heritage buildings and areas

The draft Heritage Plan will be presented to Council in the fall and shared back with the community for a final opportunity to provide feedback. Ultimately, once approved, it will guide the city in managing, maintaining, and protecting heritage resources in the future. The plan will align with the Envision St. John’s Municipal Plan and the Heritage By-Law.