Vancouver Heritage Foundation: created as a private, charitable organization in 1992 by the Mayor and Council of the City of Vancouver, who remain its honorary patrons until today. Under the direction of a private citizen Board of Directors, the Foundation assists with the conservation of Vancouver's built heritage, in recognition of its public benefit.

Heritage Protection: Fact and Fiction

Popular opinion in Vancouver often asserts that legal protection on a single family residential heritage property lessens its value. This generalized opinion is most likely true for some properties with unique development potential, but the VHF was hearing that this opinion was not universally shared by our grant recipients.

To begin to examine whether fact follows fiction, the VHF completed a research project comparing the assessed value of Heritage Register, designated heritage and non-heritage properties in four Vancouver neighbourhoods (Strathcona, Kitsilano, Mount Pleasant & Hastings Sunrise). Through tax roll information and neighbourhood drive-arounds, buildings were selected that were similar in size and included houses legally protected through VHF grants.

The study showed that between 1999 and 2005 the Heritage Register and designated heritage houses increased almost the same (42.1% & 42% respectively), while non-heritage houses increased at a slightly slower rate (39%).

The VHF will continue to research this topic by pursuing funding to examine the comparative market value of heritage and non-heritage properties.