So just what is an HCD?
….and why should you care whether downtown Bolton has one?
A Heritage Conservation District (HCD) is a geographically-defined area within a municipality that is noted for its distinct heritage character. Through the adoption of a district plan, guidelines and policies a municipality gains the tools to guide future change and development.
It’s quite likely that you’ve visited an HCD area of a town or city and were unaware. For there are, last time I checked, 120 approved HCD’s in Ontario.
For example, have you been to Orangeville? Cookstown? Collingwood? Oakville? Kleinburg? Port Hope? Riverdale or Cabbagetown in Toronto? Niagara-on-the-Lake? Meadowvale Village? old Port Credit? Meaford? Port Perry? There are HCD’s within all of these.
In addition there are towns and cities in Ontario with multiples – 4 HCD’s in Oakville, 4 in Markham, 5 in London, 17 in Ottawa, 20 in Toronto – the full list, updated in June 2015 is at:
http://www.heritagetrust.on.ca/CorporateSite/media/oht/PDFs/HCD-Current-June-2015-ENG.pdf
And there are more proposed/pending approval. You’ll find that list here:
http://www.heritagetrust.on.ca/CorporateSite/media/oht/PDFs/HCD-Pending-Jun-2015-ENG.pdf
Look closely at that latter list and and you’ll see downtown Bolton. The final vote on the Bolton HCD is currently scheduled for the Dec 22nd Town of Caledon Council meeting.
Which means we are days away from potentially implementing a plan that will allow us to guide future changes to our downtown core. Changes to those streets that for years we have lined to watch the Santa Claus Parade, a thrilling Christmas tradition for kids of all ages.
Streets where, in years past, we’ve gathered for Midnight Madness, JazzFest, and an ice cream at Happy Days. These are streets where Olympic and Pan Am torches have passed, carried in Caledon hands, on Caledon feet, as Caledon, and the world, watched and cheered.
And, from June to October, we’ve met our neighbours as we relished in the season’s harvest and local crafts, at a fantastic Farmers’ Market. These Bolton valley streets and buildings and homes have become as much a part of our character and our community spirit as the events we celebrate on, in, and around, them.
Detractors fret about “increased bureaucracy” insisting that development permits may take longer with an HCD in place. Town staff have offered a straightforward solution that will see heritage and building permits run concurrently so as not to add to timelines. In fact, they make the case that having HCD guidelines will bring clarity to the process, making it run smoother.
Some opponents argue that property values in the HCD area may drop but to date offer no market value proof of this phenomenon. In fact HCD areas in other towns, such as Orangeville, Kleinburg, Oakville, Meadowvale, Port Hope, and others, appear to have great pride of ownership and a distinctive draw as a unique shopping experience, attributes that one would imagine would increase property value.
Last week I visited long-time Bolton valley resident Valerie Mackie. Ms. Mackie was concerned with a suggestion that “some of the core, particularly businesses, were not in favour of the HCD”. She took to the streets, petition in hand, looking to gauge if support was indeed there. At last count she had not only 40+ supporting signatures from residents in the core, 4 of those housed businesses. And, in addition, she obtained 23 supporting signatures from valley business-owners, 9 of which owned the commercial building as well.
An HCD for the downtown core would mean policies that value the rich history of this oldest part of Bolton. It means a vision that would allow us and future generations to still recognize this special place when we next passed through. Next month, next year, next decade.
Will Council see the value in that?
Thanks for writing this article about the HCD Patti. It is great to hear something positive and forward thinking in terms of the future of the downtown Bolton area. I have been an outspoken proponent for the designation and I believe that it would be key the renewal and revitalization of the core and birthplace of Bolton. The grumbly nay sayers are really a small group of the usual suspects who try so hard to make them look like a large body of businesses against this designation and this simply isn’t quite the truth.
One small thing you did not mention in your article and for me, its important. Inside of that HCD footprint, a river runs through it. We also have a designated world heritage river. For me, this river has always been integral to this designation as it is the river that is in large part responsible for the original settlement in Bolton as it was founded on being a mill town. Other parts of the HCD are beautiful, with pristine walk ways, with parks, not to mention our historical Cenotaph.
I will be present at the council meeting on December 22nd and I will be asking my town councillor to request a recorded vote. Go team HCD go!
Thanks for chiming in Christine! As a heritage-designated river the Humber really is worth shining a spotlight on as well. Glad to hear you’ll be coming to the meeting!
There is no reason to not have an HCD in Bolton, or any of the other villages and hamlets in Caledon. It would provide a standard from which to plan development and re-development of the downtown core. The detractors have made clear that they are interested only in their own agenda, even at the expense of the rest of the town.
Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts on this Ken!
Visited heritage sites in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Well worth the expense! Love the picture beside CIBC.
Hi Don, nice to hear that, thank you for sharing! That’s great feedback!
As for neighbouring HCDs, Brampton has several and, in addition to the Kleinburg one that Patti mentions for Vaughan, Maple and Woodbridge both have one. Developers locally who are against ours should talk to their colleagues in Vaughan who have done very nicely out of making their HCDs destinations for shopping and tourism.