47 heritage properties in Oakville slated for restoration

Oakville Town Council approved nearly $138,000 in funding for 47 heritage property restoration projects at a Planning and Development Committee meeting on Monday (June 12).

The funding for the private heritage properties comes from the Heritage Grant Program, which is now in its tenth year and helps preserve the heritage and cultural character of the town.

The money will be used toward improving the structural stability of the heritage properties through stucco repairs, historic roof replacement, window restorations and other work to help preserve the properties for years to come.

Grant recipients include schools, businesses, places of worship, a cemetery, many heritage homes, and also trees that are part of a designated cultural heritage landscape.

“While Oakville continues to grow, heritage preservation remains a priority for Council,” said Oakville Mayor Rob Burton. “The Heritage Grant Program helps maintain the historical and cultural elements of properties and strengthens the visual appeal of Oakville as we stay connected to our cultural roots.

“By encouraging the restoration of historic materials and diverting waste from landfills, this program also supports the town’s efforts in addressing climate change.”

Over the last 10 years, including this year, the Heritage Grant program has given out $944,000 in grants for 215 restoration and conservation projects worth more than $6 million.

Applications for the Heritage Grant Program will open again in January of 2024. A total of $120,000 in funding is provided each year. This year, an additional $17,965 was allocated from unused grants, developer contributions and heritage fees.

The 55 applications for renovations and upgrades to heritage designated projects received by the program in 2023 mark the largest ever so far in one year.

Oakville has 614 officially designated properties either standalone or as part of the four Heritage Conservation Districts. Another 294 properties that are not designated but have cultural value are on the Municipal Heritage Register.

In order to qualify for the grant program, the property must have official designation as part of the Official Heritage Register in line with the Ontario Heritage Act.

In order to receive matching grants from the town for up to $15,000 per property, the grant applicant must also put in their own funding.

The town has initiated a Heritage Designation Project to evaluate the merits of designating approximately 80 listed properties by 2025 to conserve Oakville’s cultural heritage resources.