HCD designation does not, in itself, change the value of a property. If there is any impact at all, heritage designation is likely to help a home maintain or increase its value because most property owners take pride in the character of their neighbourhood. Upkeep of the community also makes an HCD becomes more attractive to home buyers who like the stability that heritage designation brings to the built form of the community.
HCD designation is intended to bring certainty to all homeowners that any future street-facing additions or alterations to buildings will not be out of character with the neighbourhood or negatively impact surrounding properties. It brings stability to the neighbourhood beyond zoning by-laws which, for example simply limit the size of a new building relative to the size of the property.
RECENT STUDIES:
A recent study, commissioned by Toronto Heritage Services, closely studies “the effect of heritage conservation district designation on residential house prices in Toronto, Ontario”*.
Click here, to access the complete study (in PDF).
Or see Conclusive Summary below:
SUMMARY:
The study focuses on three out of nineteen residential HCDs within the City of Toronto.
This study indicates that HCD housing values are higher than housing values in comparable adjacent districts in Toronto. In addition, HCD houses increased in value by a larger percentage than adjacent houses between 2005 and 2010. The key findings of this paper are important to residents of Heritage Conservation Districts, proposed HCD’s and those considering moving into a Heritage Conservation District. This is because it allays any fears that they have with regard to property values. This study demonstrates that purchasing a house in a HCD will likely be more profitable than purchasing in non-heritage areas over time. In fact, the key findings from this study are useful to the City of Toronto as a whole, indicating that as HCDs continue to proliferate and evolve, they will increase both the economic and aesthetic value of these neighbourhoods across the city. The report indicates that many people object to HCD designation because they feel that development cannot occur and that HCDs will stagnate and lose value due to restrictive guidelines that limit development opportunities.
However, because this study shows that houses are worth more in HCDs, it is likely that conforming to these guidelines will actually attract new development, people, businesses and visitors to the district and that they are more appealing to live in. The results of this study demonstrate good reasons and incentives for government and communities to support heritage districts, through grants, tax rebates and incentives for developers. The importance of designation to protect these areas will contribute to future generations and ensure that people can enjoy them in the future.
Source: Murray X. White, School of Urban and Regional Planning, Ryerson University, April, 2010, Toronto, Ontario
In addition, a 1998 study* of 3,000 designated properties in 24 Ontario communities found that:
- HCD designation did not have a negative effect on property values
- The rate of sale of designated properties was as good or better than the general market
- the value of heritage properties tended to resist downturns in the general market.
Source: Robert Shipley, “Heritage Designation and Property Values: is there an effect?” International Journal of Heritage Studies, Vol. 6, No. 1, 2000, pp. 83-100.