Prince George, B.C.  – It has been 9 years since the Heritage Register was created and four sites in Prince George were  named to  that register.  Over the last year,  the Heritage Commission  has been looking at what other properties might be added to that register.

The four sites on the register are:

• 6th Avenue Liquor Store
• South Fort George School House
• Federal Government Building on 3rd Avenue.
• Nechako Crossing.

A previous report identified  some 400 sites  in Prince George which could be included.

Prince George’s  Heritage Registry won’t look like  that of other communities,  but  that doesn’t mean the sites don’t have heritage value .  Under the standards and guidelines  for the Conservation of Historic Places in  Canada,  a  building  may have “aesthetic, historic, scientific, cultural, social, or spiritual importance or significance for past, present, and future generations.”

Heritage BC  says  “A single place may have more than one heritage value. It may be valued for different reasons by different communities of people.”

Having a property on  the register doesn’t  mean the City can prevent development on that site,  but  a City could  have  some input  to  encourage  features  which make the site  special be maintained.

Although  a property owner  doesn’t  have to be consulted  before the property is named a Heritage site,  the Heritage Commission fully intends to  gain consent from  the owners of  such properties before  the site  is added.  There are 20  top priority sites under consideration, many of them in the downtown core.    The Commission is now working with Downtown Prince George  to  encourage  Heritage   improvement  to the sites.

But there needs to be more information for  property owners, to explain what a Heritage  Register means, and how it might  impact those properties.  It can be a positive for  the owners,  as the property could be :

• Eligible for “Alternative Compliance Methods” in the B.C. Building Code
• Be eligible for Heritage BC grants or future incentives the City may develop
• Statement of Significance (SOS) provides ideas for design
• Public recognition: plaques, signs & walking tour routes

Council has approved  directing Planning and Development staff to create an Administrative Procedure in order to manage the City’s Heritage Register.