Heritage Month

Deadline nears for renovation support

The end is near for the municipal program offering financial support to enhance built heritage. The deadline for the last registration period is February 26. The program is a joint collabortion with the Ministère de la Culture.

Since its creation, the heritage building program has been a success. “During the first two phases of the program, the city received 22 requests; 15 were accepted, six of which were accepted tentatively until further information or modifications were supplied. The 15 files accepted in phases one and two came from all sectors: four in Aylmer, eight in Hull, one in Gatineau and two in Masson-Angers,” said a city official.

The city had set aside $600,000 for the program and $453,890 is left for phase two (for which engagements are still to be confirmed), phase three and possibly phase four (according to money left); $146,110 was set aside for phase one.

Established in 2014, the program has three objectives: to financially support owners of heritage buildings in their restoration and enhancement work, to rehabilitate the city’s built infrastructure through the restoration of old buildings, and to preserve significant heritage assets throughout Gatineau.

To be eligible, buildings must have a heritage-protection legal status, according to the Lois sur le patrimoine culturel, or be located in a zone designated by the Architectural Implementation and Integration Plan such as the Old-Aylmer heritage sector, which covers rue Principale, between Front Street and Foley.

The building must be located within the centre-town perimeter as established in the special urban planning program. Eligible buildings can also have been evaluated and have a heritage value registered with the city. Many such eligible buildings are located on Aylmer Road, rue Principale and Symmes Street.

The program authorizes preservation, repair, restoration, reinsertion of elements disappeared, and replacement of original elements by similar natural elements.

Only traditional or same-nature materials are eligible for the grants. Imitation materials, such as (but not limited to) PVC, vinyl, aluminum, pressed wood, fibrocement or asphalt shingles are not authorized.

To be considered, the owner must submit to the city specific documents, including the building’s health log and a cover letter clearly describing the foreseen work. (Trans.: CB)