Heritage Grant Program Guidelines and Application
The Town of Collingwood provides financial assistance for owners of designated heritage structures through the Heritage Grant Program. Monies are directed to the conservation and restoration of those properties that have been designated for their historical and/or architectural significance in accordance to Part IV or V of the Ontario Heritage Act.
Through this program, owners of designated properties may be eligible to receive a grant toward the conservation and restoration of the heritage features of their properties. Upon satisfactory project completion, the grant amount is one half of eligible project costs to a maximum grant of $3,000.00. The grant must be matched by a contribution from the owner and is based on the owner’s actual expenditures as verified by paid invoices. The property owner may receive one grant per calendar year. A maximum of $40,000.00 is available through the Heritage Grant Program per calendar year, subject to Council budget approval.
The Town accepts applications for the Heritage Grant Program between October 1 - December 15 for the following year. The grant program provides eligible owners with heritage-designated properties a grant of up to $3000.00 toward the conservation and maintenance of their properties.
How to apply:
1) Review the Guidelines below
2) Fill out the pdf application
3) Register and submit your application with accompanying documentation/images to our secure portal: https://cvportal.collingwood.ca/portal
If you are unable to register and apply to the online secure portal, please send your electronic forms and pictures to planning@collingwood.ca and provide any associated payment to the Treasury at P.O. Box 157, Collingwood ON L9Y 3Z5 or hand to deliver to the Treasury Department located at 97 Hurontario Street.
Eligible Properties
The grant is only available to properties that are designated:
1) under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, and for which the project conserves or enhances elements specified in the “Reasons for Designation”, as determined by The Collingwood Heritage Committee or designate; OR
2) under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act, and for which the project is conducted in accordance with design guidelines or policies as specified in the Heritage Conservation District Plan adopted by the Municipality, as determined by Collingwood Heritage Committee or designate.
General Provisions
Any project that conserves or enhances elements specified in the Reasons for Designation is eligible. These projects will fall into one of three general categories:
1) the conservation of existing architectural elements which are significant;
2) the restoration of significant original architectural features which still exist, but which are beyond conservation or repair;
Note: this only includes accurate reconstructions of the original features using materials, sizes and configurations that match the original.
3) the reconstruction of significant architectural features which have been lost, but for which the appearance can be clearly determined from documentary sources.
Note: this must be documentary evidence for the property in question, not to similar properties. This evidence may be in the form of photographs or original drawings that illustrate the feature to be restored.
Projects that fall under one of these three general categories might include the repair, reconstruction or restoration of significant features such as: doors, windows, verandahs, cupolas, significant exterior chimneys, bargeboard or other decorative trim, shop fronts which have been altered or replaced, any other features important to the overall composition of the structure as specified in the reasons for designation and fences and outbuildings if specifically referred to in Reasons for Designation.
All projects must follow good heritage conservation practice, as determined by Collingwood Heritage Committee or its designate.
Guidelines
Provided are more detailed Guidelines for some eligible projects.
1) Roofing and Siding Materials
The conservation, reconstruction or restoration of original roofing materials deals exclusively with historical materials. Eligible Roofing Materials may include wooden shingles, shakes, board roofing, metal roofing (copper, zinc, tin or tern plate), clay, tile and slate.
The conservation, reconstruction or restoration of original siding materials might include repair and replacement of wood clapboard or board and batten, repair and repointing of masonry buildings, stucco repair, removal of contemporary material (i.e. aluminum siding) and replacement with original material.
2) Masonry
Masonry work is only eligible if the materials and methods used will not cause harm to the historic masonry and all work shall be consistent with the Annotated Master Specifications for the Cleaning and Repointing of Historic Masonry.
In repointing, the repointed areas are to match the historic mortar in colour, texture, joint width and profile. Samples of the original mortar and photographs of the original joint should be submitted with the application to document the original work. Cleaning of masonry buildings is only eligible when it is necessary for the buildings preservation and if appropriate methods are used.
3) Stucco
The conservation, reconstruction or restoration of stucco is eligible where it is known to have been the historic material. The stuccowork must replicate the original or historic rendering in colour, materials, application methods and texture.
4) Windows, Screens, and Storm Windows
The conservation, reconstruction or restoration of original windows, screens and storm windows deals exclusively with historical materials. Storm windows are only eligible if there is historical evidence of the use of storm windows on the designated structure. All windows must be replicas of the original in both style and material.
5) Eavestroughing
The restoration of gutters and down pipes may be eligible only when these items are considered to be a significant architectural feature of the building. This would include gutters and down pipes of now rarely used but long lasting materials such as copper and lead and which incorporate decorative elements. Also included are Gutters that are built into the building cornice.
6) Painting of the Exterior in Historic Colours
Designated structures may receive a grant for exterior painting. Collingwood Heritage Committee must approve the location of the paint and the colour. Once completed, it is the homeowners’ responsibility to do maintenance.
7) Interior
Interior work is only eligible for the conservation, reconstruction or restoration of features specifically referred to in the Reasons for Designation. Eligible interior work may include woodwork, plasterwork, wall or ceiling murals specified in the Reasons for Designation.
8) Structure
Work necessary to restore the building to structural soundness, but not including structural work to accommodate modern renovations is eligible. Routine maintenance and additions are not eligible work.
9) Technical Services
Sometimes a property owner may encounter a situation beyond the scope and experience of the Collingwood Heritage Committee. In these cases, where the expertise of a restoration architect or structural engineer is required, a portion of the grant will be allocated to hiring a professional for technical advice.
Eligible projects include, but are not limited, to the items mentioned above.