ASK what lies behind the objections to Heritage Listing …. and one ought question the veracity of the Anti-Heritage Policy advocates … on the eve of the Medium Density Housing Code coming into force …
AS Mayor Jerome Laxale pointed out Ryde Council’s move to change its Heritage Listing will affect:
–less than 1 per cent of properties identified for heritage listing
–a review recommended the listing of 44 “items” of historic significance including properties, public parks and street trees and six new heritage conservation areas
–only 173 heritage items in Ryde
OBVIOUSLY as National Trust NSW Director Graham Quint said ” … heritage listing can increase the value of properties.”
A Heritage home owner can always sell their home to another seeking a Heritage property to purchase any myriad of two-storey homes …
‘Stress and anxiety’: homeowners claim heritage listing will reduce house prices
By Andrew Taylor
December 8, 2019
Property owners say new heritage rules proposed by City of Ryde council will dramatically reduce house prices in the area.
The council will meet on December 10 to decide whether to heritage list a number of properties without the consent of owners.
Jerome Laxale, the Labor mayor of Ryde, said less than 1 per cent of properties within the council had been identified for heritage listing.
“If Council chooses to leave all of these dwellings unprotected, they will eventually be lost forever,” he said.
“With pro-development state planning laws, and on the eve of the medium density housing code coming into force, now is the time to preserve what history Ryde has left.”
But Liberal councillor Jordan Lane said the changes were a “Band-Aid solution” to concerns about overdevelopment.
“There has been enormous opposition to this scheme which arbitrarily imposes heritage conditions on properties, often exhibiting little or no heritage value, without the owners’ consent,” he said.
The council’s move to change heritage rules followed a review that recommended the listing of 44 “items” of historic significance including properties, public parks and street trees and six new heritage conservation areas.
There are only 173 heritage items in Ryde – far less than neighbouring councils such as Parramatta (751), Hunters Hill (515) and Canada Bay (545).
Ryde also has fewer heritage conservation areas than other councils.
A council spokesman said the previous practice of heritage listing properties only with the consent of owners had been superseded – a view disputed by opponents of the proposed changes.
RELATED ARTICLE
HERITAGE
‘It was outrageous’: Sonja’s insurance premium doubled when her home was heritage-listed
“Since 2010, Council has resolved to protect a number of items of heritage significance at risk of demolition via Interim Heritage Orders and subsequent listings without the consent of the owners,” the spokesman said.
However, the proposed changes have angered residents who said in a letter to Planning Minister Rob Stokes it had caused “significant stress and anxiety”.
“Residents are insulted that we are referred to as ‘greedy developers’,” the letter said. “We are ordinary hardworking families who don’t want to lose the value of our primary asset, ‘our home’.”
CAAN: VIEW to learn what happened at the Ryde Council Meeting … among the Anti-Heritage Policy supporters were Gung Zhi, Wei Wei Wang, Guanjing Ruan, Silvestor Lauria and Pei Cheng and dozens more!
‘Clashes and Eviction at Ryde Council’
Scott Mackenzie said the value of his four-bedroom house in Gladesville could drop by up to $300,000 if it is given a heritage listing.
Mr Mackenzie’s house is 100 years old but he said it had been extensively renovated twice in the past 20 years.
Mr Mackenzie said a heritage listing would prevent him building a second storey and add to the cost of maintaining his home.
“Heritage is restricting the ability to do what I need to do with my property, to make our living arrangements the best they can be,” he said. “Other residents are afforded this flexibility – why should owners of older properties be restricted?”
The issue of heritage has also divided councillors, with police twice called to fiery council meetings amid allegations a councillor was assaulted.
Independent councillor Roy Maggio said the changes would discriminate against the owners of older homes.
RELATED ARTICLE
HERITAGE
‘I’ve been put in prison here’: How a Sydney council cost this homeowner $700k
CAAN: Perhaps the price tag of $2M for this Ku-ring-gai property is more about developers landbanking to make a motzer with higher density … they can afford to make such an offer
“What gives a council the right to diminish the value of a person’s biggest primary asset?” he said. “The residents are relying on their home as part of their superannuation plan or to fund nursing home costs later in life.”
But Graham Quint, the director of conservation at the National Trust (NSW), said the listing of heritage buildings and conservation areas enriched communities and was not anti-development.
“In our experience heritage listing can increase the value of properties,” he said.
Tom Forrest, the chief executive of the developer’s lobby group Urban Taskforce, said the the preservation of heritage should not outweigh other consideration such as housing supply.
“Heritage listings should not be a block to progress and also not be used to frustrate efforts to house the growing population of Sydney,” he said.
CAAN: In Sydney we are living with the awful consequences of the Liberal Coalition Housing Supply that was not able to meet the ‘foreign demand’! To lose lovely Californian Bungalows, Federation, and Mid-Century Homes and gardens for the fast-tracked higher density development now replacing them!
Photo: new owner sought to demolish soonafter purchase to redevelop
Andrew Taylor
Andrew Taylor is a Senior Reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.
CAAN FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/Community-Action-Alliance-for-NSW-744190798994541/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel
WEBSITE:
https://caanhousinginequalitywithaussieslockedout.wordpress.com/
COMMUNITY ACTION ALLIANCE FOR NSW (CAAN): HOUSING INEQUALITY WITH AUSSIES LOCKED OUT! 