Heritagedowntowns.com is a planning consultancy specializing in the economic and social renewal of downtowns by providing strategies for rejuvenation and intensification. After years of decline Ontario downtowns are back! Changes to Provincial legislation, a prolonged housing crisis and the need to reduce our carbon footprint makes urbanization the new normal for Canadian real estate markets. People are returning to city cores because they are desirable places to live. Millennials and boomers alike want multi-modal transportation choices and urban lifestyles. Now companies and retailers are following them, and this is driving new office space and commercial development in the core. Downtowns are valued as desirable work places in the new economy. Global energy challenges and reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions are putting a premium on core city locations. They are becoming complete communities again. Gentle densification is central to this approach of unlocking the potential of core area locations.

Our company is based in Kingston, Ontario and we proudly promote Kingston’s downtown brand as perhaps the one of the most successful models in Canada. Kingston demonstrates heritage conservation and urban growth need not be opposing forces.