Tiluk, Noah O., "Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program: Impact on Assessed Property Values: A Case Study of the NIP 1 Area of the Old Halifax North End"

The Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program, (RRAP), is one of the major post Urban Renewal Programs in Canada. Introduced in 1973, by an Act of Parliament, the effect of this policy has received mixed evaluations.

This thesis has shown that in the period 1983-1993, the impact of RRAP on the change in the assessed property values in the Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP) 1 of the City of Halifax, was significant.

The change in real property values was greater in the decades 1963-1973, and especially 1983-1993 than in 1973-1983. Inflation, redlining and speculation are identified as possible causes for the small increases in the middle decade. The percentage increases in property values were higher in the area around NIP1 and in the Old South End than in NIP1 between 1973-1983. However, in the period 1983-1993, while all the areas had relatively high percentage increases in real property values, the NIP 1 area experienced significant percentage increases in property values compared to its previous values and also other areas of the city. These increase appear to have rippled in the areas around NIP1.

A comparison of house prices and sales, for the four real estate districts of the City of Halifax, shows that although property values in the North End are the lowest in the city, house prices in NIP1 had steeper increases while the volume of sales have been steadily rising since 1983.

Finally, this analysis, found that dividing the time frame into 10 year intervals gave a better view of the policy effect. This work commends the RRAP public policy, because it has assisted this part of the city, stimulated private forms of rehabilitation, all of which boosted property values in the area.