Like movies, buildings are full of character: usually a couple of lead characters, aided by supporting characters. When rehabilitating a historic building using historic tax credits (HTCs), the National Park Service (NPS) requires the character-defining features of a building to be maintained. To ensure that this character is maintained, the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards […]

The importance of documentation in a historic tax credit (HTC) development cannot be overemphasized. There are actually three distinct forms of documentation, all of which are critical to a successful historic tax credit application. Historic Documentation: First is documenting the historic evolution of the building. With few exceptions, buildings change over time. Tenants move in […]

When undertaking a rehabilitation development using historic tax credits (HTCs), the functional use of the building greatly influences the approach to proposed interior finishes. Reusing historic structures as office buildings requires foresight to understand the needs of future tenants, who may have a specific aesthetic in mind and to balance those needs with the HTC […]

Brutalism has long been viewed negatively in the architectural community as “monolithic” or “imposing,” but has come back into vogue as changing tastes redefine design. At the same time, many of these buildings, built in the late 1960s through the 1970s, are reaching the 50-year threshold for National Register historic designations; thus, are potentially eligible […]

When you visit a city, you’re bound to see all types of buildings: commercial, residential institutional and ecclesiastical. These come in all ranges of styles and sizes, depending on your location. In more than 30 years of being in the historic real estate redevelopment industry, I’ve seen many types of buildings rehabilitated using historic tax […]

In reviewing projects for historic tax credits (HTCs), the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and National Park Service (NPS) evaluate proposed work under the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation (Standards). While the Standards are general in nature, there is published guidance to illuminate how the Standards are applied to projects.Essentially, the intent of […]

Using historic tax credits (HTCs) and
successfully completing a hotel rehabilitation
project is a logical choice to cater to the
growing group of heritage-minded tourists. However,
these projects can pose a variety of challenges…

Certain building types, including hotels and residential buildings, often use canopies in the design of the main entrances. Canopies create a transitional space for users of the building between the public street and the private space of the building. The adaptive reuse of such buildings, particularly for hotels or apartments, may benefit from the introduction […]

For a project of benefit from historic tax credits (HTCs), a building must be considered a “certified historic structure,” a path that isn’t always simple.

While America’s love of the open road is legendary, it’s the utilitarian need to park our cars which has a greater impact when it comes to our buildings. While none of us were around, I’m sure one of the first questions after the awe of seeing Henry Ford’s Model T roll down Main Street was […]