It seems simple enough: To use historic tax credits (HTCs), a building must be historic. Straightforward, right? Well, as is usually the case when that question is asked, the answer is no. There are multiple types of historic designations–individual listings, historic districts, federal designations, state designations and local designations. Further, there are timing issues and designation specifics which could affect an HTC […]

Certain building types inherently contain expansive interior spaces. Department stores, warehouses and factories, for example, can have footprints that extend a full city block. A central challenge in rehabilitating buildings with large footprints is the absence of daylight into the inner core. The adaptive reuse of such buildings, particularly for hotel or apartment use, often […]

This month’s Toolbox features insight about incorporating energy efficiency on historic buildings based on expertise from Heritage staff member and window expert Sam Wharton. Wharton is a recent graduate from the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture. Over the past three decades, he has promoted strategies that increase the thermal performance of windows, and has extensive knowledge of green building technology and methodology.

Certain building types inherently contain significant interior spaces, the character of which can be defined by their volume as well as their architectural distinction. School buildings contain cafeterias, gymnasiums and auditoriums; armories contain drill halls; hotels contain ballrooms; fraternal lodges contain ceremonial spaces; office buildings contain lobbies; and bank buildings contain monumental banking halls. The adaptive reuse of such spaces often hinges […]

It is tempting to assume that if some historic tax credits (HTCs) are good, then more HTCs are better. Several public policy studies support this position. According to some studies, an active state tax credit program boosts the use of the federal program, on average, by between $15 million and $35 million in certified expenditures. Put another way, states with active […]

As the 40th anniversary of the federal historic tax credit (HTC) program approaches, the early days of the program come to mind: typewriter applications, carbon paper copies and 35mm photograph prints. While application procedures and technology have advanced significantly from those early days, it is also important to realize that those early tax credit projects are now at least 30 years old. […]

In the 40-year history of the historic tax credit (HTC) program, certain building types have become perennial targets for rehabilitation. Mills, factories, office buildings, department stores and schools are often well suited for adaptive reuse, with floor plans and finishes that lend themselves to new uses and the use of HTCs. This article, the first in a recurring series identifying the opportunities […]

Historic tax credits (HTCs) can provide a critical incentive for owners seeking to redevelop historic buildings, and the path to obtaining HTCs begins with National Register listing. For the thousands of buildings already listed in the National Register (either individually or within a historic district), the first step in the tax credit process is usually […]

Since 1976, federal tax incentives have been provided to encourage developers to rehabilitate historic properties rather than replace them. Over the years, the preservation tax incentives program has seen significant changes in incentives. The current federal historic preservation tax incentives program provides a 20 percent historic perseveration tax credit (HTC) for qualified rehabilitation expenditures (QREs) […]