Why Preserve?
Historic preservation defines our “sense of place” and our cultural heritage. Preservation initiatives have been the incubators of economic growth and environmental sustainability. Old buildings attract businesses and residents as they offer distinctive character that often cannot be replicated.
Tax Credits
Both Federal and state governments offer incetives for historic preservation projects in the form of tax credits.
In Georgia, the
Historic Preservation Division
oversees two tax credit programs. To qualify for these benefits, historic properties must be listed or qualify to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Georgia Register of Historic Places, or be inside a nationally or locally designated
historic district
. The first program, called the State Preferential Property Tax Assessment for Rehabilitated Historic Property, is available for residential and commercial projects. Once approved, a property's county tax assessment will freeze for more than 8 years so long as the property owner increases the fair market value of the property by at least 50%-100% depending on the use. The second program, the Income Tax Credit for Rehabilitated Historic Properties, is based on income tax. Large projects completed after January 1, 2017 might qualify for up to $25 million in income tax credits based on qualified rehabilitation expenditures (QRE).
Nationally, through the National Park Service (NPS), the Federal Rehabilitation Investment Tax Credit (RITC) is available for properties that are reviewed by the Georgia Historic Preservation Division before receiving final approval from the NPS. Each issued RITC is equal to 20% of the total rehabilitation cost for a preservation project. Notably in Atlanta, the popular rehabilitation of the Sears and Rodbuck warehouse building, now known as Ponce City Market, was one of the largest projects to ever be a recipient of REIT tax credits. Jamestown development was able to secure
$48 million in tax credits
from the Federal Government towards the development of the multi-use space.
Charitable Contribution Deductions
The National Park Service oversees easements to protect historic properties. When donating an easement to to a protecting organization, the property owner retains full ownership while ensuring the preservation of the historic character of a building. Properties with conservation easements may be eligible for additional tax credits. In Atlanta, the non-profit organization,
Easements Atlanta
oversees a portfolio of roughly 40 facade easements that have been created to preserve the historic face commercial and multi-unit residential properties around the city.
Historic Preservation Fund Grants
A variety of organizations provide funding to heritage preservation projects. Within the National Park Service, the State, Tribal and Local Plans & Grants (STLPG) Division oversees a multitude of programs including the State Historic Preservation Office HPF Grants, Tribal Historic Preservation Office Grants, Tribal Heritage Grants, Civil Rights Grants, Disaster Recovery Grants, Underrepresented Community Grants, Save America’s Treasures, Preserve America Grant Program, Japanese American Confinement Sites Grants, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) grant program.
More information
.
Sustainability
The
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
argues that the "greenest" building is the building that is already built. Promoting the reuse of historic districts that are built in urban spaces and have close proximity to public transportation or are walkable communities cuts down on vehicle emissions.
Sites lost in Atlanta
The Georgia Archives,
located in Jonesboro, GA, are operated by the University System of Georgia. The Archives maintains an online collection of historic buildings that have been demolished on their website, "
Vanishing Georgia
." In the mid 1970s, the archives began this project by reaching out to Georgia's citizens to request that photographs of demolished buildings be submitted for the project. Today, photographs in the collection are organized by county.
Atlanta Terminal Station, built in 1903 and demolished in 1972.
Historic Preservation's Beginnings
In 1812 the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia was threatened by demolition. Many believed that the building was in such a state of disrepair that it would be too costly to rehabilitate. The City of Philadelphia had drawn up plans to demolish the building and subdivide its parcel of land to sell to private developers. At the time, the building was not even 100 years old, and the city did not regard the building as a historically significant property. Thanks to the activism of local Philadelphians, the city was pressured into purchasing the entire city block to preserve the building that is now named Independence Hall. As the site where the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were debated and adopted to be the foundations of a new democratic government, this building is arguably one of the most illustrious examples of the United States’ built history.
In 1848, another nationally significant building was facing the threat of demolition. Mount Vernon, the former mansion of President George Washington, was in the possession of his heirs who did not have the resources to continue keeping up the estate.
The
Antiquities Act of 1906
was the first historic preservation law to be passed in the United States. It established the right for the President of the United States to designate historic landmarks and other prehistoric and historic sites as significant resources in the country. Under the Antiquities
Act of 1906 heavy penalties could be imposed upon perpetrators who destroyed historic sites owned by the Federal Government. This new law
did prompt the surveying and identification of many historic sites, however, those owned by other government entities (such as state, county and city), private and not for profit organizations were left without protections under the Antiquities Act.
Under President Lyndon B. Johnson, the country’s top law regarding preservation, the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) , was passed in 1966. The NHPA deemed that all buildings in the United States older than 50 years shall be considered historic. The 50-year threshold is progressive, so each year, another group of buildings are also considered historic.
Under President Lyndon B. Johnson, the country’s top law regarding preservation, the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) , was passed in 1966. The NHPA deemed that all buildings in the United States older than 50 years shall be considered historic. The 50-year threshold is progressive, so each year, another group of buildings are also considered historic.