ASSISTANCE TO OWNERS OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS
ASSISTANCE TO OWNERS OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS
I. TECHNICAL ADVICE FOR RESTORATIONS, REHABILITATIONS, AND HISTORIC BUILDING MAINTENANCE:All owners of historic buildings in North Carolina, including private individuals and organizations as well as governmental agencies, may request technical advice from the Restoration Branch of the State Historic Preservation Office (HPO). Technical consultation incurs no cost or obligation. A building does not need to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places or have any other special historic designation to be eligible for this service. Consultations are offered on a time-available basis and may include telephone consultations, mailings of technical articles and sample specifications, on-site building inspections and evaluations, and referrals to specialty architects, contractors, and consultants. Staff cannot prepare in-depth plans and specifications for restoration projects but can provide printed technical information materials for the cost of reproduction and recommend additional books and periodicals that are available for purchase from other sources.
CONTACT: Restoration Branch. Field offices are located in Asheville (828-274-6789) for the mountain region and Greenville (252-830-6580) for the northeastern region.
II. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR RESTORATIONS AND REHABILITATIONS:
A. FEDERAL GRANTS (Private, private nonprofit, and public owners of National Register properties)
The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 Federal law requires that 10% of the state's apportionment from the federal Historic Preservation Fund be made available on a matching basis to local governments that are designated Certified Local Governments by the National Park Service. This has ranged from $65,000 to $92,000 annually for CLG projects in the state. Eligible projects include architectural and archaeological surveys, nominations of eligible districts and properties to the National Register of Historic Places, survey publication manuscripts, local preservation design guidelines and preservation plans, educational programs, and restoration of National Register properties.
Additional federal funds are sometimes earmarked by Congress for special categories of projects such as lighthouses and Native American properties, if interested contact the Grants Coordinator.
CONTACT: Grants Coordinator, 919-807-6582
B. STATE GRANTS (Private nonprofit and public owners of historic properties)
In some years, the North Carolina General Assembly has made funds for preservation projects available to local governments and nonprofit groups through one-time discretionary appropriations. Such appropriations may or may not be repeated in coming years. State appropriations have never been made to privately owned historic properties.
CONTACT: Grants Coordinator, 919-807-6582
C. PRIVATE FOUNDATION GRANTS (Private nonprofit and public owners of historic properties)
Some private foundations include historic preservation projects among the activities eligible for funding, and project sponsors may find it useful to make inquiries to local and regional foundations. Foundation directories may be found at public libraries. A good starting point for finding online information about foundations is the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits.
D. FEDERAL AND STATE INVESTMENT TAX CREDITS (Private individuals and businesses)
The federal tax code provides an attractive 20% investment tax credit for the rehabilitation of privately-owned, commercial historic buildings, including residential rental buildings, that are listed in the National Register of Historic Places or that are contributing historic buildings within National Register Historic Districts. There is also a 20% state investment tax credit for commercial projects certified under the federal program. The combined credits in effect can reduce the costs of a qualifying rehabilitation of a commercial property by 40%. Handout on Commercial Program.
North Carolina state tax credits provide homeowners a 30% credit for certified rehabilitations of historic buildings listed in the National Register or located within National Register districts, including private residences. Handout on Homeowner Program. There is no equivalent federal credit for these historic structures.
Both types of credits apply only to substantial rehabilitations (not minor fix-up projects) and the work for both types must meet federal rehabilitation standards. Owners who seek historic preservation investment tax credits are urged to contact the Restoration Branch before beginning any rehabilitation.
CONTACT: Preservation Tax Credit Coordinator, Restoration Branch, 919-807-6590
III. ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS OF OTHER AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS:
A. PRESERVATION NORTH CAROLINA: Preservation North Carolina (PNC) is a statewide nonprofit preservation membership organization. Membership in PNC supports a wide range of preservation advocacy, education, and restoration programs. Members receive a quarterly newsletter and periodic updates on historic preservation news and events in North Carolina. www.presnc.org
Buying or selling historic property: Among its programs and activities, PNC operates a revolving fund to market historic properties for sale to new owners who are able and willing to preserve them. Several local revolving funds also work cooperatively with PNC. Protective covenants are appended to the deeds of properties revolved through PNC, and PNC retains the right of first refusal in future sales of the properties. PNC also accepts easement donations from owners who desire that their properties be preserved in perpetuity.
CONTACT: Preservation North Carolina, P.O. Box 27644, Raleigh, NC 27611, 919-832-3652 or info@presnc.org
B. LOCAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSIONS: Over 100 of North Carolina's local governments have established historic preservation commissions to operate historic preservation programs at the local level. Local preservation commissions recommend historic districts or landmarks for designation by the local governing board and review alterations and additions to landmarks and properties within designated historic districts. Some commissions provide rehabilitation design assistance, operate local revolving funds, and offer other services and activities.
CONTACT: Your local preservation commission. Click here to view the state roster of local commissions. If you seek information about establishing or operating a commission in your community, contact Rob Crawford, Preservation Commission Services Coordinator, 919-807-6580.
C. THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION: The National Trust is a national, private nonprofit preservation advocacy organization. The Trust publishes a monthly newspaper and bimonthly magazine, publishes a variety of books on historic preservation topics, owns and operates museum properties, and operates a program of incentive grants to local preservation organizations for non-construction activities. National Trust Funding Assistance
CONTACT: National Trust for Historic Preservation, 1785 Massachusetts Avenue N.W., Washington D.C. 20036, 202-588-6000. Southern Regional Office, 456 King Street, Charleston, S.C. 29403, 843-722-8552 or sro@nthp.org
D. THE NORTH CAROLINA MAIN STREET CENTER: The North Carolina Main Street Center (NCMSC) is an outgrowth of a pilot project begun by the National Trust in 1977. North Carolina was among the six states that originally participated and is now one of 44 states with active programs. Over forty North Carolina towns and cities with populations under 50,000 have participated with locally staffed program managers. NCMSC provides technical assistance to participating communities to encourage economic development within a historic preservation context. NCMSC is part of the Division of Community Assistance of the North Carolina Department of Commerce.
CONTACT: North Carolina Main Street Center, Division of Community Assistance, P.O. Box 12600, Raleigh NC 27605-2600, 919-571-4900
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