Historic Preservation Tax Credits
Many New England cities and towns have empty and under-used historic resources. Preserving old buildings is a worthy cause, but renovating them with new building systems, code upgrades, improved energy efficiency, and new technology can be costly.
Federal and state historic preservation tax credits can help to make rehabilitation of historic buildings affordable for owners and developers. Through these incentive programs, mills and factories, office buildings, department stores, hotels, houses, and other building types can serve a new generation in the 21st century.
The federal preservation tax incentive program is administered by the National Park Service and the Internal Revenue Service, in coordination with State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs). It offers a 20% tax credit for the rehabilitation of historic structures. Connecticut's tax credit programs provide additional 25 to 30% tax credits. The state and federal programs can be used together as a significant funding source.
AHS historians have worked with architects on dozens of historic preservation tax credit projects. We help designers to follow the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, and we coordinate with State Historic Preservation Offices throughout design and construction. The result is an excellent funding source and smoother process for owners, developers, and architects.
Featured Project
Yantic Woolen Mill Historic Rehabilitation
AHS personnel frequently advise developers on rehabilitation of historic buildings. One example is the Phoenix Development Group’s rehabilitation of the historic Yantic Woolen Mill in Norwich, Connecticut, for re-use as a hotel. The project was a Certified Rehabilitation that was approved by the Connecticut Historical Commission and the National Park Service in 2002. AHS provided all historic preservation services for the project, including consultation with owners, architects, contractors, suppliers, and public officials. We also wrote the National Register of Historic Places nomination for the site, which was listed in the National Register in 1996.
Other Examples
Pond's Extract Company Factory Historic Rehabilitation
AHS serves as the historic preservation consultant and tax credit coordinator to the developer for the adaptive re-use of the 20th-century factory complex in Clinton for multifamily housing, sports complex, and flexible office space.
New Haven Clock Company Factory Historic Rehabilitation
AHS serves as the historic preservation consultant and tax credit coordinator to the developer for the adaptive re-use of a major manufacturing center in New Haven, now known as the Clock Shop Lofts.
Capewell Horsenail Factory Historic Rehabilitation
AHS staff served as the historic preservation consultant and tax credit coordinator to the architect undertaking a $26.1 million rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of an important Hartford factory now known as Capewell Lofts.
Hotel America Historic Rehabilitation
As the historic preservation consultant to the project architect, AHS staff coordinated federal and state historic tax credits for the $20 million rehabilitation of a 1964 hotel building at 5 Constitution Plaza in Hartford, now called Spectra Boutique Apartments.