Heritage Ohio ‘coffees’ offering historic preservation help

Program to introduce process for using historic tax credits for building rehab

Those interested in historic preservation and the sustainability of their community are invited to attend a July 9 meeting on how to take advantage of historic tax credits for rehabbing older commercial buildings.

Heritage Ohio is bringing its Historic Tax Credit Coffee series to Painesville, Chardon, Ashtabula and Cleveland Heights to explain the concept of using the federal 20 percent and Ohio 25 percent historic tax.

The meetings, which are free and open to the public, also serve to introduce the people working on behalf of Ohio’s Development Services Agency and the State Historic Preservation Office.

“We recognized there is an audience that just wants a brief introduction, before they commit to hours of research,” said Heritage Ohio Director Joyce Barrett. “In one quick hour, we can show how it works and introduce the people who manage the program. They are great people working to help get buildings restored, not faceless bureaucrats.”

The program is significant for local governments and economies on many levels, said Chardon Tomorrow Executive Director Mary Glauser, the liaison in her community.

“It has been shown to bring in tax revenue from both property and sales, and boosts local Main Street businesses,” she said. “For potential business owners, it provides a framework and the financial support at the state and federal levels to get their business off the ground and access to resources to support the project.

“It keeps buildings from being demolished and filling our landfills, and maintains a consistent look and feel to our local Main Streets. The value of adjoining properties hold more consistently when these projects are initiated and, in many instances, go up.”

The “coffees” will take place at the following times and places:

• 8 to 9 a.m. — Ashtabula County District Library, 4335 Park Ave.

• 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. — Downtown Painesville Organization, 47 S. State St.

• 2 to 3 p.m. — Chardon Heritage House, 111 E. Park St.

• 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. — Cleveland Heights Library, 2345 Lee Road

Presenting the program will be Nathan Bevil, a reviewer with the department at the State Historic Preservation Office, which reviews the historic integrity of the proposed work; Lisa Brownell, program manager at the Ohio Development Services Office who assists applicants in applying for the competitive Ohio program; and Barb Powers, who oversees the National Register process for Ohio, the qualifying designation necessary to use some of the historic tax credits.

Heritage Ohio has organized these events in 42 communities in the past two years.

“This type of session, which is introductory, is really good for anyone in the community, not just developers, property owners or current business owners,” Glauser said.

Heritage Ohio’s mission is to help people “save the places that matter, build community and live better.” Formed in 1989, the nonprofit organization has more than 500 members ranging from individuals and businesses to organizations and local governments. In addition, Heritage Ohio has been the designated coordinating agency by The National Main Street Center since 1997.

For more information, visit heritageohio.org.