DC Preservation Advocacy Week recap

Although we missed our traditional Capitol Hill visits in DC this year, hundreds of historic preservation supporters from around the country convened virtually to advocate for preservation with their state Congressional Representatives.

League staff, along with the New York State Historic Preservation Office and other regional colleagues, had the privilege of speaking with several Congressional offices including the offices of Representatives Adriano Espaillat, Yvette Clarke, Grace Meng, Ritchie Torres, Thomas Suozzi, Jamaal Bowman, Joseph Morelle, Hakeem Jeffries, Mondaire Jones, and Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand.

A screenshot from one of the Advocacy Wee Zoom calls League staff attended.

A screenshot from one of the Advocacy Wee Zoom calls League staff attended.

Priorities for DC Preservation Advocacy Week included:

Funding the Historic Preservation Fund at $150 million. This funding goes towards:

  • State Historic Preservation Officers (SHPOs) for heritage preservation and protection programs that create jobs, economic development, and community revitalization

  • Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (THPOs) for tribal historic preservation plans based on traditional knowledge and cultural values, and may involve projects to improve Indian schools, roads, health clinics and housing

  • African American Civil Rights Initiative Competitive Grants to preserve the sites and stories of the African American struggle to gain equal rights in America

  • History of Equal Rights Grant Program to preserve sites related to the struggle of all people to achieve equal rights in America

  • Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to fund grants to preserve and repair historic buildings on the campuses of HBCUs

  • Save America’s Treasures Program to help preserve nationally significant historic properties and collections that convey our nation's rich heritage to future generations of Americans

  • Underrepresented Community Grants to support work towards diversifying the nominations submitted to the National Register of Historic Places

  • Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants to support the rehabilitation of historic properties and fosters economic development of rural communities through subgrants

  • Semiquincentennial Grants to support funding for the competitive grant program to preserve publicly owned historical sites commemorating the upcoming 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States

Strengthening the Federal Historic Tax Credit (HTC). The HTC encourages private investment in historic buildings, attracts private capital to revitalize often vacant and underutilized properties. The following enhancements are recommended:

  • Temporary Enhancements to the HTC

    • Temporarily increase the HTC from 20% to 30% to address pandemic related challenges

  • Permanent Enhancements to the HTC

    • Make it easier to complete small rehabilitation projects by increasing the credit to 30% for projects with less than $2.5 million in qualified rehabilitation expenses

    • Make more buildings eligible for HTCs by lowering the substantial rehabilitation threshold

    • Increasing the value of HTCs by eliminating the requirement that the value of the HTC must be deducted from a building’s basis (property’s value for tax purposes)

    • Make the HTC easier to use by non-profit organizations for projects like community health centers, local art centers, and affordable housing; by eliminating IRS restrictions that make it difficult to partner with developers

Invitation to Congressional Representatives to join the Historic Preservation Caucus. Established in 2003, this bipartisan effort supports and encourages historic preservation. Current New York Representatives include Brian Higgins, Carolyn Maloney, Sean Maloney, Jerrold Nadler, Paul Tonko, Antonio Delgado, and Joseph Morelle.

Public PolicyChristina Hingle