this is the publicity from a workshop on June 24, but it contains all you need to know if you want to explore this program. Just call Rodney or Lorrain!
For over a century our downtowns and villages functioned as centers for culture, commerce and community before suffering neglect and deterioration. Recently this trend is reversing, due in large part to a confluence of State policy initiates and programs. The 2006 Brookings and GrowSmart Maine Report, Charting Maine‘s Future identified “the revitalization of Maine’s towns and cities” as key for a prosperous future and which was complemented by Main Street Maine, the Governor’s Task Force on the Creative Economy, Quality of Place Council and others.
“Maine does not merely have good revitalization policies, but we wisely adopted tools to implement them”, said Rockland Community Development Director Rodney Lynch, AICP. “For private property owners the most powerful tools are the financial incentives of the State and Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credit programs”. To spread this word, Rockland - known as one of Maine’s most successful revitalization examples - will host a regional informational workshop on Thursday, June 24, 2010 at 7:00PM , Rockland City Council Chamber, 270 Pleasant Street, Rockland, Maine for owners of property within the downtowns and historic districts of Rockland, Thomaston, Rockport, Camden, Belfast, Searsport, Damariscotta, Wiscasset, Waldoboro and Bath.
The workshop is sponsored by the Rockland Community Development Department, Rockland Main Street, Inc., and Lachman Architects & Planners, providers of comprehensive services for community revitalization state-wide. Denis Lachman will present Dollars & Sense With Rehab Tax Credits – A Practical Workshop for Property Owners. Rodney Lynch will also introduce the potential second Rockland CDBG Downtown Main Street Façade Improvement Grant Program and solicit commitments from Downtown business and property owners to participate in the matching grant program. This program has applicability to other downtowns and historic districts in the region as well.
“Now is the very best opportunity we have seen in years to improve downtown historic buildings”, said Denis Lachman. “While new construction has declined dramatically, rehabilitation in Maine has witnessed a marked increase - stimulated by these incentives”. Maine’s Rehabilitation Incentives include a 25% tax credit or refund, which may be combined with Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credits for a total of 45% incentives. “Property owners should keep in mind that the Maine program continues only through December 2013, so those that are eligible must not hesitate, or they might miss this unprecedented opportunity”, added Denis Lachman. According to Lynch, the tax credits can be combined with façade grants to provide additional financial incentives for the rehabilitation of historic buildings.
Rehabilitation incentives can be used for certified code compliance in existing buildings such as elevators, stairs, life safety systems, etc. They can also be used for certified interior improvements such as walls, partitions, floors, ceilings, permanent coverings and infrastructure such as central air conditioning, heating, plumbing, etc. In addition, they can be used for certified exterior improvements such as window, doors, storefronts and masonry.
“Because rehab tax incentives can be used for code, interior, infrastructure and exterior improvements they provide unprecedented opportunities for our older properties to be updated from the 19th and 20th centuries to the 21st century”, noted Denis Lachman.
Financial Incentives to Rehabilitate Historic Buildings workshop is free and open to the public and will be of great interest. For information please contact Rodney Lynch at 594-0306 or email rlynch@ci.rockland.me.us or contact Denis Lachman at 773-3811.
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