This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Residential Knowledge Community and Historic Resources Committee .
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Yesterday, Paul Mendelsohn sent out the following action alert on two bills the AIA is working with the National Trust for Historic Preservation on. If you have responded then thank you. If you missed the email or did not receive it, I wanted to share it with you via KnowledgeNet. Please take a look and feel free to post questions or comments here.
Adam
Adam M. Melis
Director Advocacy Outreach
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This week Congressional backers of historic preservation are planning to introduce two bills in the House of Representatives that will dramatically expand the use of the historic preservation tax credit to help revitalize both commercial and residential buildings. These bills will create jobs, help architects bring older buildings and communities back, and save energy.
But we need your help to make sure these bills get the support they deserve.
Reps. Michael Turner (R-OH) and Russ Carnahan (D-MO) are planning to introduce the Historic Homeownership Revitalization Act, which would create an incentive for homeowners similar to the one for historic commercial buildings. The bill would create a 20 percent tax credit (up to $60,000) for homeowners who make improvements to a principal residence in a registered historic district. The credit would also be available for developers who rehabilitate homes and sell them to individuals as their principal residence.
In addition, Reps. Aaron Schock (R-IL) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) will introduce the Creating American Prosperity Through Preservation Act. This bill would make the existing historic tax credit easier to use for reinvesting in communities where economic development is needed the most. The bill would expand and extend the existing Federal Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit for smaller, Main Street projects under $5 million. It would specify that the incentive for older, non-designated buildings worthy of preservation apply to buildings 50 years old or older, and it would make it easier for non-profits to use the tax credit. It also would promote energy efficiency in historic projects by increasing the credit if the design reduces energy consumption.
We know the enormous potential for job creation and community revitalization that the historic preservation tax credit provides. According to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, "the historic tax credit alone has rehabilitated over 37,000 vacant or underutilized historic buildings, generated over 2 million jobs, and leveraged $58 billion in private investment through saving America's historic places." But we also know that the need - and the opportunity - for more investment in older buildings and neighborhoods are great.
If these bills are to have a chance at passing, members of Congress need to hear from you - today - that they should cosponsor these bills. With the 2012 election campaign only months away, the window for passing legislation before the politicking begins is short. So please take a few moments to visit the AIA Advocacy Center and send a message to your House representative to ask for their support for these two bipartisan bills. Together, we can make a difference!
The full hyperlink is:
http://app3.vocusgr.com/WebPublish/controller.aspx?SiteName=aiagr&Definition=ViewIssue&IssueID=7132
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Adam Melis
Director, Advocacy Outreach
The American Institute of Architects
Washington DC
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