Pennsylvania House of Reps overwhelmingly passes state preservation tax incentive

The last state surrounding New Jersey to do so is now poised to adopt a state historic preservation incentive program, leaving the Garden State still more isolated from millions of dollars in potential investment, community revitalization and jobs creation.  The Pennsylvania House of Representatives, by a vote of 193 – 2, has passed HB42, the Historic Preservation Incentive Act.   The legislation will provide direct grants of up to $15,000 for rehabilitation of historic residential buildings, state tax credits of up to $500,000 for rehabilitation of historic commercial properties and priority funding to properties located in “Main Street” and “Elm Street” areas, enterprise zones and historic districts.  The bill now awaits Senate action, with strong indications that Gov. Ed Rendell will sign it into law.

Pennsylvania already sees scores of millions of dollars in historic rehabilitation and reinvestment, as measured by use of the federal historic rehab tax credit.  Now, with a companion state credit for commercial revitalization, still more investment is likely to flow into the Keystone State.  And owners of historic single family residences will be offered grants to reimburse for the costs of renovation and rehabilitation.   No such assistance for homeowners is available in New Jersey.

 

The Road to “Historic” Investment is Paved with Good Intentions: Fixing the New York State Historic Tax Credit

More than thirty states across the nation continue to reap a bonanza of surging economic activity by providing state historic tax credits to taxpayers undertaking qualified renovations of historic structures. The most successful state programs have been intentionally designed to compliment the existing federal historic tax credit program, creating significant efficiencies for already overburdened developers and spurring more private/public investment than would otherwise occur.

Recognizing this economic upside and the “green” nature of historic preservation, New York State just amended its state historic tax credit program. The previous incarnation had several limitations, especially related to transferring the credit and its modest dollar ceiling of $100,000, which had negligible real world impact on projects costing tens of millions. While the amended legislation is to be cheered as a step in the right direction – greater symmetry with the federal tax credit program and raising the credit ceiling to $5 million per project – the practical effects are not quite so rosy.

As a result of income and other regulations in the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, the majority of owners and developers of historic structures find that they cannot efficiently utilize the earned historic tax credits. Under the federal program, this problem is solved by taking on an investment partner and/or long term lessee for the project who can use the credits in accordance with law. This investment partner and/or long term lessee will provide equity funds to the deal in return for the credits and other financial benefits. In effect, a transfer of the credit occurs to optimize the value of the credits and to stimulate projects that might have otherwise had a gap in their financing sources. Herein lies the Achilles’ Heel of New York’s amended historic tax credit legislation.