Forest Hill is officially historic
Good news comes to us from Carolyn Paulette and Forest Hill Historic Designation Committee. Congrats to everyone for all the hard work that had to be done to make this possible.
The Forest Hill Historic Designation Committee is pleased to announce that the Department of Historic Resources Boards passed their nomination for historic designation this morning at their quarterly meeting. As of today, June 21, 2012, the 740 + properties listed as contributing properties within the boundaries indicated on the attached map (above) are listed on the State Register of Historic Places and are eligible for state tax credits and other benefits which this nomination grants.
The Department of Historic Resources will forward the nomination to the National Park Service to be approved
for listing on the National Register of Historic Places as well. In two months or less the NPS will notify the committee whether they have been listed or not on the National Register.We are now the Forest Hill Historic District similar to other historic districts already listed in Richmond: Woodland Heights, Ginter Park, West of the Boulevard, the Fan, and Monument Avenue. We have the right to display a plaque indicating that our individual property is listed in the Forest Hill Historic District with the construction date of the house on the plaque. Look for more about Forest Hill Historic District plaques in
the future.Many thanks to all of the residents and the committee members who have worked to support this nomination.
Very cool! In addition to those listed above, there are quite many places in Richmond listed as historic properties or districts. Here are all of the individual properties and neighborhoods that the Virginia DHR has listed as historic:
http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/Cities/register_Richmond.htm
Hey Richard, when you’ve got a free minute, it would be cool to turn the application document into a post :)
I’ve done some from the Church Hill area, The Fan, and a few in Northside; it’s a neat way to really bring the document to life.
This could be both good and bad. How will this affect people who want to put aditions on? Will they have more hoops to jump through?
On the good side, maybe someone can use historic tax credits to fix up the apartments at Cedar and Forest Hill (and raze the ones next to them).
whr…the answer is no. The city’s “Old and Historic District” designation is the one that is more restrictive, requiring plans be reviewed by the architectural review board.
http://www.richmondgov.com/planninganddevelopmentreview/documents/Old_Historic_Dist.pdf
There are 2 basic types of historic designation in Richmond. As Stuff says above, the Richmond-specific “Old and Historic District” designation (like for Spring Hill) carries inherent restrictions on properties in the district.
The State/National designation that Forest Hills has just earned places only voluntary restrictions on properties, in trade for tax credits. The property owner can do as before, however if they follow certain guidelines they are able to apply for the tax credits. It really is a “no lose” scenario.
whr, additions to contributing properties qualify for tax credits. Yes, the apartments will qualify. The tax credits
are prpbably a factor in the present renovation at Parkside
on 47th St. Tyler Potterfield with City Planning indicated
at the CAR hearing for our nomination that the condos
and apartments across from Forest Hill Park will qualify
in the future. The owners will have to apply as part of
the Forest Hill Historic District.
We appreciate everyone’s enthusiasm for the historic
designation. Thank you.
Carolyn Paulette
Actually, I do know a lot about state and federal historic tax credits. They are different than City tax credits.
Additions will not count towards the fedearl and state tax credits. Only work on the original structure will count (unless you are Justin French…).
Also, unless the property is income producing for five years it will not qualify for the fedearl credits.
All that said. I think they are a very good thing and could make a renovation of those apartments attractive to a investor. I am also glad to hear that residents wont have more hoops to jump through for additions. That is the last thing we want to do for the area.
In order to be eligible for the historic rehabilitation tax credit program, a property has to be individually eligible or listed on the Registers or listed as a contributing property in an historic district listed on the Registers. All of the apartments and condos across from Forest Hill Park are non-contributing and are therefore not eligible for the historic rehabilitation tax credits. However, the apartments at Cedar and Forest Hill are contributing and would be eligible for the tax credits.
There are no restrictions placed on property owners as a result of state and national register designation. A property owner may chose to pursue rehabilitation tax credits for work that they plan to undertake on their property but participation in this program is completely voluntary and the work would need to meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. If you want information about the rehabilitation tax credit program, go to the website of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (www.dhr.virginia.gov) and click on the “tax credit” tab on the left side of the home page.
Kristin, do additions count for tax credits? Also, how can the
apartments across from the Park become contributing properties
since Mr. Potterfield made that comment at the CAR hearing?
No Carolyn, as whr noted, you cannot receive tax credits for an addition.
The question about the apartments has been asked and answered by the National Park Service (as you know – you asked it three times and got the same answer every time). NPS said that they are non-contributing because they represent a different pattern of development. Therefore, I don’t see any way that they could become contributing.
Kristin, that is what I thought, but I heard a different interpretation at the CAR meeting in May. Wish I had asked
for clarification. I guess time will tell as it did with bringing in
Brookside, the Park, Sharon Court, and the apartments as
part of the Forest Hill Historic District. Thanks.
Congrats to Carolyn and her volunteer team for the 3 years of work and research to achieve this honorary designation. I look forward to the Committee sharing the many pieces of history not included in the nomination in the future. The whole story of Forest Hill (and her sister neighborhoods) is so rich and interesting. Dogtowners should be aware that the history here is as old and deep as that north of the river.
Well Done Forest Hill!