1. Technical Preservation Services Department Ohio Historic Preservation Office Ohio Historical Society 1982 Velma Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43211-2497 614/298-2000 2011
2. The 20% Federal Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit: The Basics
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12. The 25% Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit (OHPTC): The Basics
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16. Rehabilitation: Returning a property to a state of utility through repair or alteration, making possible an efficient contemporary use, while preserving features significant to its history, architecture and culture.
17. Standards for Rehabilitation The Standards for Rehabilitation are ten common-sense principles emphasizing the preservation of historic character, repair rather than replacement and compatibility of alterations. They apply to all types of historic buildings. They pertain to exterior and interior features and spaces.
29. Making A Good Program Better/ Planning Successful Rehabilitation Projects, the two goals of which are: Making the requirements of the federal historic tax credit program clearer and Making the interpretation of the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation more understandable. In addition to Preservation Briefs and the Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings, the most up-to-date information on the federal historic rehabilitation tax credit program and applying the Standards for Rehabilitation is provided by
I will provide an introduction to the Secretary of the Interior’s “Standards for Rehabilitation.” You will find a copy in your booklet. The “Standards” have been adopted across the country -- by federal agencies, state offices, local commissions, and others -- as a preservation philosophy that can guide the successful rehabilitation of historic buildings.
Rehabilitation is defined as returning a property to a state of utility through repair or alteration, making possible an efficient, contemporary use, while preserving features significant to the building’s history, architecture and culture.
The Standards are ten common sense principles that emphasize preservation of historic character, repair over replacement, and compatibility of alterations. They apply to all types of historic buildings and over interior and exterior spaces and features, including landscapes.
I used the term “historic character” -- it refers to all the visual aspects and physical features of a historic building including its: size, scale, materials, details, craftsmanship, spaces, structure, shape, site, and environment.
Standard 1 - Be sure to find a compatible use for the building. Here we have a classroom in a vacant school building -- with a contemporary use that retains and reuses its character-defining features yet allows for open office space. Standard 1 is basic preservation philosophy -- it underscores the importance of ensuring a “good fit” between the old and the new.
Standard 2 states that the historic character of a property should be recognized and preserved. Here, in Cincinnati’s Over the Rhine Historic District, a row building was deteriorated and neglected before re-use. Its rehabilitation carefully preserves the painted masonry, storefront and window openings, architectural detail, projecting cornice, dormers, chimneys, and mansard roof. The new work respects and preserves the building’s historic character.
Standard 3 warns against attempting to create an earlier or false historic appearance. On the left is the Sycamore Café in German Village, Columbus. It has survived for decades with few alterations and maintains its character as a late-19 th century commercial building. Down the street, however, a similar building has been altered. The window grids, shutters, and coach lamps are typical elements of a style that pre-dates the building. These added details create a false historic appearance and diminish the building’s character.
Standard 4 recognizes that buildings change over time and that some additions may be significant. For example, the early 20 th century storefront applied to this 19th century building has gained significance in its own right. The storefront demonstrates a high level of craftsmanship – note the Carrara glass, metal trim and neon sign – and is a good example of Art Deco design on a small scale commercial building, worthy of preservation.
Standard 5 asks that we treat distinctive stylistic features with sensitivity. Here we have before and after views of the Old Holzer Hospital in Gallipolis. The distinctive entrance portico, although deteriorated, was carefully repaired and preserved as part of the overall rehabilitation.
Standard 6 is a fundamental part of the Standards. It asks that we repair deteriorated historic features whenever possible, rather than replacing with new. It is important to retain as much historic fabric as possible. When too much is replaced, historic character is lost. If replacement is necessary due to the severity of deterioration, match the existing “in kind,” which means using the same materials to achieve the same appearance. These two Pennsylvania buildings used to be identical twins, until one was altered with aluminum siding, new windows, and other obvious changes. No doubt, its neighbor needs work, but repairing the wood siding, windows and trim will preserve its character and significance.
Standard 7 - “Thou shall not sandblast.” Here we see sandblasting taking place at a home in German Village. Permanent damage to the brick is being caused. If cleaning historic materials is necessary, always use the gentlest means possible. We’ll offer some “how-to” information later this evening.
Standard 8 - Protect archeological resources. What we do not see can be as important, or even more important, than what we do see. On the left is a beehive cistern that was found under several layers of later construction – a brick foundation, a brick walkway, and a concrete slab parking lot. These cisterns often yield important information about the occupants of the homes nearby as everyday articles were often discarded inside. On the right are materials from cisterns in Cincinnati’s Betts-Longworth Historic District, discovered in an archeological excavation.
Standard 9 – Any new additions must be compatible with the historic property. Here is an urban streetscape example. The center building is new, infill construction between two historic buildings in Cleveland’s Warehouse District. The new construction is compatible with but does not duplicate the neighboring buildings. The materials, massing, storefront and window sizes are contemporary yet compatible in their design.
Finally, Standard 10 says that any additions or new construction should also be reversible. They should be able to be removed and not cause harm to the original structure or significant historic fabric. Here is an example of an interior vestibule added in a manner that does not significantly alter the appearance of the historic lobby while in place nor will it cause damage to historic features if removed in the future.