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Legislative Issues

 

 
 

 

TIF and Historic Structures

 

Illinois Bill SB 2733 Signed

 

Governor Blagojevich in August signed SB 2733, a new law that will greatly reduce the ability of communities to use TIF (Tax Increment Financing) funds to demolish or alter National Register-listed properties or buildings that may be “eligible” for Register listing. The bill was written by Landmarks Illinois board member and attorney Richard Friedman and attorney Michael Rachlis, in response to the Village of Lombard’s use of TIF funds in 2007 to demolish the National Register-listed DuPage Theatre. There are almost 1,000 TIF districts in 389 communities throughout Illinois. The bill’s co-sponsors were Ill. Sen. Dan Cronin (R-Elmhurst) and Ill. Rep. Robert Pritchard (R-Sycamore), both of whom are members of the Illinois Legislature’s Historic Preservation Caucus.

 

SB 2733

SB2733 Bill Status

 

Better Incentives for Better Preservation – H.R. 3159 reintroduced as H.R. 1043

 

Support H.R. 1043: Community Restoration and Revitalization Act

 

On Feb. 14, 2007 H.R. 1043, formally known as H.R. 3159, the Community Restoration and Revitalization Act, was reintroduced by Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Ohio) with Rep. Phil English (R-PA) as the minority party lead. The Senate companion bill is S. 584.

 

The act, originally introduced in 2005 as H. R. 3159, contains important amendments to the existing Federal Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program. These amendments deepen the program’s utility for community revitalization and affordable housing, helping historic properties throughout the state.

 

Some of the Principal Amendments Include:

 

Making the 10% credit available for rental housing and for buildings 50 years or older. Currently, this credit is only available for commercial properties and buildings “built before1936.” The 50 year date will avoid the need for future updates.

Expanding the Federal Historic Rehabilitation Credit to 40% for projects that are $2 million or less, which will benefit smaller “Main Street” type commercial rehab developments. The 40% credit applies to the first $1 million in projects under $2 million.

Broadening the tax credit's application to apply to condominium developments and in so doing, provides new support for the revitalization of urban neighborhoods nationwide. The current provision requires the payback of the credit if the property is sold within five years, which eliminates usage of this credit for many developers.

Improve the coupling of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit and the Historic Tax Credit. Currently using the credits together reduces the benefits of the individual credits.

 

According to the National Park Service, in 2005, the Federal Tax Incentives for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings produced more than $3.1 billion in private investment, created 52,464 jobs and created or renovated 14,354 housing units nationwide. The proposed amendments in H.R. 1043 will help to make the message clearer that historic preservation is good for the economy.

 

   

 WHAT YOU CAN DO

 

 

 

Rep. Rahm Emanuel

Rep. Jan Schakowsky

Rep. Luis Gutierrez

 

Letters of support are needed from local officials, preservation commissions, mayors, business and Main Street groups, developers and building owners.

 

They should be addressed to the local congressional representative inviting them to sign on as a co-sponsor of H.R. 1043. So far in Illinois, Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-9) , Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-5), Rep. Danny Davis (D-7), Rep. Ray LaHood (R-18), Rep. Donald Manzullo (R-16) , Rep. Mark Kirk (R-10), Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-2), Rep. Tim Johnson (R-15), Rep. Jerry Costello (D-12), and Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-4) have signed on as co-sponsors.

 

 

 

If either is your congressman, please send them a big thank you. Please have copies of support letters sent to Landmarks, so we can track support to all legislators. Thank you for your help. If you have any questions, contact Lisa DiChiera director of advocacy at dichieral@lpci.org or call her at (312) 922-1742.

 

For more information view H.R. 1043 handout.pdf or go to preservationaction.org. To find your legislator go to elections.il.gov/DistrictLocator/SelectSearchType.

 

H.R. 1043 Handout

 

 

 

Illinois Historic Preservation Caucus

Over 80 Members —
Bipartisan House & Senate Support

 

The Illinois Historic Preservation Legislative Caucus, since its formation in late 2005, has had several meetings and gatherings. Senator Deanna Demuzio (D-Carlinville) and Rep. Rich Brauer (R-Petersburg) are serving as co-chairs.

 

With over 80 members from both the House and Senate – almost half of the Legislature - the Illinois Historic Preservation Caucus is the largest issue-based, bi-partisan caucus in Springfield. It was the second historic preservation caucus to be formed at the state legislative level in the country after the state of Washington (1989). In 2006, Hawaii established a cultural heritage caucus.

 

 

 

   
 

 WHAT YOU CAN DO

 
 

1. If your legislator has joined the caucus, please thank him or her and tell them how important historic preservation is to you & your community.

2. If your legislator has not joined, please urge him or her to do so.

3. Refer to the PDF links to view who has joined the caucus and to read about objectives Landmark Illinois proposed the caucus could address.

4. Several caucus members have put forth bills that will benefit historic preservation in the state of Illinois.

Please ask your state legislator to support these bills and if your legislator was the lead sponsor, please thank them.

 

 
 

Caucus Members & Objectives

Ideas for Future Preservation Legislation

 
 

 

 

 

Communicating with Elected Officials

 

Just as it is your responsibility as a citizen to exercise your right to vote, it is just as important to communicate with officials once they take office. Let them know your communities’ concerns and interests. Stakeholders promoting many different interests are in regular contact with elected officials, and the historic preservation community must be active on this front as well. To learn how to communicate effectively, view the following NTHP Communicating with Elected Officials PDF.

 

NTHP Elected Officials

 

Preservation Action

 

Landmarks Illinois works with Preservation Action (PA) regularly to inform the public about preservation issues at the Federal level. Preservation Action, a non-profit, preservation lobbying organization based in Washington D.C., coordinates a network of community activists, preservation professionals, historians, commercial investors and civic leaders working together to advocate for our architectural heritage.

 

Preservation Action monitors federal legislation and keeps members informed of its consequences for preservation through weekly legislative updates, quarterly national meetings and in-depth policy reports. For information go to preservationaction.org.

 

 

 
 

 

 
     

 

 

 

Landmarks Illinois
Suite 1315
53 W. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604 
tel. 312-922-1742 
fax 312-922-8112

 

 

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tax exempt 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1971 and is the state's leading voice for historic preservation.