The Gray-Belle Building in Salem (top) and the Rose Apartments in Portland both used national historic tax credits to preserve affordable and create new housing and both are recipients of the 2021 DeMuro Awards.
The biggest positive change to historic preservation tax credits in a generation could be within reach!
Restore Oregon is partnering with the National Trust Community Investment Corp (NTCIC), Preservation Action, and many others, but we need everyone’s help to ensure that long overdue provisions enhancing the Historic Tax Credit (HTC) program are included in the final infrastructure reconciliation package, also known as the Build Back Better Plan.
Over the last 20 years, there have been over 144 HTC projects in Oregon generating over $965 million in total development. And four of this year’s Restore Oregon DeMuro Award-winning projects utilized tax credits totaling over $54 million, mostly investing in two affordable housing projects. An enhanced 2.0 version of the historic tax credit could do so much more for Oregon’s historic places.
How can you help?
Sentators Wyden and Merkley need to hear from you ASAP about how important this issue is for Oregon!
Need some talking points?
Visit the NTCIC public policy webpage where all of the information you need will be at your fingertips, including a new video, narrated by Bob Villa! Podcast lovers may want to listen to this PreserveCast episode with national tax credit expert Merrill Hoopengardner and Preservation Maryland’s Nicholas Redding discussing proposed enhancements to the credit, and what this means for historic preservation. Hungry for more data? The National Trust for Historic Preservation has compiled HTC maps for each state showing where projects have been executed over the past 20 years. And the National Park Service has their annual HTC report for fiscal year 2020 posted here.
While tax credits benefit historic preservation projects nationwide, what is most important when contacting our lawmakers is making the case for Oregon. Please personalize your messages to the Senators, including thanking them for their past support and hard work on tax credits, while also stressing the importance of passing this HTC package now.
Please give Senators Wyden and Merkley that shout out today! Together, we can make a difference and push this over the finish line.