September 24, 2005

Preservation in Disaster Area

Press Release: Disaster Assistance Package for Historic Preservation in Gulf Coast Area Pending in Congress

Call (202-224-3121 for Senate Switchboard) or email your Senator and ask him/her to include the Disaster Relief Historic Homeownership Assistance Act in the Senate Hurricane Katrina Relief tax measure and to include the Historic Preservation Disaster Relief $60 million grant program in its next appropriations supplemental bill.

The affected areas of the Gulf Coast region contain some of the highest concentrations of historic properties in the nation. These historic resources include the homes, shops, schools, and institutions that give definition and identity to the very soul of these communities. The rebuilding effort is epic, and property owners need tools and incentives to help rehabilitate and rebuild the neighborhoods to healthy, vibrant, and familiar places to live and work.

The National Trust and its partners in preservation have developed a disaster assistance package to provide the tools needed to save the Gulf Coast region heritage. The National Trust has actively been working with Members of Congress who represent the disaster area to advance these important tools:

  • Disaster Relief Historic Homeownership Assistance Act - A proposal to provide a 30% tax credit for qualified rehabilitation expenditures to homeowners whose principle residence is a historic home in the disaster area.
  • Historic Preservation Disaster Relief Grants - A proposal to create a two-year, $60 million grant program from the federal Historic Preservation Fund for repairing damaged historic properties in the disaster area.
  • Waivers to the Existing Historic Preservation Tax Credit for Commercial Properties - A proposal to the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service to provide certain waivers to the existing commercial historic rehabilitation tax credit to make it more effective in the disaster area.
Tell your Senator:
  • Residents of these communities should be given the tools needed to rehabilitate and rebuild their homes, schools and businesses.
  • History and culture are at the very heart of this unique Gulf Coast area, and it is important to preserve its heritage in the rebuilding efforts.
  • These proposals are supported by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Preservation Action, the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers and the American Institute of Architects.

Visit the National Trust's webpage to take action now!



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