Category: Historic Preservation

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Belleville, Illinois Historic Preservation

Arts Center Proposed for Belleville YMCA

by Michael R. Allen

Today the Belleville News-Democrat reported on an effort to turn the old YMCA building in Belleville, Illinois — originally the Belleville Turner Hall — into an arts center.

The story included some good news in the saga: members of a city committee charged with selling the city-owned building are impressed with the plan. After a lackluster response to a city-issued Request for Proposals (RFP) last year, Belleville officials have began mentioning demolition as a possible outcome. In February, I joined Belleville preservationists in urging the city to re-issue the RFP, which lacked important information on the building and mostly consisted of a report and asbestos in the building.

Proponents of the arts center have launched a Facebook group for supporters.

Categories
Historic Preservation Missouri Legislature Public Policy

Missouri House Committee to Consider Tax Credit-Busting Bill Tomorrow

by Michael R. Allen

What’s Happening

Tomorrow (April 6th) the Job Creation and Economic Development Committee of the Missouri House of Representatives will consider HB 2399, the bill that would gut Missouri’s successful historic preservation tax credit program. The committee will meet at 1:00 p.m. in Hearing Room 6 of the capitol.

Why It’s Bad

The bill, introduced by Representatives Steve Hobbs (D) and Sam Komo (R), would rescind most of the state’s current tax credit authorizations and institute a new set of provisions. The bill would implement the policy proposed by Governor Jay Nixon (D) and would turn over much discretionary power to the Department of Economic Development, whose director is always a political appointment.

HB 2399’s worst aspects:

  • Eliminates tax credit provisions of all programs except the circuit breaker and homestead preservation credits, and would create six new programs;
  • Place a global credit cap of $314 million on all modified credits with annual fluctuation.
  • Cap “redevelopment” credit issuance at $78.5 million, which is 35% of FY 2009’s level. The historic rehabilitation, low income and land assemblage programs would compete for issuance.
  • Potential eliminate standards and review for the historic rehabilitation credit. There is no provision to continue the current review by the State Historic Preservation Office and no mention of the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.
  • Give the DED director full discretion on whether to issue credits: “The decision of whether to authorize a tax credit under this section and the amount of any credit to be authorized is committed to the discretion of the director of the department of economic development…” (135.841.1)
  • Give DED full discretion to award 20% of all state tax credits to which ever program they choose. (135.840.7)

    The net result will be a highly politicized tax credit environment where one person — the DED director — will have broad discretionary power. The potential for special interest domination of Missouri’s tax credits — now simply a legislative problem — will be realized. Instead of rewarding incentivized economic activity, tax credits will reward personal political connections. Homeowners and small businesses will have hard time using the historic rehabilitation tax credit competing against large companies — and large companies the get the credits won’t be subject to the current level of oversight!

    What You Can Do

    Please contact members of the committee and let them know you oppose HB 2399.

    Flook, Timothy, Chair-Liberty R, Tim.Flook@house.mo.gov — 573-751-1218

    Brandom, Ellen, Vice Chair-Sikeston R, Ellen.Brandom@house.mo.gov — 573-751-5471

    Brown, Michael R. Kansas City D, Michael.Brown@house.mo.gov — 573-751-7639

    Corcoran, Michael George St. Louis County (St. Ann) D, Michael.Corcoran@house.mo.gov — 573-751-0855

    Diehl, John St Louis County (Town and Country) R, John.Diehl@house.mo.gov — 573-751-1544

    Jones, Tishaura St. Louis City D, Tishaura.Jones@house.mo.gov — 573-751-6800

    Komo, Sam Jefferson County (House Springs) D, Sam.Komo@house.mo.gov — 573-751-6625

    Kratky, Michele St. Louis City D, Michele.Kratky@house.mo.gov –573-751-4220

    Kraus, Will Lee’s Summit R, Will.Kraus@house.mo.gov — 573-751-1459

    McGhee, Michael Odessa R, Mike.McGhee@house.mo.gov — 573-751-1462

    Riddle, Jeanie Fulton R, Jeanie.Riddle@house.mo.gov — 573-751-5226

    Scharnhorst, Dwight St. Louis County (Fenton) R, Dwight.Scharnhorst@house.mo.gov — 573-751-4392

    Schoeller, Shane Springfield R, Shane.Schoeller@house.mo.gov — 573-751-2948

    Spreng, Michael St. Louis County (Florissant) R, Michael.Spreng@house.mo.gov –573-751-9628

    Webber, Stephen Columbia D, Stephen.Webber@house.mo.gov — 573-751-9753

    Zerr, Anne St. Charles R, Anne.Zerr@house.mo.gov –573-751-3717

    To find your Representative go to http://www.house.mo.gov/ and enter your nine digit zip code

    • Categories
    Historic Preservation Missouri Public Policy

    Support for Historic Tax Credits from North Side — Of Minneapolis

    by Michael R. Allen

    On March 28th, the blog The Adventures of Johnny Northside carried the post “Historic Rehab Tax Credit Means JOBS!”. Fine, but is another blog calling for saving the Missouri historic rehab tax credit worth mentioning?

    Well, the The Adventures of Johnny Northside blog is published by a resident of Minneapolis, and he is calling for Minnesota to enact a historic rehabilitation tax credit. And Missouri’s 25% credit is cited as a model.

    Categories
    Historic Preservation Missouri Missouri Legislature Public Policy

    Study on Missouri Historic Tax Credit: 43,150 Jobs, Most Tax Credit Projects Small

    by Michael R. Allen

    The Missouri Growth Association has released An Evaluation of the Missouri Historic Preservation Tax Credit’s Program’s Impact on Job Creation and Economic Activity Across the State, a 34-page report by Dr. Sarah Coffin, Rob Ryan and Ben McCall of St. Louis University.

    According to the report, the tax credit is responsible for 43,150 new or retained jobs with an average salary of $42,732 as well as $669.8 million in new sales/use and income tax revenues to state and local government.

    The report confirms advocates’ assertions that the credit enjoys wide usage and largely benefits small developers. Coffin and company found that, as of 2009, the range of historic rehab tax credits issued goes from $399 to $20.1 million.

    About 33% of the projects that have received Missouri historic rehab tax credits have used less than $50,000 in credits. Taking the number up to usage of $100,000 or less, there is a majority of 57% of projects. Less than 13% of projects used more than $1 million in credits.

    Categories
    Events Historic Preservation

    May Is Preservation Month

    by Michael R. Allen

    The National Trust for Historic Preservation has announced the slogan for this year’s Preservation Month of May: Old is the New Green. That catchy theme fits the strong focus on environmental stewardship that preservation advocates have embraced as well as the necessity of thrift amid ongoing recession.

    While historic preservation is a year-round pursuit, having 31 whole days to celebrate and educate offers wonderful opportunities to showcase historic buildings endangered or rejuvenated, spread information and skills, share photographs and ideas and engage the broad theme of “old is the new green.”

    What can St. Louis do to celebrate Preservation Month? Will you and your neighbors help organize a walking tour, street fair, art walk, house tour or other event to showcase your historic architecture? Can transit advocates and urban farmers find ways to plug in?

    We’ll find out!

    Please send your Preservation Month event announcements to me via email (michael@preservationresearch.com) or via the comments section and I will post them here in late April.

    Categories
    Compton Heights Historic Preservation Preservation Board South St. Louis

    Another Chance for the South Grand YMCA?

    by Michael R. Allen

    In August 2006, the St. Louis Preservation Board approved demolition of the former YMCA building at 2232 S. Grand Avenue (built in 1936 and designed by Study & Farrar). Yet in March 2010, the building stands alive and well. This recession has led some owners to preservation by default as financing for new commercial construction is difficult to obtain. Meanwhile, the consistency of historic tax credits and the state and federal level provide a reliable financing component. The YMCA building is a contributing resource to the Compton Hill Historic District.

    Perhaps the current owner of the YMCA will rethink the past plan to demolish the building and construct a new three-story mixed-use building in its place. The owner is trying to develop a large area that includes a significant parking lot and the old Pelican’s restaurant building at Shenandoah and Grand. There certainly is ample room in this larger site for a smaller new building, parking and retention of both historic buildings. Advocacy failed to save the YMCA in 2006, but economy may do the trick. We’ll see.

    Categories
    Adaptive Reuse East St. Louis, Illinois Historic Preservation

    Broadview Hotel Rehabilitation Getting Underway

    by Michael R. Allen

    The seven-story Broadview Hotel at 5th and Broadway in East St. Louis is one of several tall buildings that anchor downtown. The 13-story Spivey Building is the tallest, the adjance Murphy Building and Majestic Theater are wonderfully ornate and the First National Bank Building is a solid red-brick corner building that is still occupied. Through demolition, the Broadview sits away from the concentration of other large downtown buildings. Through placement of the 4th Street exit ramp from Interstate 55/64/70, is the first major building greeting motorists entering East St. Louis.

    Built in 1927, the Broadview has the characteristic elegance of pre-crash 1920s hotel design. The symmetrical brown brick body contrasts with buff terra cotta forming two bays and providing other ornament. Unlike some of the exuberant foliate terra cotta seen on contemporary St. Louis hotels like the Chase and Coronado, the design here is a rather sober interpretation of Renaissance Revival themes. Still, the hotel is powerful, especially through the rise of the terra cotta bays to form a temple-like top story that towers over the city.


    For many years, this temple was the crown of a palace of night life, conventions, dinners and even a radio station (WTMV 1490 AM was located here). As East St. Louis’ fortunes drowned in a powerful current of American industrial reorganization, so did the those of the Broadview. The Broadview ended up housing a branch of Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville (SIUE) until 2004. The first floor’s storefronts, once open to a bustling business district, have long been clad in forbidding granite blocks.

    In 2006, SIUE ceded the Broadview to the City of East St. Louis. The city has long been dealing with the other big vacant downtown buildings, but lacked clear title to the others. The Broadview was not boarded up for long. In 2009, East St. Louis awarded development rights to CDC Development Corporation, headed by Donald J. Johnson. CDC plans a $35 million renovation ofthe hotel into 88 loft-style apartments. Preliminary work is now underway, and many of the hotel’s windows are again unboarded.

    Categories
    Agriculture Events Historic Preservation Missouri

    Talk on Missouri Barns This Friday

    Barn Again: Efforts to Document and Save Elements of the Rural Missouri Landscape

    Noon, Friday, March 12 / Lecture Room / Architecture St. Louis / 911 Washington Avenue, Suite 170

    Since joining Missouri Preservation as its Field Representative a little over a year ago, Bill Hart has been advocating for Missouri’s endangered historic resources. His position as Field Representative, a first for Missouri Preservation, is assisted by a Partners in the Field Challenge Grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. One of Bill’s outreach activities has included calling attention to the plight of the barn. Realizing that this is one of the most endangered building types not just in Missouri but throughout the nation, Bill has been photographing barns throughout the state (several hundred so far), keeping an eye toward at least providing quick photographic documentation of those that tenuously cling to the rural landscape. Bill has also been instrumental in organizing our state’s first barn alliance, which recently held its first meeting in conjunction with Missouri Preservation’s annual conference in Independence.

    Categories
    Downtown Historic Preservation

    Kiel Opera House Looks Good Inside

    by Michael R. Allen

    Landmarks Association of St. Louis sponsored a tour of Kiel Opera House on February 27. This rare peak inside of the old opera house — which I once took without being allowed to take photographs — is captured through photographs found here. The photographs reveal the remarkable degree of integrity Kiel has maintained despite nearly two decades of vacancy.

    Categories
    Historic Preservation

    Preservation and Richard Moe

    by Michael R. Allen

    This month’s issue of Architect includes an article by Brad McKee entitled “Futures of the Past”, which chronicles the evolution of the American preservation movement during the tenure of Richard Moe as President for the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Moe will be retiring this year.

    St. Louis played a role in Moe’s tenure when Moe led the Trust to support demolition of the historic Century Building in downtown St. Louis. Many here may be most familiar with that aspect of a career that also has included a welcome de-centralization of the National Trust. Moe championed grassroots preservation efforts, and helped the Trust allocate resources to its Regional Offices and, through grants, to local organizations. One of the Trust’s best initiatives under Moe is the Partners in the Field program, which provides matching funding for state and local preservation organizations to create field representatives. Missouri Preservation took advantage of that program, and created such a new position in 2008.