10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania continues to vigorously support a legislative proposal to encourage economic development and spur private investment in our communities by providing state tax credits to buyers and sellers of historic homes, homes in historic neighborhoods, or commercial properties in downtown areas when they are refurbished and used again.
ACT NOW!
Senate Bill 1232, which would establish the Historic Preservation Incentive Grant Program for historic commercial and residential properties, is under consideration by the Senate Appropriations Committee. Please ask Committee Chair Senator Noah Wenger to bring the bill to a committee vote quickly. We hope the full Senate would act on this important bill before the General Assembly recesses prior to the November elections.
SB 1232, introduced by Senator Jeff Piccola, creates an incentive grant program to allow buyers and sellers of eligible homes and commercial properties in historic districts to be reimbursed for acceptable building improvements. Funding for the program has already been secured through the previously enacted Growing Greener II legislation. Opportunities for citizens to use this program exist in small towns and cities throughout the state.
For more information, and to read the letter we sent to the Senate committee on September 8, 2006, please
click here.
Click here to read the remarks of 10,000 Friends President Eric Menzer at a rally in the State Capitol in January 2005, on Growing Greener and the value of the incentives as a component of the Growing Greener package.
For details on what you can do to advocate for historic preservation incentives in Pennsylvania, visit 10,000 Friends State Policy and Advocacy page.
Preservation makes communities more livable, March 31, 2008
"Over the past 40 years, Pennsylvania has exhibited leadership in preserving major historical sites of national importance, as well as supporting local historic districts that help preserve the unique character of Pennsylvania's communities. It's what makes them attractive places to live and work. The state's most successful downtowns, main streets and livable communities are flourishing today, in large part, because historic preservation efforts helped preserve what is distinctive about these places." For the complete Harrisburg Patriot-News column, please
click here.
Report: More Than 100 Pittsburgh Historical Sites Lack City Protection
The Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh (YPA) has released a new study that highlights 130 historic sites that are not protected by Pittsburgh’s city landmark ordinance. The list includes homes, businesses, bridges, and statues. Please
click here for the press release and
click here for the report.
