What means to improve a historical building in San Francisco?
The buildings under Category A are considered a Historic Resource and they have to follow very strict design guidelines from the Secretary of the Interior's Standards every time the homeowner decides to undergo an improvement. As a homeowner of a Historic Building, you would have to take into consideration the design limitations of the facade and the interiors which adds more costs due to preservation process.
Tourists appreciate the history of a place but residents pay the price with an additional review process prior to commencing any project.
There are three levels of designation of historic resources: Local (Article 10 & 11), State (California Register), and Federal (National Register of Historic Places).
All three designations qualify buildings to use the California Historical Building Code and apply for property tax savings provided by the Mills Act.
These are the 3 categories of historic resources
Category A / historic resource: “Historical Resources” include properties listed in or formally determined eligible for listing in the California Register of Historical Resources, or listed in an adopted local historic register. The term “local historic register” or “local register of historical resources” means a list of resources that are officially designated or recognized as historically significant by a local government under a resolution or ordinance. This property will be evaluated as a historical resource for purposes of CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act).
Category B / Unknown: Properties Requiring Further Consultation and Review. “Not evaluated” or which has a temporary designation NRSC/CHRSC of 7 while waiting for an evaluation from the State Office of Historic Preservation will need additional investigation to determine what the underlying information/evidence is regarding its historic status.
Next Step: An application needs to be filed with Historical Preservation to evaluate the existing structure to determine if it’s Category A (historical resource) or Category C (not a historical resource).
Category C / Not historic resource: Properties Determined Not To Be Historical Resources or Properties For Which The City Has No Information indicating that the Property is a Historical Resource. Properties that have been affirmatively determined not to be historical resources, properties less than 50 years of age, and properties for which the City has no information indicating that the property qualifies as a historical resource.
Next Step: No further steps need to be made from the historical preservation standpoint.
What are Preservation Easements and the benefits?
Property owners can gain significant tax savings by adding a preservation easement to their historic buildings. This easement ensures the preservation of a property's significant architectural features while allowing the owner to still occupy and use the building. Easements also limit the future owners of a building from demolishing the building or altering it in a way that negatively impacts its architectural features. In this way, Preservation Easements provide for the permanent protection of historic buildings.
What is the California Historical Building Code (CHBC)?
CHBC provides an alternative building code for the preservation or rehabilitation of buildings designated as "historic."
These regulations are intended to facilitate repair or accommodate a change of occupancy to preserve a historic resource's original or restored architectural features. Issues addressed by the CHBC include use and occupancy; means of egress; archaic materials and methods of construction; fire protection; alternative accessibility provisions; mechanical, plumbing, and electrical requirements; and alternative structural regulations.
Does a historical building qualify for Federal Tax Credits?
Yes. A 20% Rehabilitation Tax Credit is available for the rehabilitation of income-producing properties listed individually in the National Register or as contributors to a National Register Historic District. This significant tax savings is applied only to buildings rehabilitated according to the U.S. Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation.