Board endorses incentives package to recruit Mediterranean Revival homeowners; tax-credit eligibility to be added

The City of Temple Terrace Historic Preservation Board reviewed a proposed resolution outlining incentives to encourage owners of eligible properties to enroll in the local designation program. The incentives are aimed primarily at 1920s Mediterranean Revival houses; board members discussed branding, outreach, survey needs and tax-credit eligibility.

Jeanne Barlow presented the draft resolution and the incentive list. She said the enrolled properties "would have no designation or COA application fees. Their permits, inspections, reviews, all would be fast tracked. They would get a bronze marker designating membership in the program. They'd have a photo display of enrolled properties at the library, and they would get a family recreation center membership for 1 year." The draft labels participating properties as the "1920s club" in the materials.

Marissa, representing Community Development, told the board the staff is "solely focusing on the 19 twenties houses just because I feel like we have a lot to backtrack with the 19 twenties. We also already have historic resource files on the 19 twenties houses, and we do not on the 1950s houses." She said one CLG benefit is grant funding for surveys and that, once certified, the city could apply for surveying grants for 1950s and later houses.

The board and staff clarified what a resource survey includes. As Marissa described it: "It's gonna be the deed research... the architect research, building construction, and how, the historic significance of that house, and whether it there is any that could be designated on the local level or national level or if it even could potentially be eligible for a district." She added county online records currently go back only to 1964 and older deed research can require microfilm at the clerk's office.

Budget and limits: staff said the city has budgeted funds for bronze markers. Other incentives—fast-tracking, exhibitions, and application-fee waivers—are expected to have minimal cost to the city; the family recreation membership is the only incentive noted as potentially costly if many owners enroll. The board discussed and agreed to classify that membership as an initial, limited-time incentive.

Tax-credit eligibility: board members noted that property owners associate designation with tax relief. A board member clarified the process: when a property owner designates and then completes a qualifying restoration, the property is reassessed and the difference in assessed value qualifies for tax relief; "For 10 years," a staff speaker noted. The board agreed by consensus to add language to the resolution stating that designation "makes you eligible to apply" for the tax incentive process rather than guaranteeing a credit.

Outreach and next steps: board members directed staff to include the incentives in a follow-up mailing to 1920s homeowners after council approves the resolution, to prepare an FAQ for the city website, and to explore marketing materials (flyer or brochure) for the city's May celebrations. The board also discussed workshops for contractors once CLG certification is secured. The board asked staff to proceed to City Council with the incentive resolution; members signaled agreement by consensus rather than a recorded board vote.

Key clarifications: the board emphasized that designation typically concerns exterior features; interior work is not regulated by the city program. Staff reiterated that enrollment requires an application and that some homeowners had assumed the process was a simple form submission.

Next steps: staff will take the incentive resolution to City Council for approval. If council approves, staff will mail applications and incentive information to the targeted 1920s property owners and use available CLG grant opportunities to fund future surveys of 1950s and midcentury houses.