City staff urges homeowners to apply for Interstate Historic Preservation Trust Fund grants by March 4

Elaine Lund, historic preservation staff, told the Architectural Review Commission that the Interstate Historic Preservation Trust Fund supports exterior rehabilitation for contributing buildings in Ybor City, Tampa Heights and West Tampa, districts identified as affected by the I‑4 and I‑275 expansions. Lund said eligible projects include structural stabilization, exterior restoration and reconstruction of architectural details, and that awards are limited to owner‑occupied homes and income‑restricted residential properties for grants of up to $25,000.

Lund said the fund was created from proceeds of historic building sales and was initiated through Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act; projects must follow the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and applicable local district design guidelines. She noted the program typically opens twice a year and that the current application cycle’s deadline is March 4, 2026. Lund said staff posts guidance and application materials online and encouraged applicants to verify that properties meet the program’s 75‑year construction requirement and district eligibility.

The presentation included before‑and‑after examples in Ybor City where inappropriate previous work (for example enclosed porches) was reversed and historic doors, windows and retaining walls restored under prior awards. Lund said staff has historically required repair or true‑wood replacement windows for contributing buildings but that the guidelines also allow designing compatible replacements where original features are missing. She closed by directing interested applicants to the city’s preservation web resources for application details.