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Commission reviews Phase 1 outreach campaign and details city historic-tax incentives
Summary
Preservation staff outlined a Phase 1 outreach program (flyer, FAQs, infographics, weekly social posts, and public sessions) to explain landmarking; staff also described city historic-exemption details (city tax relief on building value and program eligibility) and answered commissioners’ questions.
Preservation staff presented Phase 1 of a historic-preservation outreach campaign and fielded commissioner questions about what owners receive if they participate in landmarking or apply for historic exemptions.
"No. We're not taking over your property. We're not gonna stop you from doing what you want. We're going to work with you to do it in a compatible way," the preservation officer said, describing the campaign’s intended tone and the planned FAQ framing.
Phase 1 materials staff showed include a one-page trifold, a web version with a QR code linking to the historic-preservation plan, infographics for social platforms, and sample social posts. Staff recommended a paced social campaign — about one post a week for eight to ten weeks — along with public information sessions, office hours for property owners and use of landmarked venues to demonstrate successful rehabilitations.
Commissioners pressed staff on financial incentives and eligibility. Staff described the city’s historic tax-exemption approach as applying to the building’s assessed value (not the land) and said the program can materially reduce tax on the building for a 10-year period. Staff summarized examples presented in meeting materials: a reduction from 20–25% (staff language varied in discussion), with commercial rehabilitation programs historically used to offset up to about 50% of value in some cases and, for some residential examples, higher exemptions applied in practice. Staff emphasized calculations vary by property value and that the exemption affects city taxes (owners would need separate agreements with school/other taxing entities if applicable). The preservation officer directed commissioners to the packet and the QR-coded web page for specific language and forms.
Staff said there are roughly "33" landmark-eligible properties on the initial list and suggested starting outreach by inviting those owners. Commissioners generally supported the outreach plan and asked staff to bring refined materials and Phase 2 proposals to a future meeting.
Next steps: staff will refine the Phase 1 materials, post them on the city website, and present Phase 2 at an upcoming meeting. Commissioners did not create new regulations in this discussion; they approved moving forward with public-facing education and outreach.
