Board approves ad valorem tax-exemption Part 3 for restored 66 Saragossa St.

The City of Saint Augustine Historic Architecture Review Board on June 18 approved Part 3 of a historic preservation ad valorem tax‑exemption application for 66 Saragossa Street, certifying the completion of elevation, foundation and rehabilitation work and forwarding the recommendation to the city commission.

Staff reviewed the application and concluded the work met the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and the Department of State criteria for the city’s program. Staff said project costs and the required exterior investment met the program thresholds and that documentation supporting the work was included in the packet.

Applicant Justin Ahmad described the restoration and financial burden it entailed: “We thought it was gonna cost about $600,000 to do the restoration, and we almost hit $900,000,” he said, adding that much of the labor was performed by him and his wife to keep costs down.

Board members praised the preservation work and the reuse of original features such as restored historic windows and a rehabilitated front porch. After board discussion, a motion to approve Part 3 was seconded and approved by roll call.

The board’s approval certifies that the rehabilitation work on the circa‑1904–1910 residence complies with the program standards; the recommendation will go to the city commission, which grants the tax exemption. The city staff reminded the board and applicant that Part 3 documentation must remain available to support the exemption request at the commission review.

The board moved on to other agenda items after the vote.