The Phoenix Historic Preservation on Tuesday recommended $286,000 be spent on projects to preserve historic Phoenix homes.
The commission voted 7-0 the approval of 19 applications for the city’s Exterior Rehabilitation Grant Program, totaling $286,024.12. The recommendation will now go to Phoenix City Council in February for final approval.
This graphic shows the 19 applications that the Phoenix Historic Preservation Commission recommended receive Exterior Rehabilitation Grant Program funding. The recommendations go to Phoenix City Council in February for final approval. Source: City of Phoenix Historic Preservation Office.
(Graphic by Independent Newsmedia/Mark Carlisle)
Through the grant program, owners of historic homes that are either in city-designated historic districts or are individually listed on the city’s historic property register can apply for a 50% funding match from the city of $5,000-$20,000 for projects that will improve the exterior of the building.
The goal of the grant program “is to promote the preservation of historic buildings through proper rehabilitation” the city’s website states. Goals of the rehabilitations are to retain as much of the historic material as possible and preserve the defining architectural elements of the building.
The city received 37 applications this year, Phoenix Historic Preservation Planner Maura Jackson told the commission. However, only 28 applications were deemed complete and two more were disqualified because they requested less than the minimum $5,000 amount.
Applications were scored based on how well the plans follow historic preservation standards, the importance of the rehabilitation project being proposed and the historical significance of the property, among other factors.
The 19 applications recommended for approval ranged from a score of 35-42. The next highest score was 32.3. Jackson said the staff advisory panel agreed to reject everything with a score of 32.3 or lower.
Before and after pictures are shown on a Phoenix historic home that received funding from a past Exterior Rehabilitation Grant.
(Courtesy city of Phoenix)
Commission Chair Tricia Amato mentioned that one of the challenges with this grant program is getting the word out to the neighborhoods on the special consideration list. She suggested several ideas including going to neighborhood events, putting a message with residents’ water bills, seeing if neighborhoods have formal organizations where city staff can attend a meeting or attach a message to their newsletter.
Historic Preservation Officer Elena Ruter said they work with a city public information officer to help get the word out but said it was a good suggestion to go to community events to engage people face-to-face.
Commissioner Daniel Garcia, who works as an archaeologist for the Salt River Project, mentioned a past project where SRP was trying to do a community program of restoring irrigation in a historic neighborhood in south Phoenix. Despite having no formal neighborhood organization, they ended up with 100% resident participation.
“For lack of saying anything different, I think we just need to keep trying,” Garcia said. “Because I think eventually we’re going to find the method that gets to those communities, because I think we’ll see an outpouring of folks who want to take advantage of these great programs.”
Another hurdle in Commissioner Daniel Klocke’s mind is the 50% match for homeowners.
“I think that’s also part of the problem, to be quite honest with you. A lot of people don’t have five, 10, 15 grand to drop on a house repair,” he said.
Klocke said if they’re going to be serious about the grant program, they need to have some system where lower-income residents can qualify.
“Looking at this list, money begets money. Let’s be real,” Klocke said.
Klocke mentioned it would also address the concern of gentrification in these historic neighborhoods, making it easier for low-income residents to stay in their homes.
Ruter mentioned the city had gotten rid of the matching fund requirement on another historic preservation renovation program, the Phil Gordon Threatened Building Grant Program. However, it is still a reimbursement-based program, which Ruter noted could be somewhat challenging for some homeowners.
Mark Carlisle joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2017, covering Glendale. He has since moved to the Daily Independent team, primarily covering the city of Phoenix along with other topics affecting the Valley at-large.
Community: Mark enjoys taking his two young sons to parks, the Phoenix Zoo, the Phoenix Public Library and other fun events around the Valley. He also participates in a local book club.
Education: Chapman University with a BA in English Journalism and one in Screenwriting.
Random Fact: Mark worked at a tuxedo shop in college. Just don’t ask him to tie a bowtie.
Hobbies: Spending time with his wife, sons and dog, watching sports and TV shows, listening to audiobooks and occasionally writing fiction or designing a board game.
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