Help is Available for Owners of Older Homes

Related Media

Homes like these on Maple Avenue in Elmira are eligible for the Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit.

ALBANY, NY (08/20/2013)(readMedia)-- Southern Tier homeowners are invited to attend a meeting to find out how they can save money while making repairs to their older homes.

The Preservation League of New York State and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation will present a workshop in Elmira to help homeowners take advantage of a tax credit for repairs to older buildings.

The workshop will be held on Wednesday, September 18 at the Chemung Valley History Museum, 415 East Water Street. During the workshop, which runs from 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., experts will review the basic guidelines of the program and answer questions about the application process for homeowners.

There is no cost for the workshop, but reservations are required as seating is limited. Please RSVP by Monday, September 18 at www.historicelmira.org/registration. Historic Elmira is sponsoring the workshop, which is expected to draw participants from around the region. Additional support for the workshop is provided by the Chemung County Historical Society and the Chemung Valley History Museum; Near Westside Neighborhood Association; City of Elmira; Brand Park Beautification Committee and the Village of Owego.

The New York State Historic Homeowner Tax Credit Program will cover 20% of qualified rehabilitation costs of owner-occupied historic houses, up to a credit value of $50,000.

"More and more homeowners are discovering how the Historic Homeowner Tax Credit is a cost-effective way to improve their properties," said Rose Harvey, Commissioner of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. "What's more, the tax credit is an effective economic development tool – providing an incentive to invest in older homes, stabilizing neighborhoods and creating local jobs for skilled trades-people."

"This is the perfect time to finally fix that leaking roof, or repair drafty windows," said Jay DiLorenzo, president of the Preservation League of New York State. "This tax credit can help homeowners provide safer and healthier homes for their families, and protect their investments for generations to come."

"We are delighted to collaborate once again with our strong community partners and the Preservation League of New York State to bring Sloane Bullough of the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to Elmira to present a Homeowners Tax Credit Workshop for property owners, realtors, and City and County officials," said Kaye Newbury, President, Historic Elmira, Inc. "Since its founding in 2007, Historic Elmira has championed preservation as an important part of economic development in Elmira. Given that hundreds of homes in the city are now eligible for the state tax credit, we are happy to offer this opportunity for more members of our community to learn about the program's benefits directly from the person who administers it."

The program requires that the building be individually listed in the State or National Register of Historic Places, or in a listed historic district. Additionally, the building must be located in a qualifying census tract, and at least $5,000 must be spent on the project.

To find out if a home is eligible, please visit http://nysparks.com/shpo/tax-credit-programs/ or contact Sloane Bullough at the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation at 518-237-8643, ext. 3252. Eligibility information will also be available at the workshop.