Historic Preservation Tax Credit Workshop

ALBANY, NY (09/10/2009)(readMedia)-- Join the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District and Historic Albany Foundation on Thursday, September 17, 2009 from 8:30 am until 12pm for a workshop on how to use Federal and State Historic Preservation Tax Credits to make the most out of rehabilitation and adaptive reuse projects. 3tarchitects of Albany is the presenting sponsor. The workshop will be held at the 11 North Pearl Event Centre at 11 North Pearl Street in Albany. Guest speakers, Murray Gould, Clinton Brown and Joe Eicheldinger of Port City Preservation LLC, Clinton Brown Company Architecture, and Key Bank respectively, will speak about how the tax credit works, the application process and how lenders/investors approach them. A panel discussion will follow with representatives from the Preservation League of New York State and the Historic Resource Commission in addition to the speakers. The event will conclude with a Q&A session. The workshop is $5 for Historic Albany Foundation members and $10 for the general public. Seating is limited and reservations are required. For more information or to make a reservation, please contact Historic Albany Foundation at 518-465-0876 x12.

"The Downtown Albany BID is grateful to 3tarchitects for their support enabling us to present this program in partnership with the Historic Albany Foundation," remarked Tracy Metzger, board chair of the Downtown Albany BID. "This workshop will provide practical information to owners and prospective developers on the application of the new state historic tax credits which will provide an additional incentive to maximize the full opportunities for realizing the potential of the magnificent historic properties downtown and around the City." Susan Holland, Executive Director of the Historic Albany Foundation, added, "We share similar objectives with the Downtown Albany BID in terms of realizing the utilization of our City's historic properties with a special emphasis on preservation. The speakers in this program will offer valuable information in facilitating those objectives while offering pertinent and detailed incentive information reflecting recent historic tax credit legislation." Scott Townsend, Principal of 3tarchitects, commented, "We at 3t are proud to sponsor the Historic Tax Credit Workshop since the tax credit incentives will benefit many owners as well as the city and region as a whole. The opportunities created by the newly expanded historic tax credits will allow for the area to continue flourishing."

During the past twenty-five years, Mr. Gould has served in a wide range of roles related to historic preservation - investor, lender, developer, owner, property manager, project manager, grant writer and consultant - participating in more than 100 projects. Port City Preservation LLC is a consulting, advisory and development firm headquartered in Oswego, New York that specializes in the adaptive reuse, restoration and rehabilitation of historic properties.

Port City Preservation has participated in a wide range of successful projects that include historic homes, mills, industrial facilities, hospitals, schools and public buildings.

Buffalo Niagara-based Historic Preservation Architect and Developer Clinton E. Brown is widely recognized as a regional leader in historic preservation architecture and community revitalization. The founder and principal of Clinton Brown Company Architecture, the full service historic preservation architecture firm, Mr. Brown brings over 30 years of experience to his work of creating new value from historic buildings and places in collaboration with property owners, civic leaders, and governmental officials.

Joseph G. Eicheldinger is vice president and senior relationship manager, Community Development Lending, for the Western New York and Rochester districts of Key Bank N.A. He is responsible for providing first mortgage construction financing and tax credit equity investment for Community Development projects in the Buffalo, Rochester and southern tier regions of Upstate New York.

More information about this workshop and can be found at www.downtownalbany.org or www.historic-albany.org.

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The Downtown Albany BID, incorporated in 1996, is a private, not-for profit 501 (c) (3) organization that works to restore, promote and maintain the character and viability of downtown Albany and to improve the quality of life and overall image of downtown for all those who work in, live in and visit the Capital City. The Downtown Albany BID covers approximately 50 square blocks from Eagle Street on the west to Broadway on the east, and Clinton Avenue on the north to Madison Avenue on the south. Downtown Albany is easily accessible from four exits off I-787. Ample public parking is available in more than 16,000 spaces; metered parking is free after 6 p.m. on weekdays and all weekends. For information about the Downtown Albany BID, call 518-465-2143 or visit www.downtownalbany.org.

Historic Albany Foundation celebrates 35 years as a private, not-for-profit membership organization working to promote the preservation and appreciation of the built environment in and around the city of Albany. Since 1974, the Foundation has fulfilled its mandate through public education, promotion and membership, provision of design and technical assistance, community projects, advocacy for endangered buildings, publications, tours, lectures and operation of an architectural parts warehouse.