Cohousing-L Mailing List: H.R. 1172 - support historic preservation tax credits for residential

[Fred H. Olson (fholson]

Raines Cohen <coho-L [at] raines.com>
is the author of the message below but due to a problem it was posted
by the Fred the list manager: owner-cohousing-L [at] cohousing.org
--------------------  FORWARDED MESSAGE FOLLOWS --------------------

The HISTORIC HOMEOWNERSHIP ASSISTANCE ACT (H.R. 1172) looks like 
something that coho groups should support. It extends the 
historic-preservation federal income tax credits currently available for 
businesses to residential and mixed uses of the property... which would 
include cohousing!

It could make cohousing development more affordable and more viable on a 
variety of properties nationwide.... and help preserve resources, both 
physical, land, and historic, by recycling existing, neglected but 
significant buildings into vital community centers once again.

Please consider, individually and/or as a group, contacting your 
representative to express your support (it has been proposed for several 
years but never got this far before). There are 65 co-sponsors and 
bipartisan support for the bill, so it appears to have a decent chance.

The Old Oakland [CA] cohousing at Swan's Market has written our 
representative in support of the bill and requesting a change to the last 
line so that our project, which is already under construction, and which 
(at no small cost to us and with great limitation on our flexibility in 
the design process) meets all other criteria of the bill (state 
historical review, landmark status, preservation, etc.) would be included:

>28(d) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendments made by this section shall apply with 
>respect to rehabilitations the physical work on which begins after the 
>date of enactment of this Act.

Our physical work has been underway since last year, in part thanks to 
our investment in the project. If the bill is amended to cover property 
purchased by the homeowner after the date of enactment, we would be 
covered. Your joining us in support for this would be greatly appreciated.

A basic starting point on the web for the bill is:

<http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d106:h.r.01172:>

You can find Rep Shaw's comments upon introducing it at:
<http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?r106:1:./temp/~r106trVfyP::>

The full text is at:
<http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c106:1:./temp/~c106uctYtw:e1657:>

In our group, Susan Jensen <jensenl [at] LanMinds.com> is the primary contact 
- she can supply a copy of the letter we wrote. Please cc her if you take 
action. Thanks In Advance

Raines

Raines Cohen <coho-L [at] raines.com> <http://www.swansway.com>
Member, Old Oakland [CA] Cohousing at Swan's Market & BoCoHo (new grp)
Support H.R. 1172 for historic tax credits for residential preservation!
Construction progressing nicely; move-in this Fall!