Historic Preservation Fund: Federal budget cuts threaten preservation work across the country. The Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) is a critical funding source for the field, and the FY26 budget, passed by the House and now being considered by the Senate before reconciliation, virtually eliminates the HPF, eroding ongoing work and future projects. The Maine Historic Preservation Office has already cut grants in response to the unreleased FY25 funding and will soon have to let go of staff if the funding is not restored. Raise your voice today by reaching out to your elected officials.
Historic Tax Credit: Unlike the HPF, funding for the Historic Tax Credit program was passed through the House for consideration by the Senate. There is currently an effort to not only keep the HTC in the Senate's version, but to include new provisions through the Historic Tax Credit Growth and Opportunity Act, or HTC-GO. A groundswell of support is needed among Republican Senators to "greenlight" inclusion of the provisions in the bill. Many projects in greater Portland would not be possible without the Historic Tax Credit, so it's critical that we don't lose it. Please reach out to Senator Collins and Senator King as soon as possible. Sample language from our colleagues at the National Preservation Partners Network:
“The Historic Tax Credit (HTC) is a time-tested community development tool for rehabilitating income producing historic buildings, promoting small business opportunities, housing creation, and well-paying construction jobs. The Historic Tax Credit Growth and Opportunity Act [HTC-GO (H.R. 2941/S. 1459)] was recently introduced by Sens. Cassidy (R-LA) and Warner (D-VA) and Reps. LaHood (R-IL) and Suozzzi (D-NY). The bill brings more value to the HTC, by making the credit easier to use and encourages smaller as well as rural projects. Please support the Historic Tax Credit by asking Senate Finance Committee leadership to include HTC improvements in the emerging tax bill. Please find the HTC-GO Fact Sheet for more details on the legislation and bill provisions.”
Build Maine: GPL Executive Director Kate Lemos McHale and Director of Advocacy Alison Frazee attended the Build Maine conference in Skowhegan last week. Build Maine brings together all people participating in the act of building our towns and cities. The conference featured thought leaders on everything from housing, transportation, historic tax credits, zoning, and policy. Staff learned about new projects and approaches, made contacts for further conversations, and visited inspiring adaptive reuse projects in downtown Skowhegan.
Historic Regulations: One of the first things you learn when studying historic preservation is that preservation happens at the local level. While the National Register of Historic Places is important, local designation is how historic resources are protected. Every municipality approaches preservation a little differently, but those that have ordinances likely have the ability to designate a building or place as a local landmark or historic district, which includes some degree of regulatory review. Sometimes this review is very broad - perhaps only restricting demolition - and sometimes it can be quite granular, requiring the replacement of materials and details in kind. The prevailing character of a historic district will likely depend on the degree of review, and some districts warrant more scrutiny than others.
You may have heard of a current dispute in Bangor between the owner of a historic property and the local Historic Preservation Commission about replacing a slate roof. The Commission there is requiring the roof to be replaced with slate but the owner, for a variety of reasons, chose asphalt. These kinds of situations play out in historic districts across the country and most of the time a solution can be found that protects the historic resource and upholds the district's standards but is also feasible for the property owner. Such flexibility is built into Portland's historic preservation ordinance, which allows alternative replacement materials in cases where appropriate. It's important to remember that preservation is not rigid- our goal as preservationists is not to carve the city in stone or preserve it in amber. I often say, "If we can't use it, we lose it" as a reminder that most historic places have changed over time to accommodate new uses, users, and technologies and if we are too inflexible, historic structures sit empty.
Our job is not to prevent change but to mitigate change. Here in Portland, the City's Historic Preservation staff regularly works with property owners to find a solution for their projects. We're here to help at Greater Portland Landmarks as well. We want our historic city to be full of life and vibrancy for generations to come, and that means thinking holistically about use, context, and climate.
Don't assume that your historic property can't be changed or updated. Talk to your local historic preservation office or advocacy organization like us and get guidance on the standards for your property, learn about its history and evolution over time, and keep an open mind about ways the property can meet your needs. Historic regulations have an important purpose - they prevent the loss of places that hold meaning to our communities. Remember, we are temporary stewards of history. As John C. Sawhill explained, "In the end, our society will be defined not only by what we create but by what we refuse to destroy."
