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Historic preservation gambling funds create jobs and preserve history throughout Colorado |
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Historic preservation gambling funds create jobs and preserve history throughout Colorado |
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By Ronald J. Neely, We are pleased to announce the awarding of two grants to HGI from the Colorado Historical Fund: 1. $100,000 for the rehabilitation/ restoration of the historic landscape at Hamill House. To be matched by $35,000 from the private sector, these funds will enable us to replace the five 50 foot cottonwood trees on 3rd Street with 8 cotton-less cottonwoods, replace the main water line, replace plumbing on the fountain, and install handicap access to the House and the Office Building. We will also use archaeological and historic photo research to determine the appropriate replacement for the cement walkways, either brick or compacted soil. One of the more interesting undertakings will be the archaeological work on the rear portion of the lawn. There is some photographic evidence that there was a small garden in this area, but the photos are far from conclusive. By careful archaeological analysis, begun by boring several 6 foot bores, we can determine if there were seeds, and if so, what kind. From that we may be able to determine if it was a flower or vegetable garden, and we may be able to determine what kinds of flowers or vegetables were there so many years ago. In any event, it will prove interesting. This work will begin sometime this summer, depending largely on weather and some planned special events. 2. $235,613 for the rehabilitation of Taos Square. These funds will be coming through HGI and dispersed to the private owner. HGI's role is to protect the public funding interest and to assure the funds are expended in accordance with State and Federal guidelines. The owner will match this amount with private funds, both personal and from insurance proceeds from the fire which occurred some months ago. The owner will also qualify for 20% Investment Tax Credits from both the Federal Government and the State of Colorado. The long-term public interest will be protected by a conservation easement to HGI which insures that future changes will be in accordance with the architectural character of the building. |
This is an additional step before the owner applies for a building permit and the Town Design Review process. The grant funds only apply to the two historic buildings at Taos Square. The third building was constructed in the 1970's and is not a part of this effort. It is very similar process as with the preservation of the privately owned Church/Robertson House on Rose Street completed a few years ago. Historic Georgetown, Inc. is extremely pleased with these two grants. One for its intrinsic preservation value, and the other because we are able to help a private owner preserve an important historical building and return it to the business community of the Town. There were four other Colorado Historical Fund grants awarded in the Landmark District: 1. Georgetown Community
Center - $15,000 for roof replacement. One other neighbor also received an award: the Town of Empire - $23,024 for a roof replacement on the Empire Town Hall. A few items of note concerning the State Historical Fund: Over the past ten years that the fund has been in existence, HGI has received 15 grants totaling $1,083,778. Of that amount $285,613 (26%) has been awarded for privately owned projects. The remaining $798,154 (74%) has been expended on projects at Hamill House, Bowman/White House, Kneisel House, Tucker-Rutherford Cottage, Johnson Log Cabin (all comprising our five part residential interpretation program) and the Mahany Building. Because it is our belief that the successful preservation of this landmark district lies in the hands of the private owners, not in the non-profit and government sectors, it is our hope that private sector funding will increase. There is, of course, a lot of red tape for anyone applying for a state grant, and more particularly for a private owner who may wish to seek the investment tax credits. But, if you are patient and careful, these sources of funding can have a major impact on the preservation of privately owned historic resources.
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The amount of the matching funds for a private owner, which must be in cash, are sometimes difficult and range from a minimum match of 75% to as low as 25%. Nonetheless, if you have a privately owned historic structure, one that contributes to, or can contribute to, the architectural character of the Landmark District, and meets the qualifications for the State Register of Historic Buildings, it can be well worthwhile to pursue public funding. Call HGI and ask for Ron Neely if you would like to discuss possibilities. There has been considerable debate over the impacts of gambling on the three towns in Colorado that are entitled to conduct this activity, Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek. But on one issue there has been nearly unanimous agreement: the positive impact the Historical Fund has had on preservation throughout the State of Colorado. Since 1993, the Fund has awarded 2,034 grants totaling 106.2 million dollars. Private matching funds probably total near this amount. The impact of the Colorado Historical Fund on cultural resources is readily obvious, whether it be for a building restoration or the publishing of a walking tour brochure. We always hear of the museum visitor and the brochure reader and the positive impacts of historic preservation to resident and visitor alike, as well as tourism and economic development and whatnot. What we sometime forget is the impact it has had on the people behind the building or the brochure. From planners to plumbers, from archeologist to architect and from contractor to curator, these people, these real people today, have benefited as much from the Fund as the fruits of their labor have benefited the rest of us in our attempts to understand our past. Those long-gone historical figures would have far less to offer us today were it not for the labors of those who do the work today in preserving the work of history. When you get right down to it, the fund is as much a people fund as anything else. In Georgetown, it has had as much an impact on my contractor
friend Tim McDonough as it has had on William Arthur Hamill, a silver
mining man who built us a rather nice house. Yep, that Fund is meaningful,
and for a number of reasons.
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