Photo above: Kunia Village Housing Development, Kunia, O‘ahu. The former plantation camp was rehabilitated to provide low-income housing to farm workers and their families. The project utilized a federal historic tax credit.
February 15, 2019: Check back next week when we will provide updates on the status of two bills related to a historic preservation tax credit currently navigating the state legislature, HB 1533 and SBN 1394.
Testify online in support of Historic Preservation Tax Credit Bill
WHAT
Submit testimony in support of Bill HB 1533 to establish a state tax credit for the rehabilitation of historic properties that provide affordable housing. The bill will be heard by the House of Representative’s Housing Committee on Tuesday, February 12.
WHY SUPPORT
Preserving and appropriately using historic buildings are ways to enhance community character, provide affordable housing, provide an alternative to sprawl, create jobs, encourage heritage tourism, and generally spur economic development in older neighborhoods and commercial districts.
Historic preservation tax credit programs have proved to be successful incentives for rehabilitating older structures and returning them to useful life.
Historic Hawai‘i Foundation strongly supports providing financial incentives to assist with the rehabilitation and use of historic buildings and has suggested edits to the bill to include a tax credit for qualified expenses in the certified rehabilitation of any certified historic structure, not just those that will result in affordable housing units.
Click here to read HHF’s testimony.
ACT NOW
SUBMIT TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF HB 1533.
CLICK HERE for the Hearing notice.
CLICK HERE to read the bill.
CLICK HERE to submit testimony online. It’s easy!
1. At top right sign-in or register if you haven’t already.
2. Either click “submit testimony” in middle of screen, or search bill number at top left.
3. Click Support, and fill in testimony box, or attach a document with your own words. Share any relevant experience or personal story related to why you support the bill.
4. You’ve made a difference!
5. Share with others
Sample Testimony:
TO: Rep. Tom Brower, Chair
Rep. Scot Z. Matayoshi, Vice Chair
Committee on Housing
FROM: [Name]
[Contact Information]
Committee: Tuesday, February 12, 2019
10:15 a.m.
Conference Room 423
RE: HB 1533, Relating to Historic Preservation
I am writing in support for HB 1533. The bill would establish a historic preservation tax credit for qualified construction expenses incurred in rehabilitation of historic structures that produce affordable housing units.
Historic preservation tax credits have proven to be successful incentives to developers, property owners and financial institutions involved in preserving historic buildings and providing affordable housing. Preserving and appropriately using historic buildings are critical for supporting Hawaii’s unique character and heritage. Historic preservation tax credit programs have proved to be successful incentives for rehabilitating older structures and returning them to useful life.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment.
________________________________________________
Mahalo for taking action to preserve Hawaii’s historic structures!