[Calclg-l] Mills Act Information Request

[Marvin, Betty]

CITY OF OAKLAND 
answers below - see also  www.oaklandnet.com/historicpreservation


-----Original Message-----
From: calclg-l-bounces at ohp.parks.ca.gov
[mailto:calclg-l-bounces at ohp.parks.ca.gov] On Behalf Of Gates, Jennifer
Sent: Sunday, June 15, 2008 2:15 PM
To: calclg-l at ohp.parks.ca.gov
Subject: [Calclg-l] Mills Act Information Request

Good Morning CLGs!  On Monday the 23rd, CPF will be holding a workshop
in San Clemente on the Mills Act and we would like to share what's
happening in other communities with the Mills Act program.  Please share
what's going on in your community when you have a minute. 

 

1.       How old is your program?

Brand new, adopted by City Council last summer. We are screening our first
applications right now. This is a two-year pilot program, limited to 10
contracts this year and 20 next year. 


2.       Eligibility: Are all listed buildings eligible for Mills Act?

Buildings on our Local Register are eligible. Local Register, defined in our
Preservation Element, includes locally designated landmarks and historic
districts, properties with second-tier local designations Heritage Property
or Preservation Study List, National Register properties, AND buildings with
the highest Survey ratings indicating Landmark/NR eligibility individually
or as district contributors (whew!). Buildings of secondary importance
(corresponding to NR 5) can qualify by applying for Heritage Property
designation concurrently with the Mills Act application.


3.       Additions: Do you allow additions to historic structures under
the Mills Act if they follow the standards?  What size additions do
communities allow under the contract?  Are they assessed under the
special assessment?

Additions would be subject to our normal design review process which aims to
maintain the historic character of any building. According to the County
Assessor new construction does not get the Mills Act break.


4.       Restoration Conditions: What type of improvements do
communities require within the 10 years, if any?  Do you add more after
the initial 10 years? What other restrictions/clauses does your
community require?

We ask for an itemized ten-year work program. Estimated cost must equal or
exceed the expected tax savings. Work must be exterior or structural, and
has to restore or preserve historic character. We have 20+ applicants
competing for 10 contracts this year, so the 'ideal candidates' will have
gross but easily reversible alterations (fake siding, nasty windows) that
will quickly and visibly demonstrate the benefits of Mills Act to city
council and community when the program comes up for renewal next year, and
will act as catalysts for restoration work in the neighborhoods. In the
future we hope to have more room for buildings that are already in good
shape and just have a maintenance work program, which will also presumably
be the situation when properties have completed their ten-year contract.


5.       Monitoring: How does your community track their contracts and
the improvements?

Inspection by staff every two years, and eyes on the street and at the
permit counter meanwhile.


6.       City Revenue Loss: Does your community maintain an assessment
tracker to understand the amount of city revenue "lost" every year due
to the special tax assessment?  

The ordinance establishing our two-year Mills Act pilot program set ceilings
on the amount of revenue loss to the city general fund ($25,000/year), to
any individual redevelopment area ($25,000/year), and to the Redevelopment
Agency as a whole ($250,000/year). It is not entirely clear how this will be
tracked.


7.       Lessons Learned/Recent Issues...




If you want a copy of the findings of this survey please send me an
email.
Yes, please - it's been very informative to see the responses one by one,
and I look forward to the summary.
Betty Marvin
Historic Preservation Planner
City of Oakland



Jennifer M. Gates, AICP ~ Associate Planner

City of San Clemente ~ Planning Division

910 Calle Negocio Suite 100 ~ San Clemente, Ca 92673

Phone: 949.361.6192 ~ Fax: 949.366.4750

 

 

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