The Warehouse and Threatened Building Program uses 2006 Historic Preservation Bond funds to protect historic downtown warehouses and other threatened historic buildings. The city can use these funds to acquire/assist with acquisitions of threatened historic properties OR to assist a property owner with rehabilitation work. If the city acquires a property, it will either find a public use for the property or transfer it to a new owner through a Request for Proposals process. For rehabilitation projects, the program can pay up to 100 percent of eligible project costs provided that the owner is expending an equal or greater amount on other rehabilitation work items (e.g., interior elevators, plumbing upgrades, etc.). In exchange for funding, owners convey a conservation easement to the city. The program considers requests over $10,000, with the maximum award based on the project needs, project's contribution to city goals, and the availability of funds. Monies are disbursed after work items are completed and approved by the Historic Preservation Office.
Program Goals And Principles
The purpose of the Warehouse and Threatened Building Program is to preserve historic downtown warehouses and other threatened historic buildings, and to return them to a viable use. The program supports projects which protect building exteriors, reverse inappropriate alterations, reconstruct missing historic details, and provide needed repairs. All projects are required to meet the city's Historic Preservation Philosophy and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties
Eligible Buildings
To be eligible for this program, properties must meet BOTH of the following criteria:
- Be individually listed on the Phoenix Historic Property Register OR be eligible for individual listing on the Register (as determined by the Phoenix Historic Preservation Office); AND
- Consist of either:
- A historic warehouse located in the Warehouse Overlay District, OR
- A historic building (other than a warehouse) that is "severely threatened," i.e., a building in an extremely deteriorated condition (documented fire damage, deemed a dangerous and unsafe building, etc.) and/or with a high likelihood of demolition
Project Selection Criteria
Funding priority is given to projects which:
- Undertake critically needed stabilization, preservation, restoration or reconstruction work;
- Implement a comprehensive rehabilitation strategy to return a historic building to a viable use;
- Activate a historic building (i.e., uses with human activity and which provide public access);
- Provide maximum leverage of city funds through the use of private funds or other monies;
- Contribute to community values, economic development goals, and where applicable to city downtown vision
Eligible Work
The program assists projects that substantially rehabilitate the exteriors of significant historic buildings, although the project can also fund interior restoration work. All funded projects must result in the stabilization, preservation, restoration, rehabilitation or in-kind reconstruction of the building's exterior skin.
- Eligible Rehabilitation Work items include:
- Exterior Walls
- Door and Window repairs and weatherization improvements
- Roofs
- Exterior Woodwork
- Masonry/Stucco Repairs
- Porches and Steps
- Cornices and Parapets
- Demolition of Non-Historic Additions
- Storefronts
- Structural rehabilitation/reinforcement
- Restoration of decorative interior historic features provided there is public access to portion of building where features are located
- Foundations
- Historic Outbuildings
- Reversal of Previous Inappropriate Alterations
- Reconstruction of Original Architectural Elements Based on Historic Documentation or Physical Evidence
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Alterations
- Architectural and Engineering Costs.
Needed architectural & engineering costs can be reimbursed provided they are 10 percent or less of the total request. Expenses must relate directly to eligible work items (e.g., engineering drawings required to complete needed roof truss repairs). Applicants cannot be reimbursed for professional services they plan to provide for their own project, for work done prior to an application, or for construction administration costs. All services must be performed by licensed professionals.
- Ineligible Expenses.
This program does not fund landscaping, fencing, signage, site work, or additions/new construction other than historic reconstruction work Painting is only eligible if related to another eligible item. The city determines the eligibility of all work items. General conditions, profit and overhead costs, and contingencies that are not in-line with going industry rates will not be eligible for reimbursement.
Application Procedures
Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. All applicants are required to meet with Phoenix Historic Preservation Office staff prior to submitting an application. All applicants are required to submit:
- A completed city application form,
- A detailed scope of work and budget, including bids and time frames for all proposed work items,
- Evidence of applicant's financial sufficiency and funding sources to complete project,
- Architectural plans or elevations, as needed, to depict rehabilitation work,
- Additional engineering, architectural and other studies as needed to demonstrate project needs,
- Information on how the project fits into a larger rehabilitation plan for the property, and
- Photos showing overall views of the property, and detail views where work is to be performed
All complete applications will be reviewed on a first come, first served basis. The city evaluates applications and forwards recommendations to the Historic Preservation Commission. The city is solely responsible for determining if applications are complete, and if historic preservation requirements are met. The City Council provides final approval for all applications.
Additional Funding Conditions
Please note that the following additional funding conditions apply:
- The applicant must provide evidence that sufficient funds are available to complete the project at the time of project application, including financial commitments from investors and lending institutions, and a description of the proposed financing. The applicant must notify the city if funding circumstances change after application for the demonstration funds is made
- The applicant must agree to execute required legal agreements, including a program agreement and conservation easement, with the city as a condition of funding. Also, prior to entering into a program agreement, the city requires all lien holders on the property to sign consent agreements
- The city will only accept applications which propose funding for "future" work items. No retroactive funding will be considered for work commenced prior to making application with the city
- The applicant must agree to execute a conservation easement as specified below based on the following levels of city participation: $50,000 or less, 20 years; $50,001 to $100,000, 25 years; $100,001 to $400,000, 30 years; $400,001 and above, 40 years
- The applicant must sign all required agreements with the city within six (6) months after receiving City Council approval for a project and initiate work within six (6) months after executing agreements, or risk losing the funding
- Owners are required to obtain a Certificate of Appropriateness or Certificate of No Effect from the Phoenix Historic Preservation Office prior to finalizing legal agreements. If required, city building permits will also be needed prior to initiating work
- No construction activity on work items approved for funding may occur until City Council approval is obtained and all required city agreements are fully executed
- Properties must be listed on the Phoenix Historic Property Register prior to city reimbursement of funding for any construction work items
- The city will only provide funding for completed project work. To receive payment, the Phoenix Historic Preservation Office will first certify that the work was completed as agreed, meets historic preservation standards, and the owner has expended an equal or greater amount of funding on other necessary work items not eligible for reimbursement under this program (e.g., plumbing, electrical, etc.)
- Applicants need to complete all approved work within at least 24 months once construction activity has started, or risk losing the funding. Applicants can request a one-time six (6) month extension in writing using a form provided by the city. Additional time extensions may be provided on a case-by-case basis
- Projects must be part of a larger plan to rehabilitate and occupy the historic property. The city may hold back up to 10 percent of the total amount awarded until the project receives a Certificate of Occupancy from the city of Phoenix
For more information, contact the Phoenix Historic Preservation Office, 200 W. Washington St., 3rd Floor, Phoenix, AZ, 85003, or call 602-261-8699.
