[MassHistPres] Tax Credits for projects with adverse impacts not in the application

[Roughan, Michael]

Ralph,

Was the recommendation of the SHC based on the historic tax credit application or other preliminary documents that allowed the SHC to infer that the historic structure now proposed for demo would have been left intact?

If your decision was based on documents other than the application, one would think any changes to that scope documentation would allow the SHC to reconsider your letter of support. 

....Mike

Michael Roughan, AIA, EDAC, LEED AP

D +1.617.357.7725 M +1.617.784.6463


-----Original Message-----
From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu [mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] On Behalf Of Ralph Slate
Sent: Friday, January 27, 2017 12:06 AM
To: MassHistPres MA
Subject: [MassHistPres] Tax Credits for projects with adverse impacts not in the application

The Springfield Historical Commission has supported the historic tax credit application of a particular hotel project in the city for a number of years. As each new round of credits comes up, the project needs an updated letter of support.

That proponent recently decided that in order to move forward, it would need to knock down a historic building next door to the property receiving tax credits for use as a parking lot for the structure receiving tax credits. Our city solicitor claims that this is not relevant to the tax credit application because the demolition is not included in the tax credit application (since they are not asking for tax credits for the demolition).

That seems like an incorrect opinion - the tax credits are going to a project which is now directly causing the demolition of a historic structure - so that demolition should be part of the overall project. 
The solicitor claims that if the Springfield Historical Commission withdraws its support for the project due to something not in the original tax credit application, this could expose the city and the commission to legal action by the developer.

Is there an obligation on the part of the developer to amend his application to include this demolition? What happens if he does not? Who oversees this?

Thanks,

Ralph Slate
Springfield, MA
******************************
For administrative questions regarding this list, please contact Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us directly.  PLEASE DO NOT "REPLY" TO THE WHOLE LIST.
MassHistPres mailing list
MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/listinfo/masshistpres
********************************