reprise: Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs-Jones on MTB

Meet the Bloggers » Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs-Jones -- from October of 2006. It seems that the death notices are official as of this evening.

this coming Wednesday at noon at the City Club: Jim Rokakis

The City Club - Speakers > Speaker Detail -- Our Wednesday is realigning as we plan to go see Cuyahoga County Treasurer and former Ward 15 Councilman Jim Rokakis speak at the City Club at noon. Here's the blurb from the link:

Speakers > Jim Rokakis

Wednesday, May 28, 2008 12:00 PM

Jim Rokakis
Cuyahoga County Treasurer

Reservation

Jim Rokakis will discuss a proposed Ohio bill to land bank foreclosed properties. Rokakis took office as county treasurer in March 1997 after serving for more than 19 years on Cleveland City Council, the last seven as chairman of the finance committee. He has brought sweeping reform to the treasurer's office, overhauling county property tax collection system by instituting more efficient collection and disbursement of tax revenue. Rokakis has significantly improved the county’s investment function and was recognized as having the best-performing portfolio among Ohio County Treasurer’s. Rokakis also revolutionized the way Ohio counties collect delinquent property taxes by working successfully to pass House Bill 371 that allows county treasurers in Ohio’s largest counties to sell their property tax liens to private entities. Additionally, he spearheaded House Bill 294, which streamlines the foreclosure process for abandoned properties and was instrumental in creating Cuyahoga County’s “Don’t Borrow Trouble” foreclosure prevention program. Rokakis developed nationally recognized linked deposit loan programs that help revitalize the county’s housing stock and reduce urban sprawl. Rokakis has been recognized by local and national organizations for his efforts in strengthening neighborhoods and communities. In 2007, he received the NeighborWorks America Local Government Service Award and the Leadership in Social Justice Award from Greater Cleveland Community Shares, and was named the County Leader of the Year by American City and County Magazine.

Henery posts a heads up for historicity

Lorain County Photographer’s Blog » Blog Archive » Saving Downtown: Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits-- I got this from our friend, Henery Hawk, over in Lorain. We're changing our schedules around to go down to Columbus this coming Tuesday. I'll be attending the all-day session, and Gloria will be focusing on the 106 review session in the afternoon. Here's from Henery's blogsite, with links at the end:

Saving Downtown: Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits
May 12, 2008 – 5:51 pm

Tuesday, May 20, 2008 / 9 a.m.-4:00 p.m.Catering by Design Conference Center, Columbus, Ohio

The federal 20 percent Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit for income-producing properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places is a major incentive for preserving and redeveloping historic buildings in Ohio. Owners, developers, architects, consultants, real estate professionals, tax attorneys, and accountants will all benefit from this full-day workshop presented by experienced Ohio Historic Preservation Office staff who advise applicants and make recommendations on Ohio projects.

Participants will receive a workbook and tax credit application materials. The morning session covers specifics of applying for and qualifying for Certification of Significance and Certification of Rehabilitation and includes a discussion of the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. A summary of the status of the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit ends the morning. The afternoon session covers how the Standards for Rehabilitation apply in a variety of common situations, including additions to historic buildings, retention of interior spaces and features, and what to do about windows. Among the questions to be answered are: Where should the addition go and how big can it be? Which spaces are significant and which can safely be altered? Up-to-the-minute guidance from the National Park Service on Interpreting and Applying the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, issued early in 2008, provides a basis for the presentations.

The afternoon ends with “You are the reviewer” roundtable discussions of individual projects, illustrating how the Standards for Rehabilitation apply to real Ohio rehabilitation proposals.

Who Should Attend? Agency Managers and Staff * Applicants for Federal Assistance, Licenses, or Permits * Archaeologists * Architects * Consultants * Contractors * Developers * Public Officials* Engineers * Historians

Click here to learn more about the Ohio Historic Preservation Office 2008 Workshops.
Click here to register online.

tax credits, restoration, and economics

i will shout youngstown: from one theater to another theater -- Here's something unique and refreshing: Our Youngstown friend Janco shows how the numbers might work on a proposed downtown theatre restoration by the partnership of Paul Warshauer of Grand Venues in Illinois and Lou Frangos of USA Parking in Cleveland. Janco's reporting works well because he uses pictures of the legal pad on which the rough estimates appear:

Let's focus on a few of the numbers:The idea, as proposed at the meeting was to utilize the basement, the main floor for theater, and the upper floors for two small modern theaters (editor's note: hopefully with a bar serving alcohol in the back). The first photo of these easel has for all of these components the square footage, renovation cost per square foot, and total cost. So for the individual floors, this would come out to:

9,750 sq. ft. $573,250 - Basement
9,300 sq. ft. $2,785,000 - Street Level Theater
1,950 sq. ft. $585,000 - Mezzanine
4,250 sq. ft. $1,225,000 - Upper Cinemas A&B

Thus the total estimate for the project is a total of 26,950 sq ft of renovated space, at an average of $216 a sq ft, for a total of $5,829,500. So this brings up a question . . . really the 5,829,500 dollar question: Who might pony up the cash for this project?

Well, as presented, here are some numbers:

20% - Federal Historic Tax Credits = $ 1,165,900
15% - Ohio Historic Tax Credits = $ 874,425
10% - The LLC of the owners = $ 582,950
5% - "Direct Grants" = $ 291,475
50% - Dontations from public, YSU, naming rights,corporate sponsors, etc. = $ 2,914,750

You can look at the picture for further information. I'm making no judgement on this one, just reporting the news.

Rev. Robert Drinan, former head of BC Law, dies at 86

Congressman priest dies at 86 - Politics - MSNBC.com--Here's a story about one of those Jesuits who helped change the community dialogue and form our nascent social consciousness in Boston in the '60s. It's priests like him, on the front lines, who lent their ideas and influence to the movement that helped form such tax-credit-oriented development firms as Boston Capital and The Community Builders. Here's the middle of the article:

An internationally known human-rights advocate, Drinan was elected on an anti-war platform and represented Massachusetts in the U.S. House for 10 years during the turbulent 1970s.

He stepped down only after a worldwide directive from Pope John Paul II barring priests from holding public office.

During his Congressional tenure, Drinan continued to dress in the robes of his clerical order and lived in a simple room in the Jesuit community at Georgetown.

But he wore his liberal views more prominently. He opposed the draft, worked to abolish mandatory retirement and raised eyebrows with his more moderate views on abortion and birth control.

“Father Drinan’s commitment to human rights and justice will have a lasting legacy here at Georgetown University and across the globe,” said Georgetown President John J. Degioia.

“Few have accomplished as much as Father Drinan and fewer still have done so much to make the world a better place,” said Alex Aleinikoff, dean of the George University Law Center.

Drinan, dean of the Boston College Law School from 1956 to 1970, called for the desegregation of Boston public schools during the 1960s and challenged Boston College students to become involved in civil rights issues.

“He’ll be remembered in the country for his advocacy for the poor and underprivileged,” said John Garvey, the Boston law school’s current dean.

Norm on Ohio's new Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits

Give former Governor Taft credit for signing Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit into Law REALNEO for all--Our friend Norm Roulet posted this account of the new historic tax credits available in Ohio. It's a critical distinction to note that a tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar offset of taxes and is therefore more valuable than a tax deduction, which is a lessening of the amount to be taxed. This incentive can drive a lot of the restoration we've been needing to do around here for 50 years. It rewards us for placing the emphasis on preserving our heritage buildings, which we have in greater abundance than just about anybody anyplace else. I'm looking forward to using this on projects in the City of Cleveland these next few years.