HUD, ACHP Hold Event to Promote Compatibility of Historic Preservation and Affordable Housing

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THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) recently held a symposium to promote the idea that historic preservation can be compatible with the preservation of affordable housing.
         At the symposium, held on 11/6/07 in Washington DC, HUD and ACHP announced a blueprint that seeks to dispel the myth that historic preservation raises housing costs that force many working families out of many urban neighborhoods, and instead to advocate that historic preservation is a tool that can not only preserve historic homes but also keep them affordable in the process.
         he 20% federal historic rehabilitation tax credit is often used to generate extra equity to facilitate the renovation of existing rental properties as affordable housing, often in conjunction with the low-income housing tax credit.
         The recent symposium was attended by historic preservationists and affordable housing advocates. The purpose of it was to help further implementation of a revised affordable housing policy adopted a number of months ago by ACHP. HUD recently issued a publication, entitled Affordable Housing and Historic Preservation, that outlines the revised policy. (To view, go to http://www.huduser.org/publications/affhsg/historic_preserv.html.)
         ACHP is a federal agency responsible for overseeing compliance by all federal agencies with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. Section 106 requires federal agencies to take into account the impact of their actions (e.g., rulemaking, funding decisions) on historic resources.
         The new revised Affordable Housing Policy provides a framework for federal agencies to meet these requirements with respect to affordable housing. The ACHP publication notes, “Actively seeking ways to reconcile historic preservation goals with the special economic and social needs associated with affordable housing is critical in addressing one of the nation’s most pressing challenges.”
         ACHP’s revised policy defines affordable housing as federally subsidized single- and multi-family housing for individuals and families making less than 80% of the area median income.
         In the policy, ACHP outlines a number of “implementation” principles that it encourages federal and state agencies, state historic preservation officers, local governments, housing providers, and other consulting parties to utilize in Section 8 reviews. These principles are that:

    1. Rehabilitating historic properties to provide affordable housing is a sound historic preservation strategy.

    2. Federal agencies and State and local government entities assuming HUD’s environmental review requirements are responsible for ensuring compliance with Section 106.

    3. Review of effects in historic districts should focus on exterior features.

    4. Consultation should consider the overall preservation goals of the community.

    5. Plans and specifications should adhere to the Secretary’s Standards when possible and practical.

    6. Section 106 consultation should emphasize consensus building.

    7. The ACHP encourages streamlining the Section 106 process to respond to local conditions.

    8. The need for archeological investigations should be avoided.