Preservation Corner
Advocating for the appreciation and preservation of historic buildings, sites and districts through educational programs, public policy, research and technical assistance.
- May is Preservation Month! Every year in May, local preservation groups, state historical societies, and business and civic organizations across the country celebrate Preservation Month through events that promote historic places and heritage tourism, and that demonstrate the social and economic benefits of historic preservation. A Brief History Preservation Month began as National Preservation Week in 1973. In 2005, the National ...
- Six Practical Reasons to Save Old Buildings 1. Old buildings have intrinsic value. Buildings of a certain era, namely pre-World War II, tend to be built with higher-quality materials such as rare hardwoods (especially heart pine) and wood from old-growth forests that no longer exist. Prewar buildings were also built by different standards. A century-old building might be a better long-term bet than ...
Facade Easements
A facade easement is a legally binding agreement that the owner of a historic structure enters into with a charity whose mission includes historic preservation. The owner gives up the right to demolish or make other destructive alternations to the exterior of the building.
The easement, which must run with the title to the property forever, gives the nonprofit the right to review and pre-approve any changes to the building exterior.
All other rights and obligations of ownership, such as the right to sell or lease the property, and the duty to maintain it, remain with the owner. The owner may also make any changes he or she desires to the building interior.
Why would a homeowner want to grant a facade easement? Two reasons: (1) it ensures that the historic character of the exterior of their structure will be preserved; and (2) it may result in a tax deduction — a deduction that could be substantial.
Contributions of property to qualified charitable organizations are tax deductible. A facade easement is property, and if the charity granted the easement is a qualified charitable organization, the easement may qualify as a tax-deductible, charitable contribution.
Ten Threatened Treasures
- 2020 Ten Most Threatened Treasures + One Napa County Landmarks (NCL) has identified Ten Threatened Treasures of Napa County for 2020. NCL has for many years gathered an annual compilation of local historic structures that are in danger of being lost. Our built heritage may be imperiled by “demolition by neglect,” earthquake damage, or an owner’s plans to demolish and redevelop a ...
- 2019 Ten Most Threatened Treasures + One Recently Napa County Landmarks (NCL) through its Preservation Action Committee (PAC) released the 2019 version of the Napa County Ten + 1 Most Threatened Treasures list. For those of you not familiar with this list, NCL made an annual compilation of historic structures throughout Napa County that were in danger of being lost. Usually this ...
Current Issues
- Franklin Station Post Office Update NCL’s Board of Directors supports the rehabilitation and repurposing of the Napa Franklin Station Post Office. We know that such a project will require an addition to the original building footprint to be financially viable, and that not every inch of the historic building can be preserved. However, it is our duty to enforce the ...
