DEPARTMENT: Office of Historic Preservation
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Shanon Shea Miller
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: All
SUBJECT:
The Texas Historical Commission Certified Local Government Grant Acceptance
SUMMARY:
This ordinance ratifies the submission of a grant application and authorizes acceptance of funds upon award, not to exceed $11,500, from the Texas Historical Commission for completion of a survey of the Tobin Hill neighborhood.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City seeks to identify and inventory significant historic resources through the ScoutSA survey initiative. This proactive effort responds to the community need for up to date information on properties that are potentially eligible for designation as local landmarks or historic districts.
The Historic & Design Review Commission, in response to public outcry over the loss of a significant structure located just outside the boundary of the local historic district, asked the Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) staff to conduct a survey of the Tobin Hill neighborhood. The City will survey properties within the Tobin Hill Community Association, which includes the Tobin Hill Local Historic District and the East French Place Local Historic District. The updated inventory will be added to the existing survey database managed by OHP. We anticipate that the survey will be used to certify the two local historic districts as well as identify adjacent areas that may be eligible for National Register designation. This will both celebrate the significance of the neighborhood and make tax credits available to projects that qualify.
The City has preliminarily been awarded a cost reimbursement grant of $11,500. The match requirement will be met with grant funds from The Conservation Society of San Antonio (Ordinance 2020-02-20-0105) and in-kind services. The estimated completion date for the project is September 30, 2021.
ISSUE:
The survey of the Tobin Hill neighborhood will result in an improved process for property owners to explore use of tax incentives and increase transparency in demolition permit requests which will reduce time and workload for City staff. City will be able to more effectively promote tax credits and provide property owners with clarity regarding their property’s eligibility for designation. The availability of the grant for this effort reduces the fiscal impact to the City.
ALTERNATIVES:
Non-acceptance of the grant would limit funding available to complete the project.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance ratifies the submission of a grant application and authorizes acceptance of funds upon award, not to exceed $11,500, from the Texas Historical Commission for completion of a survey of the Tobin Hill neighborhood. There is a grant match requirement to include donated “in-kind” services or cash of the lesser of $10,000 or 46.5% of eligible costs. The grant match requirement will be met with previously awarded and accepted grant funds from The Conservation Society of San Antonio in an amount not to exceed $9,300.00 (Ordinance 2020-02-20-0105) and in-kind services.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council ratify the grant proposal and authorize the acceptance of the cost reimbursement grant.