Send Email Today - Appropriations Committee Meets Tomorrow at 1 pm on Funding Left Over Bills - Ask to Support LD2106: State Historic Tax Credit
Ask Appropriations Committee to fund:
LD2106, An Act to Accelerate the Production of Affordable Housing and Strengthen the Historic Property Rehabilitation Tax Credit, is a critical housing bill still on the Appropriations Table.
We urge the Appropriations Committee to fund LD2106 off the Special Appropriations Table.
The Maine Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit (Maine HRTC) has played a vital role in preserving Maine's historic properties while creating opportunities for additional housing. However, the credit has been capped at $5 million per developer, a year. While the Legislature clarified in 2013 that this cap applies to each building in a large historic complex, the purchasing power of $5 million has dwindled significantly since 2008.
Maine has experienced a dramatic increase in construction costs, doubling costs since 2015 and rising even more compared to 2008. Consequently, the current $5 million cap is no longer sufficient to support the rehabilitation of historic properties, particularly those used for housing in mills, schools, churches, grange halls, and other historic buildings. This situation presents a substantial obstacle to housing development in these unique and valuable structures.
With Maine facing a housing crisis, all avenues for developing housing in Maine must be supported. The historic tax credit is a win-win solution with bipartisan support for maintaining Maine's character and helping all Maine people have a home.
Governor's Office, DECD, and Maine Housing launch Housing Dashboard - Webinar 5/14, 11 am
A new statewide housing data portal launched last week. The portal was developed by HR&A Advisors as a follow-up to the State of Maine Housing Production Needs Study released last fall. It will be a valuable new resource for housing providers, planners, municipalities, regional organizations and others seeking a range of housing, population and economic data, as we all work to expand housing opportunities for Maine people. HR&A will provide an overview of the wealth of information and features available on this new portal and answer questions folks may have during a webinar on Tuesday, May 14th from 11am-12 noon. Register.
MAHC Housing Policy Conference
Coming up on November 13, 2024 at the Doubletree by Hilton, Portland. Get your sponsorship and vendor table today.