RESTORE JACKSONVILLE

A Preservation Education Conference held in Jacksonville, FL, Oct. 12th-14th, 2007

Track #5: contractors & Investors

roof building, photo by R.W. Heck

This lecture track sponsored by  image

BUYING AND SELLING OLDER PROPERTIES: Gunilla and Larry Craven, real estate brokers specializing in older homes, share their knowledge of what sells and what doesn’t in the older home market, and discuss the restoration standards people looking for historic homes will expect.   As homeowners who have restored several of their own fixer uppers, the speakers will also share what it takes to rehab an older home and the benefits this can bring.

WEAVING NEW SYSTEMS INTO HISTORIC STRUCTURES: Historic structures can present unique challenges for the architects, engineers and contractors charged with restoring them.  The buildings may be architectural jewels, yet they are technologically obsolete with faulty building systems that don't meet modern needs and require tremendous maintenance.  Modernizing these buildings, while maintaining their essential character, requires a creative balance of new design and historic preservation capabilities.  Ricardo Quinones, principal of PQH Architects and chairman of the Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission, showcases creative solutions for integrating contemporary engineering systems, such as HVAC, into historic structures without compromising their architectural integrity.

PRESERVATION PROCESS 101: Jacksonville's local historic preservation program seeks to identify historic buildings through architectural and historic surveys, protect those properties through local designation, and preserve significant historic fabric through the Certificate of Appropriateness process.  Lisa Sheppard of the City's Planning and Development Department, Historic Preservation Section, will give a brief history of the historic preservation movement, explain how preservation activities are handled locally and provide some clarification on the different applications, codes and requirements that homeowners, developers and contractors need to understand when dealing with older buildings.

RETROFITTING HISTORICAL STRUCTURES TO MEET ACCESS & LIFE SAFETY CODES: Noted preservation architect Ken Smith will review strategies for bringing historic structures up to current accessibility and life safety codes while minimizing changes to historic materials and features.

FINANCIAL STRATEGIES FOR INVESTMENT IN HISTORIC PROPERTIES: Experts on local, state and federal preservation incentive programs will discuss special tax credit and financing programs available for domestic and commercial rehabilitation projects, including the Main Street Program, the financing of tax-credit-enhanced real estate, and the structuring of historic rehabilitation real estate transactions. Speakers are Lisa Sheppard, Andrew Ham, and Laura Lee Corbett.