Agenda Item Name:
Title
Resolution Providing for Historic Ad Valorem Exemption at 719 NE 5th Street, Gainesville
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Presenter:
Kathleen W. Pagan, Senior Planner, 352-374-5249
Description:
Historic Ad Valorem Exemption for one (1) property in Gainesville. The City granted the exemption in 2021, for 10 years beginning 2021.
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approve the Historic Ad Valorem exemption and authorize the Chair to sign the associated covenant.
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Prior Board Motions:
In accordance with Comprehensive Plan Historic Preservation Element Policy 2.8, and per the Alachua County Code, the Board may grant an ad valorem exemption for historic preservation for qualifying properties within the county.
Fiscal Consideration:
Fiscal Consideration
The Property Appraiser staff has calculated the value of the improvements eligible for the historic preservation exemption to be $100,938. Based on the previous year millage rate the value of the exemption would be $797 annually for 10 years, for a total of $7970.
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Background:
The property owner has applied for the exemption this year. If approved, the ad valorem exemption will be for 10 years and will cover the increased assessed value of the property resulting from the renovations that took place as part of the tax exemption application. The enclosed application for the property has been reviewed by the certified local historic preservation office of the City of Gainesville that has determined that the property and improvements meet the federal Secretary of Interior Standards for Historic Preservation and are therefore qualified. The property is also eligible for the County exemption.
The owner of the property (719 NE 5th Street, Gainesville) has completed property improvements to an existing structure, the Lewis House, a one-story single family house with a flat roof and parapet on concrete block stucco walls. Built circa 1926, the house is a Mediterranean Revival house (approx. 1,473 SF) that is a typical Gainesville residence of the decade. A garage structure classified as a contributing historic structure was damaged when an oak tree fell during H. Irma in 2017. The partial demolition of the damaged garage roof and walls did allow preservation of an archway between the garage and the house, with the north and east walls lowered to waist height. The completed improvements included addition of masonry walls on the north and east property lines, and a wood fence adjacent to a large tree on the NE property corner (all 8 feet high). The freestanding garage was reconstructed on the SE corner. Also a metal bracket was installed to support a tile roof awning over the front entrance area, and on the front elevation a fabric awning was added over a window. At the rear elevation a metal awning was installed. The Property Appraiser is working to determine an estimate of the value of the improvements.
In 2020 total ad valorem taxes paid were $4,630.60 and the County portion of this amount was $1,664.19 based on a millage of 7.8935 with an assessed and taxable value of $210,831. The prior value and tax is not impacted by the historic exemption if the exemption request is approved. Property Appraiser staff has calculated the value of the improvements requesting the exemption to be $100,938 and the total value of the exemption over 10 years is approximately $7970.
The City staff report documents the project work. Attachments include: 1. (County) Resolution and Covenant for 719 NE 5th Street (Documents requiring action-2 separate files, with owner signature attached separately showing agreement of owner). 2. Adopted City of Gainesville Ordinance 200280 and Covenant. 3. City Staff Report 4. Map Location 719 NE 5th Street, and historic plat of area