Historic restoration grants applications available

Beginning Monday, September 27, 2010, applications will be available for the City of Nacogdoches’ annual Historic Restoration Grant Program. This money has contributed to over 2 million dollars of projects preserving and restoring the history of Nacogdoches. The application will be available at the Durst-Taylor Historic House and Gardens at 304 North Street, the Sterne-Hoya House Museum and Library at 211 S. Lanana St. or by contacting the Historic Sites Department at 936-560-4443. Applications are due on Friday, October 15, 2010, by 4:00 pm and can be turned in at the Durst-Taylor House or Sterne-Hoya House.

To be considered for funding, two qualifications must be met. First, a property must be under the City’s Historic Overlay Zoning. Second, the applicant must be granted funding and a Certificate of Appropriateness by the Historic Landmark Preservation Committee before starting the restoration work. Funding is limited to a maximum match of 50 percent of project cost.

In the fall of each year, applicants prepare and present requests for funding to the City’s Historic Sites Department for consideration. These applications must contain information about the project such as cost estimates, detailed descriptions of the work to be done and drawings or illustrations as necessary. A recommendation is then prepared by staff and presented to the Nacogdoches Historic Landmark Preservation Committee, which in turn prepares a recommendation on funding levels and presents this to the City Council for final approval.

Once grants are approved, applicants have one year to complete the work authorized under the grant. The applicant receives payment from the City upon completion of the project and final review by the Historic Landmark Preservation Committee.

For more information regarding this program, please contact the City of Nacogdoches Historic Sites Department at 936-560-4443 or 936-560-5426.