Louisiana State Residential Rehabilitation Tax Credits

I can’t believe I have not posted about the Louisiana Residential Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit process on my blog! Wow. Ok, so here goes.  This is information on the Residential Historic Rehabilitation Residential Tax Credit program for the State of Louisiana (and more specifically, Alexandria, LA). I have included links to the boundaries of the local historic districts in Alexandria, the PowerPoint presentation explaining the program; and a really unfortunate and corny video I did for speech class a couple years back.  The poor video had to have certain pieces in order for me to get the grade. I had to have an audience, I had to start out with a song, so forgive the unnecessary elements of the video and fast forward to :25 so you can concentrate on the presentation portion. If you have any questions, you can contact me, or the State office. The wonderful people who administer the Historic Rehabilitation program for the State of Louisiana are always on hand to answer questions, are patient and I truly enjoyed working with them. So, if you have any questions, you can also contact them.

KEEP IN MIND: This process is for the RESIDENTIAL program only. I do have knowledge of how the commercial credits are supposed to work. That is a different process and a different percentage. I have not had personal experience with that process and decline to comment on how it works.  I have had personal experience with the residential program and can vouch that it worked/will work, exactly how it is outlined.

Without further ado:

Powerpoint Presentation :Louisiana State Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program

Louisiana State Office PDF Flyer: LA Tax Incentive breakdown pdf

Alexandria, Louisiana, Local Historic and Cultural Districts

For National Register districts or individual listings click here to search: National Register of Historic Places

Here is the official link to the Louisiana Office of Cultural Development Division of Historic Preservation where you start the process. All of the applications and information is listed on this page.

In depth answers regarding the Louisiana State Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program.

And last but not least, my very unfortunate video.  If you would like to bypass the most annoying part, fast forward to :25.  If you want to follow along with what I am presenting, you will need to have the Powerpoint open or printed out and have either read or have handy the above PDF. I saved it for last, because if you have read the information above, it really is not necessary.  However, if you are visual and like to have the information presented to you, here you go: Youtube Video, explanation of program

If you live in Louisiana, but you do not live in a locally designated historic area, or a National Register historic district, or a building or home that is in a National Register historic district, but you feel your home is historic. What you would need to do in order to be eligible for the program is create a local historic district through your municipality. It can either be designated as such by your City Council, your Police Jury, or whatever municipal authority your home is under. I have never done this and do not know what is required. You do have to present the information to the municipality and then either you or them, or maybe a cooperative group, drafts the necessary paperwork for it to be adopted and made an ordinance and then filed with the assessor’s office and the State of Louisiana.  If anyone has ever done this before, feel free to leave a comment.  Another thing you could do is ascertain whether or not your house would be eligible for listing on the National Register.  If it is, you can take the necessary steps to try to have it listed. Please visit the National Register site (link posted above) for more information on that process.

Finishing work

A few photos from the last several days. Finishing work has commenced and should be complete by the end of next week!

What’s left? Porch paint, fascia boards and column paint, yard cleanup, bathroom tub installed…that’s about it! Waiting on some warm weather for the porch paint.

RIP Thompson-Hargis Mansion

Last night was very sad for Preservationists in Cenla. The Thompson-Hargis home was irreparably destroyed by fire. At this time we know that it started in the back of the house and according to KALB, the cause was arson perpetuated by a 13 year old girl.  An arrest has been made.

A security guard has been posted at the house remains to deter vandalism until a future disposition of the house can be determined by the family. Built in 1907 (some documents I have say 1902) without the benefit of a house plan by B.F. Thompson, a Canadian, the Thompson-Hargis mansion survived a total of 105 years until its historic reign was brought to an untimely end on September 9, 2012. Rivaling the beautiful and well preserved mansions on St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans, this mansion was the last one of its kind in Alexandria.

Mansion Row, as it is locally named, will not be the same. RIP grand lady.

The above pictures were taken via iPhone as it was unfolding.  For pictures taken this morning, click here to be redirected to the WeSawThat blog.

P.S. I wrote a short post spotlighting this property in 2008 and made the comment that it would not last much longer in the state that it was presently in.  It has been a top post for the past two days, understandably so.  I am sad that this was a fulfilled prophecy. 😦

Spring is in the air!

Oh my….this is usually the time of year that I dust my blog off and then tackle about 10 projects at the same time.  🙂  This year is no exception.  I have accepted the nomination of Vice President of the Historical Association of Central Louisiana.  Thank you for your faith in me.  Among some of my duties, I will be writing a couple National Register nominations this year and working with property owners regarding tax incentives and rehabilitation of their properties.  I also have my property to work on and submission of a NR nomination is forthcoming in that area.  I finally have everything straight with the SHPO (State Historic Preservation Office) regarding what they need from me and what I need to do.

My laundry room and kitchen are being “finished” by a carpenter as we speak.  Steven and I just ran out of steam labor wise and have been too involved in other things to get it finished.  So, we hired a good friend and excellent carpenter to come and finish what we started.

In adoption news, our home study was finalized yesterday.  All of the paperwork that our social worker needed from Mississippi came in and we can finally move forward with completing our dossier and sending our documents to China.  Within the next thirty days I hope!  National Register nominations pale in comparison with submitting a dossier to the Chinese Government!  Wow!

Many good things are in the works!!!  It is spring!  My favorite time of year.  I am ready to rock Cenla!

Andrea

Historic Natchez, Mississippi

This weekend Steven and I had the privilege of staying in Natchez Mississippi for a marriage retreat in the Natchez Grand Hotel.  I am so refreshed, renewed and invigorated from the beautiful architecture, lovely gardens, cool junk places to shop, the hip stores and coffee hangouts and also from the wonderful time spent amongst friends.  Here are a few snapshots from the weekend.

The only scary part was Snuggie. You would have had to have been there in order to understand this element of the weekend!  Ha!  I will post a pic and that is all I will say about the matter!

Andrea

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Save the Armour Building

Thank you Town Talk for spotlighting this historic building.

“Too-costly repair plan leaves Alexandria’s Armour building vulnerable”

The old Armour & Co. building in Alexandria is potentially facing the wrecking ball again. This time, local preservationists want to save it for good.  

“Enough is enough,” said Charles Charrier, president of the Historical Association of Central Louisiana. “So much of our past is gone. Much of our downtown is gone. Many of our commercial and warehouse buildings are gone. Our position is it’s time for the ‘just tear it down’ mentality to stop here in Alexandria.”

The former meat processing plant at 1901 Third St. is a good place to take that stand, Charrier thinks.

Built between 1909 and 1914, the building for decades housed a packing plant, which would receive meat via railroad and process it for sale locally. It has been vacant for about 20 years.

“It’s one of the last surviving industrial buildings that depended on rail transportation for its existence,” Charrier said. “That’s why it’s significant, along with the grand design and historic character.” …for the rest of the article, click here.

Warren Family Vacation 2009

I’m baaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!!!!  Whew, what a fast 7 days this past week has been!  I did not announce here on my blog that I was going on vacation due to security reasons.  You never know who is out there lurking….  All of my friends and family knew where I was though. 

We had a great time!  We camped in South Carolina, canoed in North Carolina, enjoyed the scenic beauty of the Tennessee mountains by staying outside of Gatlinburg for a night and then stopped in Arkansas last night on our way to get Taavi, the newest addition to our family.  For anyone interested, here are some photos from our week and a snippet of information on where we were and what we were doing.  I missed everyone!  I am glad I am back home!

Sunday

We left on Sunday.  On our way to Alabama for the night, we stopped in Jackson, Mississippi to eat at Keifer’s.  Keifer’s is the best doggone Greek food I have ever eaten.  It is a small business located downtown and people drive in from multiple states to eat there.  It is THAT good!  If you are ever in the area, I highly recommend this family owned, on top of its game, restaurant.  I also stopped in Birmingham to visit with a college friend, Consuela.  I haven’t seen her in six years…..good times, good times!  When we arrived at the hotel, Vivian wanted to swim.  So, even though it was 10:00 p.m., we donned our bathing suits and made a lap or two in the pool.  It never occurred to me that Vivian has not stayed in a hotel before.  Upon entering our room, she had many questions and was amazed that someone set up a little bedroom just for us!  Here she is after a full day of travel and an hour swimming.

Tired after a day full of travel and swimming

Monday-Tuesday

“Is Mississippi a road?”  Vivian asked from the back seat (I guess that is better than “Are we there yet?”).  “No, it is a state, baby” I replied.  “What state do we live in?” I asked.  “Alexandria!” was her triumphant answer.  So, did ya’ll know that Alexandria was a state?

Oconee State Park, SC - Vivian feeding the geese

The main purpose of our trip was for Vivian to meet her great grandmother and great grandfather.  On our way to see them, we stopped in downtown Greenville and visited the park. 

On street parking, downtown Greenville, SC

The downtown area was thriving and very hip.  We passed many restaurants and specialty stores on our way to Reedy Falls park, which is in the middle of downtown.  We even happened upon a conversation of young businessmen (and women) who talked about living in their loft in the downtown area and how much they enjoyed living and working there.  I thought that was very cool (All of my preservationist friends understand what I mean).  The great thing about most of the streets in Greenville was that they had storefront parking.  They never did widen the road or remove the parking spots from in front of the shops.  I think this was one of the main reasons the downtown thrives.  The other reason is the highly attractive park that has a creek/falls that runs smack through the middle of downtown.

Reedy Falls Park, Downtown Greenville SC

Greenville spiffed up one of their best assets by putting a bridge over the creek falls for people to bike over, or walk out on and admire the view.  The bridge, from what I understand from the sign, was financed through private persons and non-proft groups.  Greenville has also retained a good bit of green space in the downtown area despite development.  I call that good planning by the city administration.  Greenville also has bicycle lanes and has good walkability and bikeability (if that is a word).  You would not have to talk me in to living there.  It was beautiful.

The bridge across the falls/creek

Vivian at the park

Vivian at Reedy Falls

Vivian and Andrea at Reedy Falls

Wednesday

We got a wild hair and drove up to Rosman, North Carolina and took a four hour canoe trip.  We had a good time paddling down the quiet French Broad.  We saw a hawk catch a fish.  At the end of the day, you could clearly see the spots I missed putting sunscreen on!

On the French Broad, Rosman, NC

A bridge over the French Broad, Rosman NC

Thursday

We visited with my grandmother again and then went on to Easley, SC and visited with my grandfather and my cousins.  It rained ALL day.

Grandma Petrone and Vivian

Grandpa Petrone, Me and Steven

Friday

Our plans were to stay at the park (Oconee) and boat, fish, make a fire…you know, all the things you are supposed to do when you go camping.  The only problem was that the weather was not cooperating.  It rained Thursday, Friday and Saturday. 

Vivian, singing in the rain, Oconee State Park

Steven was determined to cook out, so he grabbed a poncho out of the car and flipped hamburgers in the rain.  Our geese friends decided to come up and check us out again. 

Resident Geese, Oconee State Park, SC

Vivian and Steven feeding the geese (wow, no mistaking paternity here)

Lazy rainy afternoon on the porch at our cabin

 

Friday night we decided to head to Tennessee.  We left the park early, we were supposed to stay until Sunday.  We went to Sevierville, TN which is right outside of Gatlinburg, and stayed the night at the Wilderness at the Smokies, a waterpark/resort.  Poor Vivian had been drug across four states and had not had any fun yet, so we decided to let her play in the water park for a day.  This place was brand new and pretty cool.  Included with your room you get free passes to their two waterparks and free tickets to the Ripley’s Believe it or Not Aquarium (which was voted the #1 aquarium in the country).  We splashed for hours, rode down the slides, sat in the hot tub, went back to our room and then came back down and did it all over again! 

The bucket of water just dumped out on them...you better move when you hear the bell ring!

Vivian and Me

Eating dippin' dots at the park

Sunday-Monday

We packed up and drove to Little Rock and stayed the night Sunday and then today, we got up early and drove to Hot Springs to pick up Taavi.

Vivian and her new puppy, Taavi

We are now back home and I do believe that Taavi is adjusting well to living here in Alexandria.

Vivian and Taavi playing in the front yard

Andrea

10 Most Endangered Tour: Hotel Bentley

As part of the 30th Annual Preservation Conference, the Historical Association of Central Louisiana organized a Louisiana Trust 10 Most Endangered List Tour yesterday.  Even though I had a part in organizing the tour, I had yet to see the inside of half of the buildings on the tour.

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of seeing, for the first time, the lobby of the now closed Hotel Bentley.  I know a lot about the Bentley, but I had not yet had the opportunity to see the inside before its doors closed in 2005.  For a complete history on the Bentley, please click here.  Everything said about the Bentley is true.  It is oppulent, beautiful, a classic example of early 20th century architecture and definitely worth saving.  Upon entering the lobby, straight ahead is a beautiful double staircase which meets at a landing and then grandly sweeps down to the floor.

Grand Staircase, Hotel Bentley, Alexandria, La

A few of the persons joining us for the tour reminisced about being present at family weddings, proms and other events held here in the “good ole days”.  Their descriptions of the events transported me back and I could almost hear feet shuffling in time with music from the band, or the crisp whoosh of a wedding dress as a beautiful bride gracefully descended the stairs.  How exciting it must have been!

Original frieze pattern in dome

Gazing up at the inside of the dome, you will see a painted mural.  This is not original to the structure.  Originally a frieze type pattern decorated the inside of the dome and in the 1930’s-40’s, it was “modernized” by painting white over it with a black edge.  After renovating the Bentley in the 1980’s, the Tudor Construction company hired an artisan to paint this mural. (This information comes from the book “An Illustrated History: Rapides Parish” published by local author Sue Eakin).

Lobby Ceiling: Hotel Bentley

 Alas, not all of the Bentley is a beautiful sight.  Signs of peeling paint, wear and tear and rot are already being seen due to the hotel being defunct for four years.  Below is just a small glimpse of the wood damage outside the hotel. 

However, now that I am Central Louisianan….I will cling to the faith that other Central Louisianans have that this once glorious building will be returned to commerce and that it will lift its head proudly in our downtown once again. 

The other buildings we toured were Mt. Olivet chapel, Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, Conerly House, the Thompson-Hargis mansion and the Cotton Bros. Bakery Building.  Bennettville Plantation house and store were listed on the Louisiana Trust’s 10 Most Endangered list, however it was not open for tour.  The Town Talk did a wonderful story on the tour and you can view that by clicking here. Don’t forget to look at the photo gallery to see more pictures of the tour.  Thank you RT Morgan for a wonderful story.

I would also like to thank TW Thompson for the wondeful picture of my daughter and I walking in the Hotel Bentley lobby.  I took a walk with Vivian because she was restless and also because I thought she was about to give the caretaker of the Bentley a heart attack.  The lady was very nervous and did not want Vivian injuring herself…which I completely understand.  So, when Vivian and I took a walk down the beautiful entryway, in between the columns, Mr. Thompson snapped a picture of us walking hand in hand and it is just beautiful!!!!  When he sends me the digital print, I will post it.   Thanks again, sir.

The Hotel Bentley 1907-08

Andrea

Dinner on the Bricks – Historic Downtown Alexandria, Louisiana

“Spirit of Alexandria”

I have been longing for New Orleans of late.  Just like the song says, “There is no place like home”.  I think what I miss most about New Orleans is the fine dining and that everything is always open late.  I loved the low light and ambiance of Houston’s on St. Charles Street.  I loved going to the Apple Seed for lunch in the Business District.  I loved walking up Canal Street and shopping at some of the trendy stores, or looking at the well prepared window displays.  Coffee and beignets?  No problem, Cafe Du Monde is open 24/7.  On any given day, I could get on a Street Car (trolley) and ride the entire Garden District line, just to gawk at the large commanding historic mansions that New Orleans is known for.  All of these things, to me, encapsulate the “Spirit of New Orleans”.

Moving to Alexandria was a shock.  Well, let me back up….moving to Provencal, Louisiana was a SHOCK!  According to Wikipedia, the population is 708 and there are only 300 housing units in the whole town.  This was a shock to me, I swear I have only seen around 200 people and they ALL knew MY business whether I wanted them to or not.

When our jobs moved us to Alexandria, I certainly was relieved and glad to live somewhere I could get high speed internet and did not have to make all of my purchases at Wal-Mart (not that there is anything wrong with that…but, when you have no other choices….).  I viewed my move to Alexandria as moving back closer to civilization.   Now, don’t get me wrong, Provencal had its charms.  It was close to the Kisatchie National Forest, had beautiful rural roads and its very own walking track right smack in the middle of town.  It also has one gas station/pizza place/typical country store that was a Circle K when I lived there, but that everyone lovingly called “Po’s”.  Now its a Chevron.  When I would say I am going to get gas at Circle K, I would get very odd looks from my husband’s family and some of the church people there.  They had no idea what I was talking about.  When they would say, “You mean Po’s?”, that would completely confuse me because nowhere on the sign did the store say “Po’s”.  Needless to say, I am very literal and from the city.  A combination that usually got me off the hook, because people normally just sighed, rolled their eyes and chalked my “ignorance” up to my being a “city folk”.

So, I thought, moving to Alexandria would be an improvement, right?  I guess I got the high speed internet, but I am surprised to find that, even though Alexandria is sprawled across a large area of Cenla, it is relatively still behind other comparable cities of its size.  I find that, even though we have a good Administrative leadership in Cenla, that most entities, businesses, charities and non-profits are still singing their songs solo.  Alexandria severely lacks cooperative involvement from corporations, as well as private citizens.  A lot of people sit around pointing fingers and laying blame at someone else’s door instead of getting up off their tushes and working together as a cooperative whole to find a solution. 

Anyway, I am thrilled to see the two beautiful trolley cars that the City purchased.  Of course the trolley causes my nostalgia all over again but I am hoping that, in time,  it will make the pangs of longing for my hometown subside.  Maybe the City will come up with a tour through the Garden District?  Thrilling!  I am so glad to see some charm rattling down the streets of Alexandria.  What would be even better, is  revitalization of the downtown area.  Alexandria has so much potential with the old store fronts and buildings relatively intact, to host a number of thriving businesses which would cater to the local professionals, tourists, yuppies, bicycle riders, etc.  Can’t you see it?  Coffee houses, music, loft apartments, entertainment.  People leisurely walking the streets enjoying the scenery.  We already have a wonderful orchestra and a great art district.  I think what Alexandria is lacking though is a little “soul”.  I love the quote from Winston Churchill:

“We shape our buildings, thereafter they shape us.”

Isn’t that so true?  We need to shape our buildings in the downtown area to become a pleasing recreational place for families, for tourists, for convention go-ers, you name it.  It would give our city a little “spirit” and “soul”.  I wonder if that perhaps is the reason we have such limited cooperation, prevalent racism and negativity in Alexandria?  Is it because our “soul” is gone and we feel empty and destitute which causes us to angrily lash out?  What we need in our city is a little romance and nostalgia from a gentler era of Alexandria’s history.  Whatever they decide to do with the trolley cars, I am 100% for it.  If they ever decide to use it for public tours or transportation, I will be the first in line to buy a ticket!  Thank you City for some putting Spirit back in Alexandria!