Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation Unveils Tools to Help Homeowners

October 25, 2023 – Sarasota

The Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation (SAHP) has launched the Sarasota Preservation Program to save and protect historic buildings through a suite of tools that have never been deployed in the region. These include historic preservation easements; low-cost financing for maintenance and restoration of historic buildings; and technical assistance for repairs and upkeep.

The goal is to combat the Sarasota region’s rapid loss of historic buildings through tangible help to homeowners – including low-cost loans and help for those who own even modest-scale older dwellings. Some of the first beneficiaries will be historic homeowners in Sarasota’s Central Cocoanut and Newtown neighborhoods. The SAHP board of directors has kicked off a matching gift challenge to double every dollar raised for the program up to $30,000.

“We need new tools to combat the accelerating loss of our historic neighborhoods, from the grandest to the most humble. What’s so exciting is that the Sarasota Preservation Program puts the solutions in the hands of historic home owners and doesn’t rely on government action,” says Erin DiFazio, program director for SAHP.

Historic Preservation Easements

Through historical preservation easements—modeled on conservation easements used to conserve open land—SAHP can permanently protect the historic buildings residents and visitors know and love. The voluntary legal agreements between the property owner and SAHP don’t require any governmental approvals or zoning changes. With the easement agreement in place, the property owner can continue to occupy and utilize the building, sell, or bequeath it. Once the easement agreement is recorded in the official land records, it becomes part of the chain of title for a property, enabling the owner and SAHP to prohibit inappropriate alteration or demolition by future owners. Owners may also benefit from substantial tax benefits.

“Easements have been instrumental in saving the built heritage of character-rich places like Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina,” DiFazio says. “Sarasota attracts residents and tourists for its unique historic character and rich architectural heritage, as well as its beaches and the arts. Easements can protect Sarasota’s unique sense of place.” For more information, visit PreserveSrq.org/Easements.

Historic Loan Program and Technical Assistance

SAHP’s Historic Loan Program provides low-cost loans for home repairs and restoration, packaged with full-service technical assistance. The program offers affordable home repair loans for external renovation of properties that are 50 years or older. Eligible projects include roof repair and replacement, structural remediation, exterior painting and sealing, window repair and replacement and more.

“Flexible underwriting practices allow us to make loan funds available to homeowners who do not qualify for traditional bank lending, including retirees and those of low to moderate incomes,” says DiFazio. “Our loans are coupled with hands-on homeowner support to ensure affordable and quality repairs are completed in accordance with preservation standards. Funds are held in escrow and paid directly to a selected contractor, taking the burden off the homeowner to ensure that the work is done properly, on-budget, and on time.”

DiFazio adds that, for now, the loan program is focused on homeowners with properties in the Central Cocoanut and Newtown communities and that historic designation is not required for participation.

Funding

“This is an ambitious undertaking by the Alliance,” says Lorrie Muldowney, SAHP’s president. “These tools are commonly employed by nonprofits in other states, but we’re the first non-governmental entity in Sarasota County to do this. To fully capitalize the loan program and provide funding for program administration, SAHP needs to raise an additional $100,000 per year for the next four years. Once fully capitalized, the program is designed to be financially self-sustaining.”

Tom McArdle, SAHP’s treasurer, says that members of the SAHP board have kicked off the fundraising campaign by offering a $30,000 matching gift challenge. For every donation to SAHP’s Sarasota Preservation Program or its general preservation fund, the donation will be matched dollar for dollar.

“The board is optimistic that the community will see these programs’ benefits, and both use these tools to further preservation efforts in Sarasota County, and help SAHP to fully capitalize it,” McArdle says.