The Texas Legislature, in 2013, established a state tax credit for historic rehabilitation projects. It officially went into effect in January 2015 and has supported the historically appropriate renovation of hundreds of historic buildings statewide since then.
The State Historic Tax Credit program can return up to 25% of qualifying expenses to the property owner. The program is available to both for-profit and non-profit individuals and organizations. If the applicant has no use for a credit against one of the state taxes, they can transfer or sell the tax credit through the State Comptroller’s office. (Some private firms buy and sell tax credits for applicants who don’t want to do that themselves.)
To qualify for the tax credit program, a dance hall must be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places or already designated as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark or a State Antiquities Landmark. The minimum project cost is $5,000 and the tax credits can be taken over time on multiple projects for the same building.
For more information about the State Historic Tax Credit program, please visit the Texas Historical Commission’s website.
Bellville interior photo by Deb Fleming
Bellville furniture study by Stern and Bucek Architects