Tax breaks for fixer-uppers are going to riverfront elite

[thelakelander]

By RON LITTLEPAGE, The Times-Union

Good ideas can go sour and people who have much usually get more.  Here are examples:

In 1992, Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment that gave local governments the authority to give property tax breaks to encourage the preservation of historic buildings.

Two years later, the Jacksonville City Council passed an ordinance putting that process in motion.

One of the ordinance's sponsors, Harry Reagan, recalls that the goal was "modest restoration and renovation" of houses in struggling historic neighborhoods like Springfield and Riverside.

Homeowners who qualified would be exempt from paying city property taxes on the value added to their homes by the renovations. The exemption would last for 10 years.

It was a good idea for helping to preserve Jacksonville's past and to restore older neighborhoods. But, my oh my, modest has become, in some cases, ridiculous.

According to records provided by the Duval County Property Appraiser's Office, 345 properties will qualify for historic rehabilitation exemptions for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.

The total value of those exemptions is $44.3 million. If that value were on the tax rolls, it would produce $375,000 in city property taxes next year, money that might just be useful, considering the current budget crunch.

Topping the list with the biggest single exemption for historic rehabilitation - $2.2 million - is San Jose Country Club. That's right, a private country club.

But that's not the only case where this deal has gone astray.

A four-bedroom, five-bath home with 5,000 square feet on the riverfront in Avondale is getting an exemption worth $618,000.

Another Avondale riverfront home - this one with six bedrooms and five baths and 8,000 square feet - has a $583,000 exemption.

And yet another Avondale home on the river - with similar dimensions - carries an exempt value of $582,000.

I'm just taking a wild guess here that the owners of these historic Avondale homes weren't going to let them deteriorate and fall into the river if the tax breaks hadn't been there.

And these aren't the only examples of the owners of valuable riverfront homes bellying up to the bar for tax savings.

A riverfront home in Ortega, for example, is getting a $508,000 exemption.

Reagan said he "winced" when he began hearing about such tax breaks.

"I don't think that's what we had in mind," he said.

Reagan suggested that the current City Council might want to consider new legislation that would cap how much the exemptions can be.

Good idea.

That might get the original good idea back on track.

By the way, the biggest winner, according to the Property Appraiser records, is Vestcor, the owner of The Carling and 11 E. Forsyth.

The just value for both downtown apartment buildings: $24.7 million. The total exemptions for all of the apartments: $18.4 million.

ron.littlepage@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4284

full article: http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/081607/opl_191702648.shtml

[Noone]

So what are the statistics 4 years later in 2011?
The Promised 680' Downtown Public Pier?
Pocket Parks, Pocket Piers?

[Noone]

So what are the statistics 4 years later in 2011 and the expansion of the zones?
Littlepage article 4 years ago.
Shipyards/Landmar? 2010-604
The Promised 680' Downtown Public Pier 2010-604?
2010-675- One Finance amendment.
Palms Creek Fish Camp- Who gets the promotion? Who gets fired.
New administration and new city council. Somebody was asking 4 years ago.

[Noone]

Has everyone in the transition team been made aware of Littlepage's column from 4 years ago? He nails it.

Also in less than 24 hours in Rules 2011-167 and 2011-197 and legislation that was a recommendation of the Charter Revision Commission to restore Ethics to our city charter. Jim Rinamon was a special guest speaker at the last committee meeting. Noticeably absent at the last two committee meetings was councilwoman Lee.

Huge opportunity to restore the Public Trust to our city charter.

[Noone]

This can't be ignored for another 4 years?

Rules meeting in less than 4 hours. Restoring Ethics back to our city charter. Anyone going?

[Noone]

How is this being adressed in the budget meetings? 

[Captain Zissou]

So what are the statistics 4 years later in 2011?
The Promised 680' Downtown Public Pier?
Pocket Parks, Pocket Piers?

Noone, I'm one of your biggest fans, but you're borderline becoming a troll for the sake of promoting your causes.

[JeffreyS]

More of an issue bomber.

[Shwaz]

If tax breaks are created for housing rehabilitation in a historic district why wouldn't all the homes qualify? It's not like it's only wealthy homeowners are doing these renovations... there were 345 properties altogether included in the program. At the end of the day the program is benefiting homes in the area from top to bottom which is good for the neighborhood as a whole.

[vicupstate]

i think everyone agrees that all properties should qualify, but PERHAPS a dollar amount limitation is a good idea, given the city's budget.

Personally, I would not take the chance that fewer renovations would be done.  Vestcor probably would not have done their projects without the tax reduction.  Even with them, they have struggled in recent years with those.    

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Or if they were limited to doing 'period restoration' instead of adding pools, guest homes, Stainless everything....

It's very costly to re-create period work, so the $ limits may not be feasible, but they should have been more aware/concerned with the type of work being performed.  Remodeling is not restoration.

[Debbie Thompson]

Everyone who applies for the exemption must sign a covenent agreeing to maintain the architectural integrity of the house and make no alterations without approval.  Here's the link. Click on Covenant Form to see the whole thing.  You get a break based on the difference of the value of the house when you begin the restoration and when complete.  That said, I was told it could come back and bite you because the value of the house resets when the tax break expires instead of the 3% yearly cap.  I don't know if that's true or not.  I didn't look into it when we bought and rehabbed our house, and I guess I should have.

http://www.coj.net/Departments/Planning-and-Development/Community-Planning-Division/Default/Incentives.aspx

[Noone]

So what are the statistics 4 years later in 2011?
The Promised 680' Downtown Public Pier?
Pocket Parks, Pocket Piers?

Noone, I'm one of your biggest fans, but you're borderline becoming a troll for the sake of promoting your causes.

Capt. I'm one of your biggest fans. I've got my inner tube and we need to do Hogans Creek real soon. You need to lead the way for maritime history by tubing into the St. Johns River our American Heritage River.

We can discuss my troll status as were sucking down a cold one underneath the Bay St. Bridge. PeeJayess, we are incorporating the urban transition area into this outing so I hope your butt will share in this experience. LOL. I'm kidding with you and do look forward to seeing you again.

The posts and thoughts and suggestions that are now being discussed are important. It needs to happen.

So Capt. Lets Make it Happen. We won't be drinking tea. 

[Noone]

By RON LITTLEPAGE, The Times-Union

Good ideas can go sour and people who have much usually get more.  Here are examples:

In 1992, Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment that gave local governments the authority to give property tax breaks to encourage the preservation of historic buildings.

Two years later, the Jacksonville City Council passed an ordinance putting that process in motion.

One of the ordinance's sponsors, Harry Reagan, recalls that the goal was "modest restoration and renovation" of houses in struggling historic neighborhoods like Springfield and Riverside.

Homeowners who qualified would be exempt from paying city property taxes on the value added to their homes by the renovations. The exemption would last for 10 years.

It was a good idea for helping to preserve Jacksonville's past and to restore older neighborhoods. But, my oh my, modest has become, in some cases, ridiculous.

According to records provided by the Duval County Property Appraiser's Office, 345 properties will qualify for historic rehabilitation exemptions for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.

The total value of those exemptions is $44.3 million. If that value were on the tax rolls, it would produce $375,000 in city property taxes next year, money that might just be useful, considering the current budget crunch.

Topping the list with the biggest single exemption for historic rehabilitation - $2.2 million - is San Jose Country Club. That's right, a private country club.

But that's not the only case where this deal has gone astray.

A four-bedroom, five-bath home with 5,000 square feet on the riverfront in Avondale is getting an exemption worth $618,000.

Another Avondale riverfront home - this one with six bedrooms and five baths and 8,000 square feet - has a $583,000 exemption.

And yet another Avondale home on the river - with similar dimensions - carries an exempt value of $582,000.

I'm just taking a wild guess here that the owners of these historic Avondale homes weren't going to let them deteriorate and fall into the river if the tax breaks hadn't been there.

And these aren't the only examples of the owners of valuable riverfront homes bellying up to the bar for tax savings.

A riverfront home in Ortega, for example, is getting a $508,000 exemption.

Reagan said he "winced" when he began hearing about such tax breaks.

"I don't think that's what we had in mind," he said.

Reagan suggested that the current City Council might want to consider new legislation that would cap how much the exemptions can be.

Good idea.

That might get the original good idea back on track.

By the way, the biggest winner, according to the Property Appraiser records, is Vestcor, the owner of The Carling and 11 E. Forsyth.

The just value for both downtown apartment buildings: $24.7 million. The total exemptions for all of the apartments: $18.4 million.

ron.littlepage@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4284

full article: http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/081607/opl_191702648.shtml

What are the stats 4 years later? Has anyone on the transition team looked into this? How is a resale treated?

[Noone]

Kay, Anyone, John Gorrie school how is this addressed in the property appraisers office. Is the transition team looking at this program.

What are the stats 4 years later?