The Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program provides a tax credit to leverage the private redevelopment of historic buildings. The program is highly competitive and receives applications bi-annually in March and September.  With 27 rounds of funding complete, tax credits have been approved for over 500 projects to rehabilitate over nearly 800 historic buildings in over 72 different Ohio communities. The program is projected to leverage more than $6.8 billion in private development funding and federal tax credits directly through the rehabilitation projects.

The Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program provides a state tax credit up to 25% of qualified rehabilitation expenditures incurred during a rehabilitation project, up to $5 million. The tax credit can be applied to applicable financial institutions, foreign and domestic insurance premiums or individual income taxes. Projects certified on or before June 30, 2021, can apply the tax credit against applicable commercial activity taxes. Projects certified after this date will not be able to apply the tax credit in that way. Owners and long-term lessees of historically designated buildings who undertake a rehabilitation project may apply for the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit. A building must be individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places; contribute to a National Register Historic District, National Park Service Certified Historic District, or Certified Local Government historic district; or be listed as a local landmark by a Certified Local Government to be eligible. Properties that will be used as a single-family residence or multi-family residential condominiums are not eligible.

In December, 2021, the Ohio Department of Development awarded $36,177,724 in Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credits for the rehabilitation of 27 historic buildings. Together, the projects are expected to leverage approximately $478 million in private investments in 10 communities. These Round 27 Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit award winners include:

  • Kroger Bakery Complex (Columbus, Franklin)- Located north of downtown Columbus, The Kroger Bakery complex encompasses two buildings: the former Kroger baker and warehouse building and the historic Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant. Bakery operations ceased in the buildings in 2019 and the site has been vacant since. Rehabilitation plans include a large residential development in the existing buildings and in newly constructed apartments on site. The historic industrial nature of the buildings will be retained while all new systems and finishes will be added.
  • Agora Complex II (Cleveland, Cuyahoga)- Once part of WHK Radio’s studio complex, this project will rehabilitate vacant office spaces for commercial use and 35 market rate apartments. This project is a second phase of a larger project in Cleveland’s MidTown neighborhood.
  • Consolidated Fruit Auction Company Building (Cleveland, Cuyahoga)- Located on the Cuyahoga River across from Downtown Cleveland, this former fruit auction/warehouse building will be rehabilitated as the production facility, tasting bar, and restaurant associated with a whiskey distillery. This industrial area is largely vacant, but ripe for future redevelopment.
  • Landmark Tavern (Canton, Stark)- One of the oldest buildings in Canton, the Landmark Tavern was constructed in 1818 with numerous additions in the 19th and 20th centuries. Vacant for decades, the building will be rehabilitated to again serve the public as a bar and restaurant.
  • McKinley Park Apartments (Canton, Stark)- This project will rehabilitate an 11-story apartment building near downtown Canton that will again serve as affordable housing to seniors and residents with disabilities. Built in the 1960s, this building needs updated systems, elevators, and finishes as well as repair to its roof, windows, and concrete structure. Applicants are pairing historic tax credits with Low Income Housing Tax Credits.
  • Ohio Bell Headquarters (Cleveland, Cuyahoga)- Located in Cleveland’s newly designated Erieview Historic District, the former Ohio Bell Headquarters building is a large redevelopment project that will convert office space to residential and commercial space. Vacated by AT&T a couple of years ago, the building will house 368 one- and two-bedroom apartments and resident amenity spaces.
  • Philadelphia Rubber Works (Akron, Summit)- This building belongs to the B.F. Goodrich Company Historic District, a grouping of eight former industrial buildings tied to Akron’s tire manufacturing history. Other buildings in the district have been, or are in the process of, being redeveloped into a variety of uses. Once complete, the building will house 97 apartments and a commercial fitness center.
  • Overmyer Lofts (Toledo, Lucas)- This eight-story former paper supply company and wholesale grocery building in Toledo’s warehouse district will be rehabbed as 75 market-rate apartments with commercial space on the ground floor. Vacant since 2017, the project will install all new systems as well as a new historically compatible storefront that will replace a non-original storefront that was added previously.
  • Security Building (Fostoria, Seneca)- Built in 1911, the Security Building in downtown Fostoria was named for its reinforced concrete “fireproof” construction method. The building served a wide variety of commercial uses over the years, once featuring skating rink, but has been vacant since its last tenant moved out in 2017. After the rehabilitation project is complete, the building will house commercial spaces on the first floor, with a mix of business suites and apartments on the upper floors.
  • Toledo Heritage Village II (Toledo, Lucas)- Located in Toledo’s Vistula Historic District, this building was once home to an ice company until it was converted to apartments in the 1980s. Currently serving as affordable housing for families and seniors, the 23-unit building will continue to serve its residents after renovation. This project includes one building but is part of a larger project with more than 30 small residential buildings in total.
  • Quad Center, Muskingum University (New Concord, County)- The Quad Center, the student union at Muskingum University, will be rehabilitated to revitalize this underutilized facility and better serve the campus community. The project will add and improve ADA accessibility features and make other needed upgrades in the building. The north section will be rehabilitated for a student engagement and impact center with career counseling, job placement, video conference, and related offices while existing bookstore and dining operations will be rehabilitated for increased accessibility.
  • 20-22 Findlay Street (Cincinnati, Hamilton)- Located near Findlay Market in Over-the-Rhine, this building dates to approximately 1865 and still has its historic three-story privy, one of 10 remaining historic privies identified in the Over-the-Rhine Historic District. The building was historically mixed use with commercial and residential spaces but has been vacant for more than 10 years. After rehabilitation, the building will hold eight market-rate apartments.
  • 1214 Race Street (Cincinnati, Hamilton)- Built in the 1860s, this Over-the-Rhine building housed apartments until the 1980s. Most recently, it was home to a supportive housing group’s operations for 30 years but has been vacant for a few years. The rehabilitation will return it to its original residential use with seven units. The project will repair the historic storefront and retain historic interior features such as doors, trim, and mantels.
  • 1338-1340 Main (Cincinnati, Hamilton)- This project will rehabilitate an 1850s four-story Italianate building in Over-the-Rhine for commercial and residential use. Currently vacant, it will house 11 apartments on the upper floors with office space on the ground floor. Comprehensive work to the building will include all new systems, finishes, and fixtures while preserving what historical fabric remains.
  • 1401 Main (Cincinnati, Hamilton)- Also known as the Adeline Building this four-story brick building was constructed around 1900 with first floor commercial spaces and 12 apartments on the upper three floors. The historic storefront will be retained as well as other interior historic trim as the building is rehabilitated to again serve its historic use.
  • 1617-1619 Race Street (Cincinnati, Hamilton)- Located in Over-the-Rhine near Findlay Market, this project includes the rehabilitation of one historic building and new construction on an adjacent vacant lot. Once completed, the project will house 12 affordable apartments and commercial/retail spaces. The project will renew all of the building systems, roof, and windows while repairing historic features including a staircase, trim and refurbishing the historic storefront.
  • 1931 Freeman Ave (Cincinnati, Hamilton)- Located in Cincinnati’s Dayton Street Historic District, this 1880s building housed ground floor commercial spaces with apartments above. After more than 20 years of vacancy the building will return to its historic use. New systems will be installed, and historic cornice and storefront elements will be repaired and retained. This building is part of a larger project that includes 1935 Freeman Ave.
  • 1935 Freeman Ave (Cincinnati, Hamilton)- Located in Cincinnati’s Dayton Street Historic District, this 1880s building housed ground floor commercial spaces with apartments above. After more than 20 years of vacancy the building will return to its historic use. New systems will be installed, and historic cornice and storefront elements will be repaired and retained. This building is part of a larger project that includes 1931 Freeman Ave.
  • Barrister – 216 E. 9th St (Cincinnati, Hamilton)- Once a large printing business, this c. 1890 building in downtown Cincinnati will be rehabilitated as affordable apartments and ground floor office space. The rehabilitation work will replace building systems and retain historic windows and other historic elements. This building will be developed in conjunction with 214 E. 9th St. as part of a larger project.
  • Barrister – 214 E. 9th St (Cincinnati, Hamilton)- Built c.1885 as a shoe factory, the building had a variety of uses over the years before becoming vacant. This project includes a portion of a building in Cincinnati’s downtown that will be rehabilitated for affordable apartments on the upper floors with commercial spaces on the first floor. This building will be developed in conjunction with 216 E. 9th St. as part of a larger project.
  • Longfellow School (Dayton, Montgomery)- Located in Dayton’s Grafton Hill neighborhood, the former Longfellow School was constructed beginning in the 1880s with numerous additions. Vacant since 2017, the school complex will be rehabilitated into 54 senior apartments. A new building will be constructed on an adjacent lot that will hold an additional 72 units. Performance spaces in the school will be used by a local theater group. Original features of the school will be incorporated into the residential reuse such as pressed metal ceilings, terrazzo floors, and broad hallways.
  • Paramount Revitalization (Cincinnati, Hamilton)- The Paramount Revitalization project encompasses three historic buildings, and one new construction building in Cincinnati’s Walnut Hills neighborhood. Two of the historic buildings formerly had commercial uses while the third is a large apartment building. The new construction will be a four-story affordable apartment building on the site of a now-closed grocery store; the redevelopment is a result of extensive community collaboration. End uses identified include offices, gallery/maker space, and a restaurant.
  • Stearns & Foster Co. Office Building (Lockland, Hamilton)- Located in Lockland’s new historic district, this project is one of the last remaining buildings of the large factory complex that operated there for decades. After 20 years of vacancy, the building will again serve an office use for a construction company. This district in Lockland received a Pipeline Initiative grant to be nominated to the National Register. This is Lockland’s first project to apply for historic tax credits.
  • Traction Building (Cincinnati, Hamilton)- Designed by architect Daniel Burnham and constructed in 1903, the Traction Building once housed the offices of the Traction Company (streetcars) as well as other office and commercial tenants in its 15 stories. The building will be rehabilitated as hotel, restaurant, and event spaces. Historic elements remain on both the exterior and interior that will be repaired and retained during rehabilitation including terra cotta details, wood trim, and windows.

Applications for the state of Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit are received bi-annually in March and September. Applicants file an application with Development and applicable historic rehabilitation documentation with the State Historic Preservation Office. All applicants are required to schedule a pre-application meeting with the State Historic Preservation Office prior to application submission.

Round 28 Schedule: Spring 2022

  • SHPO Pre-App Meeting Request Deadline: January 31, 2022 by 5:00 p.m.
  • Intent to Apply and SHPO Pre-Application Meeting Deadline: February 15, 2022 by 5:00 p.m.
  • Historic Documentation (Part 1 and 2) Deadline: February 28, 2022 by 5:00 p.m.
  • Application/Fee Submission Deadline: March 31, 2022 by 5:00 p.m.
  • Application Review Period: April 1-June 1, 2022
  • Approved Applications Announced: On or before June 30, 2022

For more information on historic preservation based economic development contact Dave Robinson at [email protected].

About the author