Annual Report on the Economic 

Impact of the Federal Historic Tax 

Credit for Fiscal Year 2019

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Technical Preservation Services
A Message from the National Park Service

Beyond the National Park System, the National Park Service (NPS) through its Cultural 

Resources, Partnerships, and Science programs is part of a national preservation 

partnership working to promote the preservation of historic resources in communities 

small and large throughout the country. For the past 42 years the NPS, in partnership with the State 

Historic Preservation Offices, has administered the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives Program. 

The program provides a 20% Federal tax credit to property owners who undertake a substantial rehabilitation 

of a historic building in a business or income-producing use while maintaining its historic character. 

Commonly referred to as the Historic Tax Credit (HTC), the HTC is designed to not only preserve and rehabilitate

historic buildings, but to also promote the economic revitalization of older communities in the nation’s cities and

towns, along Main Streets, and in rural areas. Since the program’s inception in 1976, the NPS has certified the

rehabilitation of more than 45,000 historic properties throughout the United States, with the HTC leveraging over

$173.7 billion in private investment in historic rehabilitation and generating over 2.8 million jobs.

In Fiscal Year (FY) 2019, 1,042 completed historic rehabilitation projects were certified by the NPS, 

representing $5.77 billion in estimated rehabilitation costs that qualify for the 20% Federal tax credit. 

(Another 1,317 proposed projects were also approved in FY 2019.) Many of these projects involved buildings 

that were abandoned or underutilized and in need of substantial rehabilitation to return them to, or for 

their continued, economic viability. The HTC program is also an important tool in helping to revitalize older, 

economically depressed communities. Based on project information provided by the NPS, PolicyMap data 

indicates that 47% of the certified rehabilitation projects in FY 2019 were located in low- and moderate-income 

census tracks and 74% were located in economically distressed areas.

A common misconception about the HTC program is that it only supports large projects and projects in 

large cities. Almost half (49%) of all projects in FY 2019 were under $1 million, and 17% were under $250,000. 

PolicyMap data shows that 26% of all certified rehabilitation projects in FY 2019 were located in communities 

with under 50,000 in population and 16% in communities with under 25,000 in population. 

The NPS issues annual reports on the HTC program quantifying the number of historic rehabilitations certified 

each year, their reported costs, and other statistical information on the program. The annual report is available 

on the NPS Technical Preservation Services website at http://www.nps.gov/tps/tax-incentives.htm, along with 

information on the HTC program in general.

For FY 2019, the NPS also turned to the Rutgers University Center for Urban Policy Research, through a 

cooperative agreement, to undertake a report on the economic impacts of the HTC for the fiscal year ending 

September 30, 2019. This report highlights its main findings. An economic model originally developed by the 

Center under a series of grants from the NPS was utilized in the preparation of this report. The economic 

model was utilized by the Center for their eight prior reports on the Federal HTC, as well as for a number of 

other economic reports for state governments and others. 

As the Center’s report identifies, the level and breadth of the positive economic impacts resulting from the 

Federal HTCs in FY 2019 are quite significant. The report also includes information on the cumulative economic 

impact of the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives Program for the past 42 years, starting in 1977–78 

with the first completed rehabilitation project to be certified by the NPS under the program. Lastly, the report 

includes four case studies of HTC projects certified in FY 2019. The program remains the Federal government’s 

largest and most effective program supporting historic preservation and community revitalization. 

Technical Preservation Services, National Park Service 

October 2020

This report cost $38,889.76 to prepare.
Overview of the Rutgers Economic Analysis

The Federal Historic Tax Credit (HTC) is a Federal income tax credit that promotes the rehabilitation of income-producing 

historic properties. This study examines the economic impacts of the HTC (a 20% credit since 1986) by analyzing the 

economic consequences of the projects it supports. This analysis focuses on the economic effects of these projects 

during construction, quantifying the total economic impacts (i.e., direct as well as multiplier, or secondary, economic 

consequences) for the Fiscal Year 2019, beginning October 1, 2018, and ending September 30, 2019, and for the period 

since the program’s inception (beginning in FY 1978, with the certification of the first completed rehabilitation project 

under the program). The study utilizes the Preservation Economic Impact Model (PEIM), a comprehensive economic model 

development by Rutgers University Center for Urban Policy Research for the National Park Service.

The current analysis applies the PEIM to both cumulative (FY 1978 through FY 2019) HTC-related historic rehabilitation 

investment (about $173.7 billion in inflation-adjusted 2019 dollars) and single-year (FY 2019) HTC-related rehabilitation 

investment (about $6.4 billion). It considers the effects of the cumulative $173.7 billion rehabilitation investment as if it 

applied to one year (2019), rather than backdating the PEIM for each of the 42 years in the study period. It also considers 

the full rehabilitation investment associated with the HTC (e.g., $6.4 billion in FY 2019), and not the somewhat lower 

amount reported by the National Park Service based on estimated qualified rehabilitation costs indicated by property 

owners requesting certification of rehabilitation for purposes of the tax credit (e.g., $5.8 billion in FY 2019).1

 PEIM results include many fields of data. The fields most relevant to this study include:

JOBS Employment, both part- and full-time, by place of work, estimated using the typical job 

INCOME “Earned” or labor income; specifically, wages, salaries, and proprietor income.

WEALTH Value-added—the sub-national equivalent of gross domestic product (GDP). 

OUTPUT The value of shipments, as reported in the Economic Census.

TAXES T ax revenues generated by the activity, which include taxes to the Federal government 

and to state and local governments.

1 The HTC has a multi-step application process, encompassing Part 1 (evaluation of the historic significance of the property), Part 

2 (description of the proposed rehabilitation work), and Part 3 (request for certification of completed work). Both Part 2 and 

Part 3 rehabilitation statistics include only costs considered “eligible” or “qualified” for the tax credit under the Internal Revenue 

Code (Qualified Rehabilitation Expenditures, or QREs), as opposed to “ineligible” or “nonqualified” costs. While the ineligible/

nonqualified expenses do not count for tax credit purposes, they are a component of the total rehabilitation investment or 

cost borne by the HTC property owner. In practical terms, the total rehabilitation investment, including ineligible/nonqualified 

costs, helps prime the economic pump. For example, in FY 2019, the Part 3 certified investment amounted (Part 3 estimated 

rehabilitation costs (QRE)) to about $5.8 billion, while the total rehabilitation outlay associated with the HTC was an estimated 

$6.4 billion.

Executive Summary

St. Rose de Lima Church Complex, New Orleans, Louisiana, 

School exterior detail

Annual Report on the Economic Impact of the Federal Historic Tax Credit for Fiscal Year 2019 1
National Economic Impacts

The following table summarizes the impacts of the HTC in inflation-adjusted 2019 dollars for each of these economic 

measures for the cumulative period FY 1978–2019 and for FY 2019. 

National Total Impacts 

2019 $ billion

$173.7 billion 

CUMULATIVE (FY 1978–2019)

historic rehabilitation 

expenditures results in:

2

 

$6.4 billion 

ANNUAL FY 2019 

historic rehabilitation 

expenditures results in:

Jobs (person-years, in thousands) 2,786 109

Income ($ billion) $138.5 $4.6

Output ($ billion) 377.8 12.1

GDP ($ billion) 188.2 6.2

Taxes ($ billion) 53.7 1.6

 Federal ($ billion) 38.1 1.1

 State ($ billion) 7.7 0.3

 Local ($ billion) 7.9 0.3

FEDERAL HTC-ASSISTED REHABILITATION

The benefits of investment in HTC-related historic rehabilitation projects are extensive, increasing payrolls and 

production in nearly all sectors of the nation’s economy. The cumulative effects for the period of FY 1978 through 

FY 2019 are illustrative. During that period, $173.7 billion in HTC-related rehabilitation investment created 2,786,000 jobs 

and $188.2 billion in GDP, about 31% of which (850,000 jobs and $55.6 billion in GDP) was in the construction sector. This is 

as one would expect, given the share of such projects that require the employment of building contractors and trades. Other 

major beneficiaries were the service sector (505,000 jobs, $25.0 billion in GDP), the manufacturing sector (585,000 jobs, 

$49.7 billion in GDP), and the retail trade sector (397,000 jobs, $13.4 billion in GDP). As a result of both direct and multiplier 

effects, and due to the interconnectedness of the national economy, sectors not immediately associated with historic 

rehabilitation, such as agriculture, mining, transportation, and public utilities, benefit as well. (see Exhibit 3.2). 

The most recent economic benefits of the federal HTC are also most impressive. In FY 2019, HTC-related investments generated 

approximately 109,000 jobs, including 39,000 in construction and 25,000 in manufacturing, and were responsible for $6.2 

billion in GDP, including $2.0 billion in construction and $1.7 billion in manufacturing. HTC-related activity in FY 2019 generated 

$4.6 billion in income, with construction ($1.7 billion) and manufacturing ($1.1 billion) reaping major shares. (See Exhibit 3.1)

2 Changes in the official annual reported rates of inflation caused the Rutgers research team to make various changes in the 

calculations concerning the economic impacts of the impacts of the HTC over time. The changes are particularly notable over the 

past few years when job counts ensuing from the HTC had to be adjusted.

Robinson Grand Theater, Clarksburg, West Virginia 

Photo: Joe McNemar Photographer, Stonewood, West Virginia

2 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE | RUTGERS UNIVERSITY
Fiscal Year 2019 Highlights

$6.4 billion

Total in rehabilitation investment.

2019 POSITIVE IMPACTS 

on the national economy: 

$12.1 billion in output, 

$6.2 billion in GDP, 

$4.6 billion in income, and 

$1.6 billion in taxes, including

$1.1 billion in Federal tax receipts.

109,000 

New jobs created and billions

of dollars in total (direct and 

secondary) economic gains.

47% Projects in low- and moderateincome census tracts.*

74% Projects in economically

distressed areas.*

26% Projects in communities of

less than 50,000 people.*

Projects by Community Size (Population)*

Less than 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 249,999

250,000 to 500,000

Over 500,000

Fiscal Year 1978 — Fiscal Year 2019 

Cumulative HTC Impacts

CUMULATIVE POSITIVE IMPACTS

on the national economy: 

$377.8 billion in output, 

$188.2 billion in GDP, 

$138.5 billion in income, and 

$53.7 billion in taxes, including 

$38.1 billion in Federal tax receipts.

An inflation-adjusted (2019 dollars) $32.9 billion HTC 

cost encouraged a five times greater amount of historic 

rehabilitation, $173.7 billion.

2.8 million

New jobs created and billions 

of dollars in total (direct and 

secondary) economic gains.

These leverage and multiplier 

effects support the economic 

argument that the Federal HTC is a 

strategic investment that works.

* Courtesy of PolicyMap (Estimated Population, 2014–2018. United States Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates. New 

Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) Eligibility Status for 2019 using 2011–2015 eligibility data. United States Department of the Treasury, CDFI Fund).

$173.7 billion 

in cumulative rehabilitation investment.

Annual Report on the Economic Impact of the Federal Historic Tax Credit for Fiscal Year 2019 3
The HTC National and State Economic Impacts

A breakdown by state of the national economic benefits, both for FY 2019 and cumulatively for the last five fiscal years 

(FY 2015–2019), shows the benefits of the program on the national economy. (See Exhibits 2.1 and 2.2) 

HTC-related historic rehabilitation benefits state economies as well as the national economy. For example, in Pennsylvania 

in FY 2019, Federal HTC-related rehabilitation activity totaled about $649.2 million. The national impacts of that 

investment included 10,552 jobs, an additional $1,265.9 million in output, $471.3 million in income, $624.7 million in 

GDP, $114.3. million in Federal taxes, and $154.3 million in total taxes. In Pennsylvania alone, the same $649.2 million in 

HTC-related spending resulted in 5,823 jobs, $649.1 million in output, $288.3 million in income, $348.6 million in gross 

state product (GSP), and $77.5 million in total taxes.

HTC Impacts Compared with those of Non-Preservation Investments 

How does HTC-related historic rehabilitation perform as an economic pump-primer compared with other, 

non-preservation investments? In short, quite well. Numerous studies conducted by Rutgers University have shown 

that in many parts of the country, a $1 million investment in historic rehabilitation yields markedly better effects on employment, 

income, GDP, and state and local taxes than an equal investment in new construction or many other economic activities 

(e.g., manufacturing or services). These findings demonstrate that historic rehabilitation, combined holistically with the many 

activities of the broader economy, delivers a commendably strong “bang for the buck.” 

The Cost of the HTC

The HTC is a tax expenditure and has a public cost. In the simplest terms, the Federal cost of the HTC is equal to the credit 

percent (20% since 1986) applied to the Part 3 (“qualified for tax credit”) estimated investment. Applying that calculation, the 

federal HTC costs the U.S. Treasury approximately $32.9 billion (in inflation-adjusted 2019 dollars) over the period of FY 1978 

through FY 2019, while the cost for projects certified by the National Park Service in FY 2019 alone was about $1.154 billion. 

Weighing against these costs are the significant economic impacts (i.e., jobs, income, GDP, and output) and tax revenue (Federal, 

state, and local) generated by HTC-aided rehabilitations and documented in this study. An important finding is that the HTC 

yields a net benefit to the U.S. Treasury, generating $38.1 billion in federal tax receipts over the life of the program, compared 

with $32.9 billion in credits allocated. (See Exhibit 1)

St. Rose de Lima Church Complex, New Orleans, Louisiana, Theater Interior

3 See footnote 1, on page 1.

4 These estimates are based on the full utilization of the credits in cases of certified rehabilitations. For various reasons, 

not all completed projects certified by the National Park Service may ultimately utilize the credit. Their economic impact, 

nevertheless, remains.

4 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE | RUTGERS UNIVERSITY
FY 1978–2019

Investment/Tax Credit Component a Nominal $ d Real $ e

Total Annual Average Total Annual Average

Approved proposed (for tax credit) 

rehabilitation (Part 2)

$125.3 $2.98 $207.3 $4.94

Certified (for tax credit) 

rehabilitation (Part 3)

$92.1 $2.19 $156.4 $3.72

b Total rehabilitation cost $102.3 $2.44 $173.7 $4.14

Federal tax credit c $18.9 $0.45 $32.9 $0.78

Dollar amounts are expressed in billions

Economic Impacts 

(See Exhibit 3.2 for details)

FY 1978–2019

Total Annual Average

Jobs (in thousands) 2,786 66

Income $138.5 $3.30

Gross Domestic Product $188.2 $4.48

Output $377.8 $9.00

Taxes-All Government $53.7 $1.28

Taxes-Federal Government $38.1 $0.91

Taxes-State Government $7.7 $0.18

Taxes-Local Government $7.9 $0.19

Exhibit 1 Summary of Federal Historic Tax Credit Statistics 

 Dollar amounts are expressed in billions

SOURCES: Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Technical Preservation Services; National Council of State Historic Preservation Officers; 

and calculations by Rutgers University.

Technical Background: The HTC has a multi-step application process encompassing Part 1 (evaluation of the historic significance of 

the property), Part 2 (description of the rehabilitation work), and Part 3 (request of certification of completed work). With respect to the 

HTC’s dollar magnitude, the most complete data is for the approved proposed (for tax credit) rehabilitation investment (Part 2). We do 

not have as good data on the year-by-year certified (for tax credit) rehabilitation (Part 3) volume over the full FY 1978-2019 period. (Only 

a portion of the Part 2 rehabilitation is ultimately certified as Part 3.) Further, we do not have specific data on the total rehabilitation 

investment associated with the HTC. By way of background, both Part 2 and Part 3 rehabilitation statistics include only what are termed 

“eligible” or “qualified” items (or Qualified Rehabilitation Expenditures—QRE) for the tax credit as opposed to what are called “ineligible” 

or “non-qualified” costs. Examples of “eligible”/”qualified” items include outlays for renovation (walls, floors, and ceilings, etc.) 

construction-period interest and taxes, and architect fees; examples of “ineligible”/”non-qualified” costs include landscaping, financing 

and leasing fees, and various other outlays (e.g., for fencing, paving, sidewalks and parking lots). While the “ineligible”/”non-qualified” 

expenses do not count for tax credit purposes, they are practically a component of the total rehabilitation investment borne by the HTCoriented developer and in fact, the total rehabilitation investment (including “ineligible”/”non-qualified” costs) help pump-prime the 

economy. Based on the best published data and through additional case studies conducted specifically for the purposes of the current 

investigation, Rutgers University estimates some of the “missing information” noted above regarding the cumulative HTC investment over 

FY 1978–2019.a

a Data estimated from best available information.

b Equals all rehabilitation outlays—both “eligible”/”qualified” expenses and “ineligible”/”non-qualified” costs. The total rehabilitation

c Assumes a 25% HTC in FY 1978–FY 1986 and a 20% HTC in FY 1987–FY 2019. These percents are applied to the certified

d In indicated year dollars—not adjusted for inflation.

e

 In inflation-adjusted 2019 dollars.

Annual Report on the Economic Impact of the Federal Historic Tax Credit for Fiscal Year 2019 5
SOURCE: Technical Preservation Services, National Park Service. Calculations by Rutgers University.

Exhibit 2.1 Fiscal Year 2019

National Economic and Tax Impacts of Federal HTC-Related Investment by State

National Economic Impacts

(in 2019 $ millions)

State

Total 

Rehabilitation

Costs

(in 2019 $ millions)

Employment 

(Jobs) Income GDP Output

Tax Impacts

(in 2019 $ millions)

Local State Federal Total

Alabama $13.6 251 $8.6 $16.2 $22.3 $0.2 $0.4 $2.1 $2.7

Alaska 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Arizona 2.7 47 1.6 2.1 5.2 2.6 1.7 0.5 4.7

Arkansas 31.2 646 21.7 32.4 57.7 0.6 1.1 5.2 7.0

California 229.0 3,415 166.0 216.8 448.0 5.8 9.2 42.1 57.1

Colorado 26.6 1,707 18.8 26.0 50.1 0.7 0.9 4.4 6.0

Connecticut 14.5 208 10.1 14.1 26.6 0.8 0.6 2.3 3.7

Delaware 10.7 169 7.5 10.3 19.9 0.5 0.5 1.7 2.7

District of Columbia 29.5 428 19.9 26.9 51.9 2.0 0.8 4.0 6.8

Florida 27.7 484 19.6 26.5 51.9 1.4 0.9 4.7 7.0

Georgia 107.1 2,116 74.4 109.3 196.2 5.1 4.9 18.1 28.1

Hawaii 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Idaho 1.4 27 1.0 1.4 2.6 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.3

Illinois 57.1 843 41.6 53.7 111.6 1.8 1.6 10.0 13.5

Indiana 71.9 1,259 51.3 69.1 137.1 23.7 15.8 12.2 51.7

Iowa 107.8 1,947 73.0 108.9 189.6 3.6 3.2 16.9 23.7

Kansas 42.6 774 29.8 41.3 79.0 10.1 7.0 6.9 23.9

Kentucky 67.8 1,297 46.9 66.3 124.1 6.8 5.4 10.8 23.0

Louisiana 323.5 5,715 230.6 302.1 612.8 11.3 11.8 53.1 76.1

Maine 25.6 389 15.1 22.6 49.1 1.2 1.1 4.1 6.3

Maryland 57.4 886 40.3 54.2 106.4 1.9 1.7 9.2 12.7

Massachusetts 247.9 3,221 173.9 233.4 461.6 6.6 8.0 40.0 54.6

Michigan 339.8 5,399 240.7 322.5 641.0 10.1 12.2 56.1 78.4

Minnesota 132.7 2,089 93.2 125.5 247.8 4.7 5.3 21.4 31.3

Mississippi 16.8 350 11.7 16.6 30.9 1.3 1.0 2.7 5.0

Missouri 412.9 7,074 294.5 390.1 785.0 11.4 13.0 68.4 92.8

Montana 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Nebraska 25.7 493 17.6 25.4 46.0 5.3 3.6 4.0 12.9

Nevada 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

New Hampshire 68.9 1,058 48.0 66.8 127.6 2.7 1.0 11.0 14.6

New Jersey 121.8 1,749 86.4 113.7 231.4 2.4 3.6 19.9 25.9

New Mexico 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

New York 577.9 9,561 411.8 550.0 1,087.5 37.5 31.7 99.3 168.5

North Carolina 423.6 7,935 298.4 424.3 793.5 10.2 14.8 72.5 97.5

North Dakota 0.2 4 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Ohio 578.8 10,398 412.2 570.3 1,099.2 25.1 21.2 100.4 146.7

Oklahoma 84.8 1,673 60.4 84.8 162.0 2.0 2.9 14.6 19.5

Oregon 152.6 2,699 110.8 145.2 297.0 4.0 5.3 26.6 35.9

Pennsylvania 649.2 10,552 471.3 624.7 1,265.9 21.6 18.4 114.3 154.3

Rhode Island 52.2 797 35.6 53.5 94.0 1.9 1.7 8.2 11.7

South Carolina 169.8 3,174 117.8 172.2 310.3 4.9 5.5 28.2 38.5

South Dakota 1.9 38 1.3 1.7 3.5 0.1 0.0 0.3 0.4

Tennessee 58.1 1,028 40.8 56.4 108.3 1.6 1.2 9.5 12.4

Texas 288.4 4,660 209.0 273.3 564.9 10.0 5.7 51.5 67.2

Utah 2.2 41 1.6 2.2 4.1 0.1 0.1 0.4 0.5

Vermont 17.0 302 12.3 16.2 32.7 0.0 0.8 2.8 4.3

Virginia 335.9 5,653 240.4 324.9 640.0 8.7 11.3 57.5 77.5

Washington 124.0 1,987 88.9 120.5 238.3 5.7 4.5 21.4 31.6

West Virginia 28.9 553 20.0 29.0 52.7 0.9 1.0 4.6 6.5

Wisconsin 251.2 4,372 178.0 244.7 472.0 8.9 10.1 42.4 61.4

Wyoming 0.5 11 0.4 0.5 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.2

Totals $6,411.4 109,478 $4,554.7 $6,188.6 $12,140.7 $267.4 $252.6 $1,086.4 $1,607.2

6 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE | RUTGERS UNIVERSITY
SOURCE: Technical Preservation Services, National Park Service. Calculations by Rutgers University.

Exhibit 2.2 Cumulative Fiscal Years 2015–2019 

National Economic and Tax Impacts of Federal HTC-Related Investment by State 

National Economic Impacts

(in 2019 $ millions)

State

Total 

Rehabilitation 

Costs

(in 2019 $ millions)

Tax Impacts

(in 2019 $ millions) Employment 

(Jobs) Income GDP Output Local State Federal Total

Alabama $261.4 4,554 $165.7 $311.7 $428.9 $435.7 $648.9 $3,747.1 $4,831.6

Alaska 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Arizona 120.0 1,940 71.0 91.5 230.9 2,435.4 1,572.7 429.9 4,437.9

Arkansas 207.5 4,088 144.3 215.6 383.7 278.7 508.7 2,352.6 3,139.9

California 827.1 11,672 599.6 783.0 1,618.2 6,478.5 10,359.3 47,159.9 63,997.7

Colorado 146.1 8,710 102.9 142.9 275.0 2,227.9 2,837.3 14,581.4 19,646.7

Connecticut 557.5 7,376 388.2 539.5 1,019.7 6,208.3 5,264.3 18,895.1 30,367.6

Delaware 55.4 826 39.2 53.5 103.5 24.9 26.1 85.2 136.3

District of Columbia 534.8 7,431 360.6 487.6 941.5 2,164.6 868.2 4,399.4 7,432.1

Florida 140.1 2,280 99.0 134.1 262.2 2,988.3 1,806.1 9,749.5 14,544.0

Georgia 451.1 8,532 313.1 460.5 825.9 2,433.6 2,362.6 8,727.8 13,524.0

Hawaii 7.8 106 5.3 7.4 13.6 39.1 46.2 169.6 254.9

Idaho 14.7 262 9.9 14.2 26.3 0.3 0.3 2.2 2.9

Illinois 1,347.9 18,518 981.3 1,266.5 2,632.5 7,389.9 6,707.9 40,841.7 54,939.7

Indiana 343.8 5,670 245.6 330.6 656.1 34,883.9 23,243.6 17,994.7 76,122.1

Iowa 873.0 14,851 591.1 882.3 1,535.7 4,249.3 3,780.8 19,905.1 27,935.1

Kansas 291.9 4,984 204.1 282.8 541.1 9,553.4 6,646.3 6,513.9 22,713.5

Kentucky 419.4 7,553 290.4 410.1 767.9 4,283.9 3,411.8 6,827.2 14,523.1

Louisiana 1,738.0 28,916 1,238.8 1,622.9 3,292.1 10,268.3 10,696.5 48,286.1 69,250.9

Maine 252.9 3,569 148.7 223.3 484.9 2,779.1 2,583.2 9,701.4 15,063.5

Maryland 601.2 8,685 422.3 567.8 1,115.6 1,970.9 1,783.2 9,724.1 13,478.0

Massachusetts 1,812.9 22,119 1,272.1 1,706.7 3,375.7 9,062.6 10,934.0 54,824.2 74,820.8

Michigan 1,290.8 19,434 914.3 1,224.9 2,434.8 9,710.7 11,808.8 54,116.9 75,636.5

Minnesota 1,161.7 17,028 815.7 1,098.8 2,169.6 9,073.2 10,264.3 41,665.4 61,002.7

Mississippi 101.2 1,981 70.5 100.0 186.4 1,783.1 1,420.6 3,813.4 7,017.3

Missouri 1,791.7 33,236 1,470.5 1,948.0 3,920.0 6,501.2 7,436.3 38,982.1 52,919.4

Montana 16.7 295 11.7 16.4 30.7 14.5 13.4 61.0 88.9

Nebraska 218.9 3,918 149.6 216.3 391.6 10,252.7 7,005.3 7,682.1 24,940.1

Nevada 1.4 19 1.0 1.3 2.6 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.3

New Hampshire 91.0 1,365 63.3 88.1 168.4 776.2 276.0 3,168.4 4,220.6

New Jersey 680.9 9,093 483.1 635.7 1,293.3 728.2 1,097.4 6,074.5 7,900.2

New Mexico 12.8 231 9.1 12.5 24.3 294.1 290.4 1,122.9 1,707.3

New York 4,346.0 67,578 3,096.7 4,136.0 8,178.1 43,497.6 36,853.9 115,380.2 195,731.8

North Carolina 1,279.3 22,668 901.2 1,281.4 2,396.5 3,886.7 5,621.5 27,502.2 37,010.4

North Dakota 25.9 429 18.1 24.1 47.9 446.0 346.5 1,941.7 2,734.3

Ohio 2,804.3 47,807 1,996.8 2,763.0 5,325.3 21,181.2 17,846.3 84,611.9 123,639.5

Oklahoma 420.4 7,755 299.4 420.2 802.9 2,135.0 3,083.2 15,215.4 20,433.6

Oregon 284.8 4,850 206.8 271.0 554.3 1,721.2 2,319.4 11,537.2 15,577.7

Pennsylvania 2,043.6 31,740 1,483.6 1,966.6 3,985.0 10,265.1 8,705.2 54,224.4 73,194.8

Rhode Island 532.9 7,671 363.4 545.6 958.6 3,171.9 2,773.8 13,701.5 19,647.3

South Carolina 302.5 8,390 326.4 477.1 859.7 947.9 1,062.2 5,501.1 7,511.0

South Dakota 14.5 234 8.7 11.2 23.0 138.7 80.9 645.0 864.6

Tennessee 498.3 8,486 349.4 483.3 928.7 1,084.9 823.5 6,267.4 8,175.8

Texas 1,346.0 20,861 975.0 1,275.2 2,636.3 1,381.6 793.7 7,139.5 9,314.8

Utah 24.4 424 17.2 24.1 45.5 27.0 34.1 168.8 230.0

Vermont 99.1 1,632 71.7 94.1 190.2 1,818.8 2,293.0 7,569.8 11,682.2

Virginia 1,923.1 30,482 1,376.3 1,860.1 3,664.5 12,485.8 16,184.5 82,521.3 111,191.5

Washington 360.3 5,463 258.4 350.1 692.4 1,167.3 914.1 4,364.2 6,445.4

West Virginia 78.7 1,442 54.6 79.1 143.8 253.4 292.4 1,343.3 1,889.3

Wisconsin 732.8 12,210 519.3 713.9 1,377.0 1,725.4 1,969.5 8,249.1 11,944.2

Wyoming 3.3 67 2.5 3.6 6.7 0.2 0.1 0.7 1.1

Totals $33,491.8 539,429 $24,007.3 $32,656.0 $63,969.1 $256,625.8 $237,698.4 $929,489.5 $1,423,815.0

Annual Report on the Economic Impact of the Federal Historic Tax Credit for Fiscal Year 2019 7
Exhibit 3.1 National Economic and Tax Impacts of Federal HTC-related Activity 

FY 2019 (HTC Investment: $6.4 billion)

Gross Domestic Product by Sector from Federal Historic Preservation Investment 

($6,189 million, FY 2019)

Agriculture 19

Agri. Serv., Forestry, & Fish 36

Mining 87

Construction 2023

Manufacturing 1740

Transport. & Public Utilities 322

Wholesale 215

Retail Trade 385

Finance, Ins., & Real Estate 510

Services 826

Government 25

Income Created by Sector from Federal Historic Preservation Investment 

($4,555 million, FY 2019)

Agriculture 6

Agri. Serv., Forestry, & Fish 20

Mining 51

Construction 1675

Manufacturing 1064

Transport. & Public Utilities 175

Wholesale 203

Retail Trade 245

Finance, Ins., & Real Estate 282

Services 817

Government 15

Jobs Created by Sector from Federal Historic Preservation Investment (109,478 jobs, FY 2019)

Agriculture 273

Agri. Serv., Forestry, & Fish 504

Mining 962

Construction 38,759 

Manufacturing 24,508 

Transport. & Public Utilities 4,179 

Wholesale 3,618 

Retail Trade 12,898 

Finance, Ins., & Real Estate 4,517 

Services 18,876 

Government 349 

8 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE | RUTGERS UNIVERSITY
Exhibit 3.2 National Economic and Tax Impacts of Federal HTC-related Activity 

FY 1978 through FY 2019 (HTC Investment: $173.7 billion)

Gross Domestic Product by Sector from Federal Historic Preservation Investment ($188,238 

million cumulative, FY 1978-2019) 

Agriculture 585 

Agri. Serv., Forestry, & Fish 1,071 

Mining 2,944 

Construction 55,596 

Manufacturing 49,693 

Transport. & Public Utilities 10,559 

Wholesale 6,620 

Retail Trade 13,401 

Finance, Ins., & Real Estate 21,936 

Services 24,954 

Government 878 

Income Created by Sector from Federal Historic Preservation Investment 

($138,483 million cumulative, FY 1978-2019)

Agriculture 251 

Agri. Serv., Forestry, & Fish 657 

Mining 1,681 

Construction 45,694 

Manufacturing 31,703 

Transport. & Public Utilities 6,154 

Wholesale 6,309 

Retail Trade 8,487 

Finance, Ins., & Real Estate 12,569 

Services 24,419 

Government 560 

Jobs Created by Sector from Federal Historic Preservation Investment

(2,786,016 jobs cumulative, FY 1978-2019)

Agriculture 8,558 

Agri. Serv., Forestry, & Fish 14,890 

Mining 22,925 

Construction 850,248 

Manufacturing 585,027 

Transport. & Public Utilities 107,861 

Wholesale 96,025 

Retail Trade 396,815 

Finance, Ins., & Real Estate 187,168 

Services 504,771 

Government 11,670 

Annual Report on the Economic Impact of the Federal Historic Tax Credit for Fiscal Year 2019 9
History and Context

Originally established in 1857, the St. Rose de Lima Parish was the site of a seminal event in New 

Orleans’ history celebrating the parish’s abolitionist priest, the Rev. Claude Paschal Maistre, who 

defied the archdiocese and performed the funeral of Capt. Andre Cailloux, a free man of color 

who died in the Civil War in 1863. In the late 19th century, the parish relocated to its current site, 

which is now a predominantly Afro-Caribbean corridor lined with pastel storefronts housing an 

eclectic mix of diverse, locally owned businesses. Following decades of disinvestment and decline, 

the area has recently benefited from a strong public-private revitalization effort. However, the most 

prominent property, St. Rose de Lima Church and the two schoolhouses on its site, sat vacant and 

deteriorating for twelve years. 

Scope of Rehabilitation 

Alembic Community Development and Rose Community Development Corporation partnered to 

redevelop the complex of three historic properties, which are located in the Esplanade Ridge National 

Register Historic District in New Orleans’ 7th Ward, as the Rose Collaborative for Arts, Education, 

and Entrepreneurship.

The rehabilitation project was undertaken as a three-part program. The 1915 church was rehabilitated 

as the new home and performance art space for New Orleans’ acclaimed Southern Rep Theatre. The 

theater also offers special programing such as Care for Creatives for adults and after-school programs 

and summer camps for youth.

The frame schoolhouse that dates to 1938 was rehabilitated as shared office spaces for social justice 

nonprofit organizations and entrepreneurs. The ground floor co-working space is anchored by Fund 

17, a nonprofit organization that operates a Community Business Incubator that provides training and 

mentorship programs as well as access to capital for micro-entrepreneurs. 

The 1925 brick school was rehabilitated for the nonprofit Waldorf School of New Orleans, which has 

operated in the city since 2000. The school integrates academics with the arts, culture, and community 

from nursery school through 8th grade.

The project faced significant design and construction challenges, in particular how to create a 

professional theater in the deconsecrated church that respected and preserved its historic character and 

met the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. The team’s solution was to construct a 

box within the church’s volume with dedicated HVAC and electrical systems that create a self-contained 

black box theater. A secondary performance space was created in the open area at the front of the 

church. The team coordinated work on the three buildings simultaneously and packaged the scope of 

work for sub-contractors to ensure that small, minority-owned firms could bid on the jobs. The presence 

of lead-based paint and asbestos in all three buildings, plus the fact that the site was a brownfield with 

hazardous materials that had to be removed, added to the challenges faced in the rehabilitation project. 

Role of the Historic Tax Credit

Both the Federal and Louisiana State Historic Tax Credits were critical to financing the rehabilitation 

of the three historic buildings. The rehabilitated buildings produce limited revenue because they 

offer affordable, below-market rate leases to the nonprofit tenants. This results in reduced cash flow 

that falls far short of supporting conventional financing. The equity realized through the Federal and 

State Historic Tax Credits, as well as other community development incentives, was vital in filling 

redevelopment financing gaps and made the project possible. 

CASE STUDY #1

 St. Rose de Lima Church Complex New Orleans, Louisiana

PROJECT PROFILE

Historic Name: St. Rose de Lima 

Church Complex

Current Name: Rose Collaborative for 

Arts, Education, and Entrepreneurship

Year Built: 1915

Rehabilitation Completed: 2018

Original Use: Church

New Use: Center for Arts, Education, 

and Entrepreneurship

Total Project Cost: $12,126,912

Federal Historic Tax Credits (20%):

$1,445,402

Louisiana State Historic Tax Credits 

(20%): $1,824,510 

Federal New Markets Tax Credit 

Equity: $2,626,000

10 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE | RUTGERS UNIVERSITY
PROJECT BUDGET

Sources of Funds Amount 

Federal Historic Tax Credit equity $1,445,402

Louisiana State Historic Tax Credit equity $1,824,510

Federal New Markets Tax Credit equity $2,626,000

Community Development leverage loans $5,031,000

Owner equity $1,200,000

Total $12,126,912

Uses of Funds Amount 

Acquisition $473,225

Construction $7,675,100

Soft costs $986,200

Financing & other fees, reserves 

Total 

$2,992,387

$12,126,912

Economic Impact on the Community

The project has revitalized not only the St. Rose de Lima campus, but also 

the surrounding commercial establishments. The tenants in the rehabilitated 

buildings and the services they provide draw many visitors, including the 

30,000 patrons who attend the Southern Rep Theatre’s performances. 

These visitors also support the small neighborhood businesses nearby. 

Eventually, approximately 165 new full and part-time jobs will have been 

created for educators, administrators, playwrights, directors, performers, 

lighting and sound technicians, and other professionals. The rehabilitated 

offices in the 1938 school building annually supports the nearly 100 

micro-entrepreneurs who share the space, and it offers the social justice 

organizations a collaborative environment to better execute their missions. 

The Waldorf School is projected to serve more than 200 students, providing 

100% scholarships to low-income students. 

Top row: Theater exterior, school hallway

Second row: School exterior, office exterior

 

Annual Report on the Economic Impact of the Federal Historic Tax Credit for Fiscal Year 2019 11
History and Downtown Context

The Cambridge Apartments are housed in a Classical Revival-style apartment 

building in the First Hill neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. Built in 1923, the 

L-shaped, reinforced concrete building is clad in red brick, stucco, and terra cotta. 

The building was designed by architect Sherwood Ford, known for many 

prominent commissions in Washington State. It was Seattle’s first concrete 

high-rise apartment building and was constructed during a period of dramatic 

growth when housing was in great demand. Once towering over downtown, 

the ten-story structure represented the city’s ambition and ability to urbanize 

in a vertical direction. 

The Cambridge Apartments building is individually listed in the National 

Register and historically significant for its connections to the broad patterns 

of development and growth of the city. Designed as an apartment-hotel, it 

was an innovative housing type that became popular in the 1920s, providing 

both tourists and long-term residents the privacy and space of an apartment 

with hotel-like amenities, including a concierge, a radio room where residents 

gathered to listen to the radio, and a tearoom. 

Scope of Rehabilitation

For nearly 100 years, the Cambridge Apartments remained mostly unaltered. 

In December 2016, a major rehabilitation was initiated to convert the building 

into affordable housing. The rehabilitation included repair of the red brick, 

stucco, and terra cotta on the exterior and installation of new windows. On the 

interior, asbestos had to be abated first before other work could begin. That 

work included installation of new plumbing and HVAC systems and a new 

fire-alarm system. The existing elevators were modernized to meet current code 

requirements. The 157 apartments were updated while retaining the characterdefining features and spaces that are unique to this historic apartment-hotel. The 

kitchens and bathrooms were refurbished with new energy-efficient appliances 

and fixtures, and several apartments were modified to be accessible units. The 

project included seismic and life safety upgrades that brought the building up to 

modern sustainability standards. The distinctive lobby and the radio room were 

also restored on the interior.

CASE STUDY #2

Cambridge Apartments

PROJECT PROFILE

Historic Name: Cambridge Apartments

Year Built: 1923

Rehabilitation Completed: 2018 

Original Use: Housing 

New Use: Affordable Housing

Total Project Cost: $48,940,127

Federal Historic Tax Credits (20%): $5,083,958

Seattle, Washington

12 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE | RUTGERS UNIVERSITY
PROJECT BUDGET

Sources of Funds Amount

First mortgage $8,740,461

WA Department of Commerce $533,333

Seller financing $14,984,048

Sponsor note $3,642,752

Deferred developer fee $1,750,000

General partner contribution $1,898

Limited partner Historic Tax Credits $5,083,958

Limited partner Low-Income 

 Housing Tax Credits $14,203,677

Total $48,940,127

Uses of Funds Amount

Acquisition costs $19,185,992

Rehabilitation/construction costs $22,485,939

Architectural & engineering costs $994,697

Interim/construction costs $2,152,118

Financing fees & expenses $131,785

Miscellaneous costs $700,531

Syndication costs $146,964

Developer fee(s) $2,750,000

Project reserves $392,101

Total $48,940,127

All photographs courtesy of William Wright Photography.

Role of the Historic Tax Credit

All financing sources were essential to this project. Due to a shortage of 

affordable housing in Seattle, available public funds are primarily used 

for new construction projects. The $5,083,958 in equity generated by 

the Federal Historic Tax Credit filled a financing gap without which the 

creation of 157 affordable housing units would not have been possible. 

Impact to the Community

When the Cambridge Apartments building was constructed in 1923, 

it represented the dramatic economic growth of the first two decades 

of the 20th century through a large-scale housing type. In Seattle, the 

need for affordable housing continues to grow due to rapid population 

growth and rising housing costs. That need has often resulted in the 

demolition of smaller historic apartment buildings to erect larger, new 

ones. The successful conversion of the Cambridge Apartments illustrates 

how historic preservation and rehabilitation can be used to meet the 

demand for affordable housing. The rehabilitated Cambridge Apartments 

provides affordable housing, in a location that is convenient to the city’s 

financial, government, hospital, and education job centers, by serving 

households earning below 50% to 60% of area median income and 

individuals who qualify for Section 8 housing.

Annual Report on the Economic Impact of the Federal Historic Tax Credit for Fiscal Year 2019 13
Building History

The Robinson Grand Theater was built by Clarksburg Amusement Company in 1912, opening its doors in 1913. The 

Robinson brothers, Claude and Rueben, ran the day-to-day operations. Part of the Keith-Albee vaudeville circuit, the theater 

hosted such famous performers as Jack Benny and ventriloquist Edgar Bergen. The theater was significantly enlarged and 

remodeled in 1927. Claude Robinson’s friendship with Albert Warner of Warner Brothers gave him early access to the new 

sound technology, and the theater became one of the first in the nation to show “talkies.” In May of 1939, a fire destroyed 

most of the stage and auditorium, leaving the front part of the building, including the façade, largely intact. The façade 

was retained and an entirely new auditorium and stage in the Streamline Moderne style designed by Edward J. Wood were 

added. The theater reopened in December 1939, less than seven months after the fire. The reopening, which the theater 

presented as its “Christmas gift to Clarksburg,” was lauded by the press, and received page upon page of congratulatory 

ads from the contractors and suppliers involved in the project. The interior was remodeled in 1984 to be more competitive 

with suburban multiplexes, but attendance continued to decline steadily until the theater closed in 2004. 

The City of Clarksburg acquired the building in 2014 and immediately began a lengthy planning process to come up with 

a compatible reuse for the theater, which is a contributing structure to the Downtown Clarksburg National Register Historic 

District. A public-private partnership was created with the City, The Cultural Foundation of Harrison County, and others 

in the North Central West Virginia region to undertake the rehabilitation of the theater into a performing arts center. The 

project began in January 2017, and the Robinson Grand Performing Arts Center held its Grand Opening in October 2018. 

Scope of Rehabilitation

The project restored the exterior, and the historic windows were repaired and retained. A new marquee with LED lighting 

and video display was installed. Inside, the historic chandeliers, terrazzo flooring, water fountains, and grand staircases in the 

lobby were preserved and repaired. The original coved plaster ceilings and antique air diffusers in the performance hall were 

preserved and updated with indirect lighting. The grand proscenium design was retained, along with the stage and ballroom 

flooring and decorative glass displays. In addition to making the building ADA compliant, the project included the construction 

of two additions containing a new concession area, expanded restrooms, and new green room/dressing rooms that connect 

directly to the stage. New drainage and an orchestra green room were installed in the basement. The rehabilitation resulted 

in a performance hall that seats over 1,000 patrons and an educational center with prep-kitchen and circular bar and lounge 

areas on the second floor.

PROJECT PROFILE

Historic Name: Robinson Grand Theater

Current Name: Robinson Grand Performing Arts Center

Year Built: 1912

Rehabilitation Completed: 2018

Original Use: Theater

New Use: Performing Arts Center

Total Project Cost: $23,715,605

Federal Historic Tax Credits (20%): $2,322,733

WV Historic Tax Credits (20%): $1,128,810

Federal New Markets Tax Credits: $5,039,064

Photo: Art by Crim

CASE STUDY #3

Robinson Grand Theater Clarksburg, West Virginia

14 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE | RUTGERS UNIVERSITY
PROJECT BUDGET

Sources of Funds Amount

USDA Sales Tax Revenue 

 Refunding bonds $8,507,921

Capital campaign – local donors $1,069,268

Federal Historic Tax Credits $2,322,733

WV Historic Tax Credits $1,128,810

New Markets Tax Credits $5,039,064

Developer equity $1,116,479

New Orleans City’s Stabilization Fund $4,531,330

Total $23,715,605

Uses of Funds Amount

Acquisition $781,236

Hard costs $16,440,873

Soft costs $5,658,718

Reserves $834,778

Total $23,715,605

Role of the Historic Tax Credit

The rehabilitation of the Robinson Grand Performing Arts Center 

would likely not have happened without the support of Federal 

Historic Tax Credits. Additionally, significant spaces like the lobby, 

ballroom, and performance hall could not have been brought back to 

their original luster. Other important incentives included West Virginia 

State Historic Tax Credits, Federal New Markets Tax Credits, and a 

capital campaign that raised nearly $2 million in private contributions.

Economic Impact on Community

The theater attracts over 120,000 visitors to 250 events a year 

and provides 11 free events to the local community. The impact of 

the performing arts center has been a catalyst for new economic 

development in the area. A new restaurant has opened several blocks 

from the theater, and an adjacent property has been recently purchased 

in preparation for new development to be completed in 2021. Increased 

local tax revenues can be attributed to increased foot traffic in and 

around the Robinson Grand Performing Arts Center.

Photo: Art by Crim Photo: Joe McNemar Photographer, 

Stonewood WV 

Annual Report on the Economic Impact of the Federal Historic Tax Credit for Fiscal Year 2019 15
PROJECT PROFILE

Historic Name: The Hale Bathhouse

Current Name: Hotel Hale

Year Built: 1892

Year Rehabilitation Completed: 2018

Original Use: Bathhouse 

New Use: Boutique hotel, restaurant, and 

conference center 

Qualified Rehabilitation Expenditures: $1,134,784 

Federal Historic Tax Credits (20%): $226,956 

(estimated) 

CASE STUDY #4

Hale Bathhouse Hot Spring, Arkansas

History and Context 

The natural hot springs in Garland County, Arkansas, have attracted visitors for hundreds of years. In 1832 President 

Andrew Jackson designated the land around the hot springs as a “reservation” to protect and preserve it for use by 

the public. The reservation became a national park in 1921. 

Bathhouse Row, as it has come to be known, consists of eight bathhouses built between 1892 and 1923. It was 

listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987. Hale 

Bathhouse, the oldest of the existing bathhouses, was constructed in 1892 in the Classical Revival style by architects 

George and Freemont Orff for John C. Hale, an early resident of Hot Springs hired to survey lands owned by the 

Federal government. The brick building was remodeled twice, first in 1914 when it was enlarged, and again in 1939 

when the brick exterior was stuccoed and it acquired its current Spanish Revival-style appearance. 

The Hale Bathhouse had separate men’s and women’s sections, with needle, shower, and vapor baths, hot and 

cooling rooms, a gymnasium, and dressing rooms. A cave in the tufa rock bluff behind the building was used as a 

sweat room until 1911. In 1917, one of the hot springs was captured in a tiled enclosure in the basement that is still 

in place today.

The building ceased operation as a bathhouse in 1978. In 1981 it was remodeled for use as a theater and concessionaire operation. The operation failed, however, and the building closed nine months later.

Scope of Rehabilitation

In 2017, Pat and Ellen McCabe of Zest Enterprises, LLC, submitted a proposal to the National Park Service (NPS) 

to operate the Hale Bathhouse as a boutique hotel, restaurant, and conference center under a historic leasing 

agreement. The resultant long-term lease, with the assistance of the Federal historic tax credit, enabled the Hale 

Bathhouse to undergo a significant 11-month rehabilitation to convert it into the Hotel Hale. 

The rehabilitation required considerable work, including the installation of a new insulated roof, a modern heat and 

air system, and upgraded electric and plumbing systems. Exterior accessibility ramps, improved drainage systems to 

control spring water seepage into the basement, and structural supports were also added. 

Historic Postcard of 

Hale Bathhouse 

16 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE | RUTGERS UNIVERSITY
Role of the Historic Tax Credit

While the Hale Bathhouse was considered one of the most structurally sound 

bathhouses, major upgrades were needed before the building could be reopened 

to the public. Use of Federal historic tax credits allowed the developer to exercise 

greater care in preserving this iconic building’s historic character, including the 

first-floor sunroom formed by the entrance arcade.

Economic Impact on the Community

Rehabilitation and reuse of Bathhouse Row, including the Hale Bathhouse, 

attracts visitors to this popular city. Each year, the city hosts the Hot Springs 

Music Festival, Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, and the Valley of the 

Vapors Independent Music Festival. The Hale Bathhouse lease also allows for a 

restaurant, bar, lounge and conference center to host special events and private 

functions. “This is a viable and appropriate new use of the building that is in 

keeping our historic preservation mandate and provides a positive economic 

impact to this community,” said then-Superintendent Josie Fernandez. The 

hotel now employs 40 full-time employees. 

“The National Park Service is very accepting 

of novel ideas, so if you have an idea and 

you have the wherewithal to get financing 

either as an individual or a group of 

individuals working together, they’re very 

interested in hearing from you.” 

— Pat McCabe, Hotel Hale

Photo: National Park Service

Photo: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, 

HABS, Reproduction number HABS ARK, 26-HOSP, 1-B--9

LEASING HISTORIC PROPERTIES 

The rehabilitation of the Hale Bathhouse 

was made possible with a long-term lease 

from the National Park Service (NPS) to Zest 

Enterprises, LLC. Leasing of some historic 

properties within units of the National Park 

System was authorized by Congress in 1980 

by amending Section 111 of the National 

Historic Preservation Act. Beginning in the 

early 1980s, the NPS offered the vacant 

historic bathhouses along Bathhouse Row for 

adaptive use. 

More information on leasing historic NPS 

properties is available at 

www.nps.gov/subjects/leasing/index.htm.

Annual Report on the Economic Impact of the Federal Historic Tax Credit for Fiscal Year 2019 17
Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Civic Square Building, 33 Livingston Avenue

New Brunswick, NJ 08901

848-932-5475

http://bloustein.rutgers.edu/

ejb@policy.rutgers.edu

October 2020

This report is based on the findings of a National Park Service-funded study 

undertaken through a cooperative agreement with Rutgers University’s 

Center for Urban Policy Research. Rutgers University is responsible for the 

content of the study. Some additional demographic data was provided 

courtesy of PolicyMap. The National Trust for Historic Preservation assisted 

the National Park Service in the preparation of the case studies.

Technical Preservation Services

National Park Service

U. S. Department of the Interior

1849 C Street NW

Washington, DC 20240

https://www.nps.gov/tps/

Front and Back Cover Images: 

Robinson Grand Theater, 

Clarksburg, West Virginia

Photos: Joe McNemar 

Photographer, Stonewood, 

West Virginia

18 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE | RUTGERS UNIVERSITY