[UPDATE June 25, 2008 - The final rule changes did not include the initially proposed five year holding period requirement. Thank you to everyone who helped highlight the negative impact of the proposed rule change.]

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PROPOSED RULE CHANGES - Note: the final rule changes did not include the following passage. However, this is an indication of how we must all be conscious of legislation and administrative rules concerning historic rehabilitation.

One change in particular concerned me greatly:

New Rule: 48.10A(303,404A) Repayment of tax credit certificates.
48.10A(1) The owner must retain ownership of the project building for five full years after completion of the rehabilitation or pay back the credit. If the building owner disposes of the project building within one year after certification of the project and award of the tax credit, the owner shall repay 100% of the tax credit. For properties held between one and five years, the tax credit repayment amount is reduced by 20% per year.

In practical terms, this rule would prohibit developers from utilizing the Historic Tax Credits to renovate otherwise qualifying historic single family homes - no developer could afford to hold a building for five years.

From the Tuesday November 27, 2007, Des Moines Register, staff writer Melissa Walker reports on the Kingsway Cathedral:

Owners of the century-old church at 901 19th St. will again ask for permission to demolish the building, which the city ordered closed in early 2003 because of structural problems.

Congregation members said then that the problems were caused by vibrations from the Interstate Highway 235 reconstruction work.
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The Des Moines Register gives some more love to renovation on February 5, 2008, with an article about Central Campus students working on a renovation project:

Students at Central Campus are working together to flip a house without the rush and glamour of some reality shows.

Lead paint can be found on almost any surface of your historic home: windows, walls, ceilings, siding, cabinetry, and trim. Lead is a poison and can affect both humans and pets. Children are particularly susceptible. Contact the Polk County Health Department for more information on lead paint law, lead poisoning symptoms, and how to rid your house of lead.

Lynn Simmons
Program Specialist
Polk County Health Department
1907 Carpenter Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50314

Phone: 515-286-3596

e-mail: Lsimmon@co.polk.ia.us

NEW GROUP PROMOTES RENOVATION OF HISTORIC HOMES

The Des Moines Rehabbers Club is a new organization providing support and encouragement for people who are undertaking renovation tasks of all types, from repairing a plaster crack all the way through a gut renovation or full restoration project.

At tonight's meeting, the Pioneer Park application for recognition was approved by the Neighborhood Revitalization Board. Questions were asked regarding the spatial distribution of neighborhood organization board members (most of them live on one side of the neighborhood) and some specifics about membership voting rights.

The motion to approve passed unanimously after a couple minutes of discussion.

Congratulations Pioneer Park!

An update from the Des Moines Register on the previous Pioneer Park article. Pioneer Park is moving forward in its bid to become Des Moines' 51st "recognized" neighborhood.

The Des Moines Register reports that the Pioneer Park neighborhood association has selected officers and will be petitioning the Neighborhood Revitalization Board for recognition as early as the August 1 meeting.

Angie's List, a popular subscription-based contractor rating service, has opened a Des Moines chapter. For the time-being, they are offering a free one-year membership to new users. Angie's List members can post feedback on contractors they have used and search other members' comments. Right now, there don't appear to be many "rated" contractors but that will change as the membership grows.

From the Angie's List web site:

We opened our DES MOINES chapter of Angie's List on 1/11/2007. While we're getting started in DES MOINES, you can join Angie's List for one year free. This offer will expire in a few months. At that time, you can sign up for a monthly membership for $5.95 or an annual membership for $51.

The Des Moines Register has published an in-depth story of River Bend neighborhood residents' fight to reduce crime.

Troubled by the high number of renters and multi-family homes in the area, Jenison said her association has lobbied for zoning changes.

"We would like to swing the balance over more toward homeowners because of the investment they make," Jenison said. "Homeowners are vested in the neighborhood."

[Read more on DesMoinesRegister.com]

Being Neighborly Part of Plan - Des Moines Register article, February 7, 2008.

The Des Moines Register published a wonderful story about Jack Daugherty's renovation project in the Union Park neighborhood. Daugherty, a project manager with Koester Construction, purchased and renovated the house next door to the one he and his family live in.