UPDATE II: I guess these loans run thru Federal and State Historic Preservation funds so this is why the neighborhoods were targeted. I do suggest though that the city council comes forward with their own program for other neighborhoods like Pettigrew and Whittier.
UPDATE: I guess the loans ARE available to ANY homeowner within in these districts. But wouldn’t smaller loans in Whittier and Pettigrew make more sense?
Only the city of Sioux Falls would take a great idea to clean up ALL homes in and around historic districts and only target it towards people who can already afford to fix up their homes;
On Wednesday, the City of Sioux Falls announced a new program to improve homes in five residential historic districts and properties on the National Register of Historic Places.
Diane deKoeyer, neighborhood and preservation planner, shared more about the Historic Preservation Loan Program.
Eligible homeowners include those who live in one of the city’s five historic districts: All Saints, Cathedral, Hayes, McKennan Park, and Sherman.
The program is for property exteriors only.
While I am 100% supportive of any program to clean up older historic neighborhoods, the 0% interest loans should go towards ANY home within that district. What good does it do to clean up an historic mansion to its original glory only to have a 700 sq ft home next to it falling over? A neighborhood revitalization program needs to apply to the ENTIRE neighborhood to work. This just sounds like some of Paul’s rich buddies wanting interest free loans to offset the cost of their remodel. This is probably the best example of how trickle down economics doesn’t work, unless you are at the very top.
It kind of makes you wonder who is behind this. Remember the fella who is restoring the grocery store at 9th and Grange? He got a facade easement for the building from Sioux Falls taxpayers, he also got a parking strip paid for by taxpayers. Well guess what, this person also sits on the Board of Preservation and has been remodeling several historic home in McKennan Park. Gee, I wonder who might have pitched this idea?
But isn’t decay a part of the history? I don’t see anyone trying to patch-up the Pyramids. Does the Colosseum need new seating? What about it’s siding?
We live in a throw-away society where some history is saved while modern, or contemporary history, is torn down. It’s as if history itself is an antiquity, which is to no longer be practiced, but yet paradoxically to be preserved.
Great idea except for legal circumstances. Per the charter, the city cannot force action. It’s another con to give public funds to be deposited in campaign contributor or developer private bank accounts. There’s no lien or method of recovery for inaction.
Most homes in these areas are slum lord owned or simply held for appreciation. These homes are old wiring and plaster walls. Front appearance improvement doesn’t do anything to keep the structure standing. In other words, they haven’t caught fire and should be demolished. Historically, the city issues citations to do so but can’t use the courts for enforcement
Basically, wait for Rome to burn but what’s here will stay as is unless/until some fool rebuilds in an area that’s declining real estate value. This won’t happen either because someone must go through city hall passing out hundreds. Even with zoning approvals, permits and zoning variation will be retracted later if you’re not a favored developer.
Build it but don’t build it here.
Some say gentrification, while I say land reform. Some say tomatoe, while others say tomato…. Frankly, I don’t care what you put in your salad, but if you toss it make sure you leave some greens for everyone. Else, only Caesar will enjoy it, while the rest will just be tossed aside.
I do not think this ordinance became led by one single person. Some of us have been lobbying the city to create a program that helped restore, and provide some money to help fix up historic homes. I lobbied hard to use TIFS for the same purpose.
It’s a good idea in concept, but you start with the lower income hoods and move up, instead they are starting with the wealthiest historic neighborhoods. Could you go to your bank and get an equity loan for 0% interest? Nope. So they found a reach around.
What about Johnson Estates down there by Western Avenue and I-229? I’m quite confident some of those homes have been there since the 1960s. They could probably use some historic preservation as well. Stick homes shouldn’t be the only ones getting preservation. Trailers deserve their recognition, too. I’d say if a trailer can last 60 years in a town with three tornadoes in one night, then that’s something and a lot of those homes down there are something else.
“Johnson Estates is a lot like Taupeville in that the brim around its western and southern flanks, due to the bike trail and I-229, serves to protect it from tornadoes the way the curving rear flank of Taupeville, thanks to the new Veterans Highway, protects it from the new state pen”….. #ThingsInCommon #HadriansWall #HaboobProtection #DerechoAnyone?
It’s always important to protect your rear flank when a state pen is involved.
if the rich get tax payer money to fix up their houses, maybe the poors will be inspired to get a 2nd or 3rd job to earn enough money to fix up theirs.