The Ford Motor Company Head & Tail Light Assembly Plant is a historic building likely eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. This is one of many opportunities that Flat Rock has to become a historic preservation leader in Michigan and Downriver…
How does Flat Rock serve to benefit ?
- Up to a 25% tax credit for certified work on historic properties.
- Helps to attract people to community through heritage tourism.
- Stabilizes neighborhoods and increases housing values.
- Makes city eligible for state and federal grant funding.
Lost Opportunity #1
- Rehabilitation of the Masonic Temple cost six-figures.
- If designated as historic, this property would have been eligible for an approximately $45,000 tax credit.
- This opportunity was lost with all cost being assumed by the building owner.
Lost Opportunity #2
- Structural failure occurred on this building.
- The damaged portion was removed and the roof reconstructed in a format different from the original – compromising the building’s architectural character.
- Tax credits and grants could have been used to rebuild the roof.
- Both tax credits and the roof were lost.
Strengths
- A concentration of historic buildings.
- A small-town “community” feel.
- A millage to support historic preservation.
- People and organizations committed to preserving the history of the community.
Weaknesses
- Nationwide campaign of building teardowns.
- Present historic preservation ordinance does not give power that is necessary to create historic districts.
- Flat Rock is subject to structural economic changes of region and state.
- Potential of historic buildings and tourism has not been fully realized.
Opportunities
- Planning Commission is undergoing a review and rewrite of the Master Plan.
- Owners of the Ford Motor Co. Head & Tail Light plant building are interested in seeking historic designation.
- Have commission and ordinance in place and could become a Certified Local Government – making owners eligible for tax credits and city eligible for grants.
Threats
- Without the preservation option, economic changes will make it difficult for Flat Rock to compete with other places.
- Owners of historic properties will invest in their buildings and not receive economic benefits of historic preservation.
- If current trends continue in one or two generations there won’t be much left to preserve.
Preservation relies on government cooperation
- Where preservation is successful, it is through cooperation between the federal, state, and local government.
- This includes:
- National Parks Service
- State Historic Preservation Office
- Local governments
Federal role in historic preservation
- Administers the National Register of Historic Places – a purely honorary record of historic places.
- Oversees federal tax credit program for properties listed on the National Register.
- Provides standards for appropriate treatment of historic properties.
State role in historic preservation
- Reviews applications for the National Register of Historic Places.
- Provides grants to local governments to support historic preservation through Certified Local Government program.
- Awards green State Historical Markers to eligible properties that apply for these.
- Runs state tax credit program.
Local role in historic preservation
- Flat Rock could become a Certified Local Government by amending the current preservation ordinance and applying for CLG designation.
- Would then make Flat Rock eligible for grants from the state and federal government.
- Could then create historic districts locally and have commission review changes to buildings in these districts.
Opportunities abound in Flat Rock!!!
- Include preservation in Master Plan.
- Educate public and officials about preservation by getting Ford Motor Co. Head & Tail Light plant listed on National Register and State Historical Marker.
- Get Certified Local Government for Flat Rock to make it eligible for tax credits and state and federal grant funding to support preservation.
Include Preservation in Master Plan
- Create list of historic and potentially historic buildings in Flat Rock to include in Master Plan.
- Show these buildings on a map to get a sense of their concentration and geographic relationship to one another.
- Include description of historic preservation process as described in this presentation.
Preservation Demonstration Project
- Apply for and seek listing on the National Register of Historic Places for the Ford Motor Co. Head & Tail Light Assembly Plant.
- Apply for State Historical Marker for the Ford Motor Co. plant.
- Ask MotorCities National Heritage Area to participate and possibly support this project financially.
Become a Certified Local Government