To help preserve historic buildings throughout Ogden, the Utah State Historic Preservation Office helped to create the Ogden Commercial and Industrial Multiple Property Submission (MPS). This opens the door for not only recognition, but a chance for businesses to take advantage of both federal and state tax credits aimed at restoring these types of properties. Amber Anderson, Tax Credit Coordinator with the Utah State Historic Preservation Office explains, “Multiple Property Submission essentially serves as a cover document that property owners can use to more easily list their properties on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). People who own buildings which were historically commercial or industrial in nature can benefit from this process.”
With a more simplified process to get a building on the NRHP, property owners can get access to the funds needed to help finish a rehabilitation project even if it’s already been started, although Anderson warns the project cannot already be completed by the time you apply for historic tax credits. She says, “You must have some kind of approval before the work can be finished on the property. It is strongly encouraged that you apply before it even started, but legally you can’t apply if it’s 100 percent finished. You can still apply if you’ve started, just not completely finished.”
Creation of the MPS not only benefits the property owner, but the city and its history. “In doing this (registering with NRHP and pursuing historic tax credits) it does create more jobs, brings more financial impact to a neighborhood-- it revitalizes an area,” says Anderson,” This process means more businesses, more customers, more jobs, and increased property value, there’s a lot of good.”
