Preservation posts: the online journal of the Historic Preservation Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Aug. 2014

Preservation Posts - August 2014
In this issue:
- Archaeological Research on Sapelo Island during the Summer of 2014 - Preservation Tax Incentives Applications Are Increasing! - CLG Spotlight: Gainesville - Upcoming Events
Division Director Dr. David Crass will resume his regular column next month.
Archaeological Research on Sapelo Island during the Summer of 2014
By Dr. Bryan Tucker, State Archaeologist & Archaeology Section Chief
A sampling of artifacts found on Sapelo Island.
During the summer of 2014, Dr. Richard Jefferies from the University of Kentucky and Dr. Christopher Moore from the University of Indianapolis continued their work on Sapelo Island, GA. Their project is focused on better understanding the settlement patterns of Native Americans living on the island before, during, and after contact with Europeans. This summer, they continued to investigate how prehistoric people interacted with the landscape and also hoped to find evidence of a Spanish Mission. Mission San Joseph de Sapala was abandoned in 1684 and may have been located near two prehistoric shell rings. In previous years, they have located artifacts that may be related to the Mission but have not located the Mission itself. With the help of field school students they excavated over 130 test pits near the two late Archaic Period (30001000 B.C.) shell rings in an attempt to locate the Mission.
Though the analysis of this year's artifacts has just begun, they found many late Archaic period (30001000 B.C.) ceramic fragments, Woodland Period ceramics (1000 B.C. to A.D. 900) and Late Prehistoric (A.D. 900-1580) ceramic fragments. They also uncovered some evidence that a structure was nearby as indicated by the presence of daub (burned clay from wattle and daub construction) and tabby (an early cement made from lime, oyster shells, sand and water). The excavations also unearthed a kaolin pipe bowl which may date to the Mission period (A.D. 1580-1685) or later.
In addition to the tests pits, a 2 x 2 meter excavation unit was opened in the interior of one of the shell rings. In this location, archaeologists recovered some ceramics that date just prior to the Mission period but nothing indicating a structure. This excavation unit revealed a multi-period site where Late Prehistoric and Woodland Period artifacts were found overlaying a late Archaic Period pit feature which demonstrates the long, over 4,000 years, use of the site.
In addition to the work around the shell rings, Jeffries and Moore excavated over 170 additional test pits to investigate another village site on the island. They found numerous Late Prehistoric artifacts and some European pottery including 18th century French faience (tin glazed historic ceramic). The excavation of both these sites is part of an ongoing research project with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the Universities of Kentucky and Indianapolis to investigate the history and prehistory of Sapelo Island. The analysis of these artifacts will provide more details about the prehistoric and historic occupation of the island and introduce new questions to answer in the future. More information on archaeology in Georgia is available here.
Preservation Tax Incentives Applications Are Increasing!
By Carole Moore, Tax Incentives & Grants Coordinator
As the State of Georgia continues to rebound from the economic downturn, it appears that applications for the state's preservation tax incentives programs are increasing as well. These programs, administered by HPD and utilized by property owners and developers, play a significant role in the economic development of communities throughout the state by creating jobs, spurring neighborhood and downtown development, promoting sustainability, increasing and supporting cultural and heritage tourism, encouraging local investment, and generating increased tax revenues.
Statistics gathered for State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2014 indicate that the number of rehabilitation projects has increased from last year. The increase in preliminary certifications was particularly dramatic. Sixty projects received preliminary certification in SFY 2013 representing $54.2 million in investment, while in SFY 2014 there were 92 projects representing $85 million in investment! Final certifications (which for the most part represented projects begun two years earlier) decreased slightly in the number of projects (52 projects in SFY2013 compared to 42 projects in SFY2014); however, the dollars invested remained the same for both years at $43 million.
For the second year in a row Macon took the lead in the number of projects, accounting for 35 proposed and completed rehabilitations. Savannah - still a prominent tax incentives program community - was in second place with 22 projects. Atlanta - with 20 projects almost tied with Savannah and had its strongest presence in recent years. Other cities and towns with rehabilitation activity include Americus, Augusta, Avondale Estates, Bainbridge, Ball Ground, Covington, Decatur, Fitzgerald, Madison, Porterdale, Sparta, Thomasville, Toccoa, and Tybee Island. (For more information about the state tax incentives statistics for SFY 2014, please see the annual report (PDF).
One of the main reasons for the high number of projects in Macon is that the non-profit Historic Macon Foundation (HMF) promotes and facilitates use of the tax incentives programs to owners of historic properties there. In addition, HMF has established revolving loan funds for the residential Beall's Hill neighborhood and the downtown area, through which it purchases vacant historic homes and downtown lofts and sells them to new homeowners before or during rehabilitation. HMF estimates that it recovers approximately 95% of its costs, sometimes even making a profit. The preservation tax credits are essential to the program's success, while the state property tax assessment freeze is used as a marketing incentive to draw potential buyers.
One interesting Macon project completed during SFY 2014 is representative of the many mid-20th-century residences now becoming eligible for the National Register of Historic Places and, thus, newly eligible for the tax incentives programs. This ranch style home, built in 1960, is located on Upper River Road within the recently annexed area of the Shirley Hills Historic District. The rehabilitation of the house included updating HVAC, electrical and plumbing systems, updating kitchens and baths, replacing the roof, restoring the front entrance, and removing a non-historic porch. Many original features of the house were retained including the brick entry floor, the concrete floor in the living room, and many of the historic windows. The current owners spent almost $100,000 returning the former rental house to its original use as single-family home, thereby qualifying them for a state tax credit of approximately $25,000.
The house on Upper River Road before (left) and after (right) rehabilitation.
From just a handful of submitted projects in SFY 2013, Atlanta jumped to 20 projects in SFY 2014. The circa 1911 Imperial Hotel, located in downtown Atlanta, was one of the larger and more significant of these projects. This was its second rehabilitation; the first being completed in the mid 1990s for low-income housing. The current project was undertaken by owners Columbia Residential and the National Church Residences. They spent over $14 million rehabilitating the building into low income apartments for those with special needs. Major rehabilitation work included a new roof and replacement of nonhistoric windows with historically compatible ones. Repairs were made to historic features such as the masonry, tile flooring, signage, and iron balconies, while non-historic floor coverings and ceilings were replaced with materials that were historically compatible. The project received a federal tax credit of approximately $3 million, a state tax credit of $300,000, and a $1 million low-income tax credit.
Atlanta's Imperial Hotel in a historic postcard (left) and after its recent rehabilitation.
Smaller cities and towns throughout Georgia also are increasingly participating in the tax incentives programs. One example is tiny Tybee Island, which was a thriving seaside resort community at the turn of the 20th century. By 1920 the oceanfront resort area had grown to include three hotels, three dancing pavilions, four bath house pavilions, and dozens of boarding house and inns, but by the mid 20th century it had lost both its glamour and many of its historic buildings. Today, approximately 100 years later, the island now has been revitalized by property owners wishing to invest in and rehabilitate the many extant historic cottages located within the island's two National Register historic districts. The Goette Cottage, built circa 1920, is an excellent example of a type of simple frame summer cottage that was built during this time for Savannah's middle class families. It is located within the Tybee Back River Historic District, which represents the largest collection of historic coastal resort cottages in Georgia. The property owner spent $75,000 on general repair and upgrades for the cottage, including the roof. Non-historic existing windows were replaced with historically compatible ones, a side porch was enclosed, and solar panels were added to the garage roof. Because the property owner plans to rent the cottage to island visitors, she is eligible for both a federal credit of approximately $15,000 and a state credit of approximately $18,750.
The Goette Cottage before (left) and after (right) rehabilitation.
These three projects are just a small sampling of the total 42 projects which received final certification from HPD for the state tax incentives during SFY 2014. Each of these projects contributed to the economic revitalization and vitality of their respective neighborhoods and downtowns by creating jobs both during the rehabilitation (and after the rehabilitation for commercial properties); increasing property values and thereby increasing tax revenues for their respective communities; promoting sustainability ("the greenest building is the one already built"); and supporting heritage tourism by providing new venues, services, and amenities which in turn attract both locals and out-of-towners to the area. More information on historic preservation tax incentives is available here.
Certified Local Government (CLG) Spotlight: Gainesville
By Marcy Breffle, Outreach Program Assistant
Located in Hall County, the City of Gainesville has proven to be a dedicated promoter of historic preservation. The city was designated as a Certified Local Government (CLG) in 2006 and has been the recipient of numerous Historic Preservation Fund grants. The Gainesville Historic Preservation Commission (GHPC) has led several efforts to preserve the city's rich and historically-significant character, while encouraging growth in the community. The following developments are just a few of the projects undertaken by the GHPC in the past few years.
The rehabilitation of the Chattahoochee Park Pavilion, a site listed as one of the Georgia Trust's 2012 "Top 10 Places in Peril," was completed under the GHPC in early August. The historic pavilion, built in 1900 as part of Chattahoochee Park, had been owned by Georgia Power and the American Legion but had fallen into disrepair. The GHPC partnered with the American Legion Post #7 to complete the rehabilitation and consulted with HPD and the Georgia Trust on proposed work approaches. The City of Gainesville paid $25,000 towards building materials and the Georgia Department of Corrections provided free construction labor. This true team effort culminated in the re-opening of the historic pavilion, which will be available for private event rentals.
Last year, the GPHC partnered with Brockington and Associates, a cultural resources consulting firm, to update the existing design guidelines for residential-style districts. Last year, the GPHC partnered with Brockington and Associates, a cultural resources consulting firm, to update the existing design guidelines for residential-style districts. The guidelines were split into three sections residential-style architecture, residential-style architecture used for commercial purposes, and commercial-style architecture. Funded through a Historic Preservation Fund grant, the guidelines were adopted last December and are now available on the city website.
The GHPC also recently considered recommendations for a multi-phase Historic Resources Structural Survey. Draft boundary lines were discussed in two different districts, the Newton residential area and the Downtown commercial district. Looking forward in 2015, the GHPC will continue working on the local designation of the Newton district and developing a Downtown strategic plan, which will include a focus on the historical significance of the area. Also, the City will look to collaborate with community leaders on the delineation and restoration of a hidden family cemetery recently rediscovered. More information on the Certified Local Government program is available here.
Upcoming Events
September 3-5, 2014 - Georgia Governor's Tourism Conference - Augusta Georgia's largest annual gathering of tourism professionals. Full details are available here.
September 26-28, 2014 - 9th biennial "Preserving the Historic Road" conference Savannah "Preserving the Historic Road" is the leading conference dedicated to the identification, preservation, and management of historic roads. This year's conference is co-sponsored by HPD and numerous other Georgia organizations. Details
November 11-14, 2014 - Past Forward: 2014 National Preservation Conference Savannah The National Trust for Historic Preservation's annual conference will be held in Georgia for the first time in many years. Full details are available here.
Please send your comments or suggestions to charlie.miller@dnr.state.ga.us.
Not a member? Subscribe now! Our mailing address is: Georgia Historic Preservation Division Department of Natural Resources 254 Washington Street, SW, Ground Level Atlanta, GA 30334 Add us to your address book Copyright (C) 2014 Georgia Historic Preservation Division All rights reserved. Title image: The Summer Historic Preservation Commission Training was held at the historic DeKalb History Center in Decatur on August 21.