Downtown Forest City
The Forest City Main Street Program is a partnership between the Town of Forest City's Office of Downtown Development and Downtown Forest City, Inc., a nonprofit organization. The program primarily works in the areas of design, promotion, economic prosperity, and partnership development. The Main Street Program is part of the North Carolina Main Street Program and the National Main Street Center, National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Town was awarded the Main Street status in July 2003.
PRESERVATION DESIGN SERVICES PROGRAM
History
In 2000, the Town of Forest City created an Office of Downtown Development with a full-time staff person who also serves as the Town's Planner. The Office of Downtown Development also works with an all-volunteer non-profit organization, Downtown Forest City, Inc. Both the Office of Downtown Development and Downtown Forest City follow the organizing principles of the National Main Street Program:
- Organization and Partnerships
- Economic Restructuring
- Promotion and Image-building
- Design and Appearance
- Historic Preservation Planning
Seventy-nine buildings in downtown are located within the Downtown Forest City Historic District. Fifty-seven buildings are considered "contributing" buildings. A contributing building is eligible for historic tax credits from both the Federal and state governments. If the amount of renovation cost meets a certain threshold, the property owner can receive 40% historic tax credit on most of the exterior and interior renovations. Those renovations must meet a certain national standard. The Town of Forest City provides the services of a preservation planner to help the property owner ascertain the eligibility of the renovation as a historic tax credit project. The architect also works to design the appropriate façade rendering that can be sent to the Federal government. The preservation planner does not actually write the tax credit application, but can be available for a private consultation fee.
Explore Related Categories
