Historic-preservation options flagged; state preservation suggests adding tax-credit info to RFQ

A developer forwarded suggestions from Montana Historic Preservation that the county include historic tax-credit information in the RFQ so prospective proposers would know that tax credits are an available tool for financing rehabilitation. Staff said the suggestion came through the preservation office and could make the proposal more attractive to developers experienced in historic rehabilitation.

Staff also relayed a preservation director's caution: easements that preservation organizations commonly hold in urban areas “typically don't work in a rural community,” the director told staff; the director suggested the county might be the appropriate easement holder in such cases. Staff said they planned to reach out to the preservation office for clarification and to incorporate feasible advice into outreach to developers.