Exterior Rehabilitation Assistance Program

Phoenix, Arizona’s Exterior Rehabilitation Assistance Program

Exterior Rehabilitation Assistance Program goal is to promote the preservation of historic buildings through proper rehabilitation. A successful rehabilitation is one that retains, preserves and protects as much of the original historic fabric as possible. It also preserves the original character-defining architectural elements of a particular building.

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Exterior Rehabilitation Assistance ProgramThe city of Phoenix Historic Preservation Office provides exterior rehabilitation assistance to help residents sensitively rehabilitate historic homes while promoting reinvestment in Phoenix’s historic neighborhoods.

The program makes monies available to private property owners to complete exterior rehabilitation, repair or restoration work on historic homes continuing to serve a residential purpose.

Owners of historic homes that are either in city-designated historic districts or are individually listed on the city’s historic property register are eligible to apply. The Phoenix Historic Property Register is available on the city website.

The program reimburses owners on a 50/50 matching basis for pre-approved work with grant funding between $5,000 and $10,000 per project. In exchange for receiving financial assistance, the property owner agrees to sell the city a conservation easement to protect the historic character of the property’s exteriors.

Eligible Improvements
All work performed must be exterior work, which results in the repair, improvement, reconstruction, maintenance or enhancement of the facades or exterior faces of the subject property. Eligible exterior work may include:

  • Exterior wall repairs
  • Roof repairs/replacement
  • Foundation repairs
  • Masonry/stucco repairs
  • Porch and step rehabilitation
  • Cornices and parapet repairs
  • Exterior window and door repairs and weatherization improvements
  • Exterior woodwork/trim
  • Historic outbuildings/carport rehabilitation
  • Reversal of previous inappropriate alterations
  • Reconstruction of original architectural elements based on documentation/evidence
  • Demolition of non-historic additions
  • Re-painting (only if component of an eligible repair)
  • Structural rehabilitation/reinforcement

Interior work may be eligible only if necessary to stabilize or structurally support the building’s historic exteriors.

Engineering costs (soft costs) may qualify if they are related directly to eligible work and if costs are incurred within two (2) years prior to and/or one (1) year after application date and amount to no more than 20 percent of the total funding request. This can include historic structure reports and construction drawings and specifications.

The program does not fund new construction, additions, work on additions that are not historic, acquisitions, landscaping, fencing, site improvements or interior work (unless related to structural stabilization).

Application Basics
Funding is available through a competitive application process approximately once per year.  Applications are available online, at the city Historic Preservation Office or by mail. Additionally, historic preservation staff can provide assistance in developing an appropriate scope of work and completing the application form.

Applications for the next round of funding are due on APRIL 8, 2015, at 4:00 P.M.

Meeting Historic Design Guidelines
Priority is given to projects that perform exterior rehabilitation, repair or restoration work in close accordance with the city’s General Design Guidelines for Historic Properties​​.

These guidelines encourage improvements that retain the original character of a residence and that extend the life of historic building materials, features and finishes. Where preservation of historic building materials is not reasonable or cost effective, in-kind replacement may be acceptable.

Project Selection
When reviewing applications, the city considers the merits of the proposed project, the quality of the application and the support the project provides to the advancement of the city’s Historic Preservation goals. Priority will be given to applications that:

  • Clearly demonstrate adherence to the city’s Preservation Philosophy​ and ​Design Guidelines.
  • Clearly address the most critical physical needs of the building.
  • Substantially improve the visual appearance of an historic neighborhood, district streetscape or an individually significant property.
  • Contribute to neighborhood revitalization impacts with funded work that:
    • will make a non-contributing property a contributor to a historic district; or
    • is in a district where fewer than 2.5 percent of properties have received exterior rehabilitation grants; or
    • is in a district with housing values at 65 percent or less of the median value for Maricopa County.
    • Extra Points Calculation
  • Demonstrate proper rehabilitation techniques based on historic preservation principles (such as following the city’s technical bulletins on masonry repainting, paint removal, steel or wood window repairs, and wood shingle roof replacements).
  • Completely address each question on the application and include two detailed bids for all proposed work items.
  • Encourage the investment of private funds to rehabilitate, improve, maintain, preserve, protect and enhance deteriorated historic properties.

Exterior Rehabilitation Assistance Program Application Information
For more information on the application deadline or to schedule an appointment with the Exterior Rehabilitation grants manager, call 602-261-8699.

  • Exterior Rehabilitation Program Application
    The application will need to be filled out and returned to the Historic Preservation Office by the specified date in order to be eligible for the program.
  • Exterior Rehabilitation Program Guide
    A guide providing information on the history of the grant program, procedure for funding applicants, and information about completing the application.
  • Completed Sample Application
  • Application Checklist
    A checklist of all the items that should be included with the application before submitting it.
  • Preservation Philosophy
    Guiding principles on retaining, preserving, and/or replacing architectural features/elements on a historic structure.
  • General Design Guidelines for Historic Properties
  • Exterior Rehabilitation Program Agreement
    A legal agreement between the city of Phoenix Historic Preservation Office and the property owner outlining how the work will be carried out and how the owner will be paid.
  • Deed of Conservation Easement
    A legal agreement between the city of Phoenix Historic Preservation Office and the property owner on the obligations and requirements necessary for the grant.
  • Consent Agreement
    A legal document that must be signed and returned to the Historic Preservation Office by any lienholders before commencement of any work. The Consent Agreement provides the permission of any lienholders for the property owners to sign the Deed of Conservation Easement.
  • Form W-9
  • Affidavit of Identity
    To comply with state requirements, applicants must submit these forms with their applications, along with an acceptable form of identification.

Historic Homes of Phoenix Book
A 222-page illustrated book published by the city of Phoenix which may be helpful in providing information about the architecture of your home can be ordered on-line.

Order on-line

Technical Historic Preservation Bulletins
Please see our Reports, Publications and Bulletins page for a list of bulletins that provide historic property owners with technical guidance and information on specific “how to” projects for historic buildings.

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