Landmark Challenge Grants: Funding for Preservation Projects
Why 4Culture Supports Landmark Challenge Projects
Historic buildings, sites, neighborhoods, and landscapes are at the heart of every community's identity. The preservation of historic places offers a sustainable boost to the economy, conserves energy and resources, and improves our overall quality of life.
4Culture's Landmark Challenge Grants provide strategic assistance countywide for "bricks and mortar" projects involving highly significant historic properties. These properties are buildings, structures, sites, objects, and districts that have been officially designated as landmarks for their contributions to the diverse heritage of King County and its communities. The goals of the Landmark Challenge Grants program are to address critical physical needs, to spur momentum toward achievable preservation goals, and to visibly demonstrate the value of historic preservation to the community.
We seek to fund quality projects that:
Face a high degree of imminent threat
Have a strong project proponent(s)
Offer substantial long-range public benefit
Show thoughtful preliminary planning
Demonstrate a high likelihood of success
Unlike other funding programs at 4Culture, Landmark Challenge Grants:
Require a one-to-one cash match
Offer a minimum grant award of $10,000 (with a minimum project budget of $20,000)
Will be reimbursed at 50% of documented expenditure
Guidelines and Process for 2010 Program Below (deadline passed)
Who Can Apply
Stewards of Landmark properties
Eligible Properties are located within King County, and are:
Designated as an official City Landmark
Designated as an official King County Landmark
Listed in the National Register of Historic Places in a community that has no operating landmarks ordinance
A contributing property located within a City, King County, or National Register historic district
Eligible Applicants are:
Owners of record, including non-profit organizations, public agencies, and businesses or private individuals
Leaseholders with a minimum 10-year lease, with approval of owner of record
What Gets Funded
Project planning, design, materials, labor, permits and fees
Eligible Activities are:
Strategic project planning (including structural or conditions assessments, preservation plans, and cost estimating)
Architectural and engineering design; construction drawings; bid documents
Building permits and fees
Materials and contracted labor
Essential building systems; landscaping (if historically significant)
Project management costs, up to 15% of the grant award
Not eligible: acquisition, new additions, and routine maintenance
When to Apply Annual Deadline - passed
How Awards are Made Review criteria and competitive selection process
Landmark Challenge Grant awardees are selected by a panel of preservation professionals, based on the following criteria:
Review Criteria
Endangerment Level
Demonstrable physical threat (structural damage, deterioration of key features, inappropriate alteration) or
Demonstrable development pressure (rising land values, strategic location, potential re-zones) and/or
Demonstrable stewardship threat (abandonment, under-use, proposed sale for redevelopment)
Preliminary Planning
Long-range sustainable vision for use of property, and
Clearly-defined approach to preservation, and
Quality & Significance
Strong historical and/or architectural importance, and
Application is clear, complete, and well-considered
Impact & Public Benefit
Project will in some way benefit the general public - residents, schools, local organizations, or tourists. (Occasional public access to the exterior of the property is required if not visible from a public right-of-way) and
Project will stimulate additional economic activity in the neighborhood or community, and/or
Project will aid in the long-term preservation and continued use of the landmark property
Feasibility
Readiness to undertake project this year
Required one-to-one cash match identified
Demonstrated experience and skills of the project team, and
Credible cost estimates from experienced contractor in hand, and
Ability of the applicant to undertake the project on a reimbursement basis and to handle unforeseen cost overruns
Additional Program Priorities
Project contributes to geographic distribution of funding
Project adds to diversity of project types within applicant pool
Project is not eligible for any other 4Culture "bricks and mortar" funding programs
Competitive Selection Process and Timeline
May - July: Indicate your Intent to Apply - Prior to preparing an application, applicants must contact the Program Coordinator to discuss the proposed project. First-time applicants must also schedule a site visit! Flo Lentz is your primary contact for the Landmark Rehabilitation Program. Contact Flo Lentz at 206 296.8682.
Application deadline: Wednesday, July 14, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. PST.
Early August: peer review panel meets to review and score applications.
September: panel recommendations reviewed and approved by 4Culture's Historic Preservation Advisory Committee and by 4Culture Board of Directors.
Late September: applicants receive formal notification from 4Culture.
4Culture staff works with award recipients to develop a Contract for specific work to be funded. The contract will specify a schedule for reimbursement payments to be made upon submittal of documented project expenditures. The contract will also specify insurance requirements, and public benefit obligations to be recorded with property title.
Projects must be underway within 12 months of the day the award is approved by the 4Culture Board.
Requirements and appeals
Learn about the legal requirements of award recipients, and about the process for appeal of a 4Culture award here.
Important FAQs
How large are Landmark Challenge Grants? Awards have ranged as high as $25,000 over the past two years. This year, the minimum award request is $10,000.
Must I have the required one-to-one cash match on hand at the time of application? No, the cash match may consist of one, or some combination, of the following:
• Documentable expenses directly related to this project, incurred over the past year - since July 14, 2009
• Cash on hand
• Funds to be raised in the coming year - by July 14, 2011
Note: Other 4Culture funding may not be used as a match for this program
If I'm awarded funding, will I get the money up front? No, 4Culture awards are made on a reimbursement basis. Payments may be made in one or more increments. For Landmark Challenge Grants, all reimbursements will be at 50% of documented expenditure to account for the cash match requirement.
What are my obligations if I receive an award? All recipients of Landmark Challenge Grant Funds must meet defined insurance and public benefit requirements. For private property owners, public benefit requirements will be recorded with the property title. Award recipients must obtain all required design review approvals and permits from the appropriate jurisdiction prior to beginning construction.
Will 4Culture staff help me with my application? Yes. Call us to set up a site visit (required for first-time applicants), send an email, or attend a free workshop at 4Culture over the lunch hour during May, June, or July. We are happy to answer questions and give pointers.
Who do I work with? Flo Lentz is your primary contact for the Landmark Challenge Grants program. Contact Flo at 206 296.8682 for help on project content. For technical help with the online application, contact Brandi Link at 206 296.8707.
Ready to Apply
How to submit your ONLINE application
STEP 1 - Read all of the above sections STEP 2 - Gather and prepare your information
You are required to submit your application using the new online application system. In this section, you will find information on how to prepare your application and submit support materials.
In Step 3, a link will be provided to the Application Guide which shows you how the online application actually looks, along with helpful notes and tips specific to the Landmark Challenge Grant program.
Supplemental Materials
You will be asked to submit the following supplemental materials during the "upload" step of the online application:
Preservation Priorities (Required) Use this table to prioritize the overall needs of your landmark property, and to show where your current project fits in. [Open, save to your computer, complete, & upload]
Project Budget (Required) Use the budget form provided here. Enter your estimated project costs in the Expenses column; enter your cash match and 4Culture request in the Income column. Add budget notes on page 2 to explain how you arrived at these figures. [Open, save to your computer, complete, & upload]
Contractor Bid(s) (Required) At least one contractor bid or architectural estimate is required. [Scan, save to your computer, & upload; OR send hard copy by mail]
Images of Landmark Property (Required) Send us 6 to 12 digital color images in .jpg format (maximum of 2MB each). Images should show historic property:
In its setting or neighborhood context
Each side of exterior of primary structure
Features (exterior or interior) effected by proposed project
[Upload from your computer; OR mail to us on CD or DVD]
Optional Miscellaneous Materials: (Optional) Any existing master plans, studies, assessments; any existing site plans, drawings or sketches that support your project. [Send by mail]
Mail/Deliver Instructions Any mailed supplemental materials must be postmarked by July 14, 2010, and sent to:
Attn: Flo Lentz
4Culture / Preservation
101 Prefontaine Pl S
Seattle, WA 98104
STEP 3 - Open Application Guide
To get started, open the Application Guide. You must open and follow this Application Guide in order to access the online application system!
Individual property owners (and businesses) should use the Application Guide for Individuals. Organizations and public agencies should use the Application Guide for Organizations.
