4Culture believes that historic buildings, sites, neighborhoods and landscapes lie 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.
The owners of designated landmarks deserve recognition and support for their efforts to protect these special places for future generations. 4Culture is proud to have invested over $650,000 in the stabilization, rehabilitation, and restoration of King County Landmarks in the past five years alone.
Who Can Apply
Stewards of King County Landmarks
Eligible Properties
A designated King County Landmark
A designated City Landmark located in a jurisdiction participating in the King County Interlocal Preservation Program (KCIPP)
A contributing property located within a King County or KCIPP landmark district.
Eligible Applicants
Owners of record of designated King County Landmarks, or KCIPP landmark properties (including private individuals, organizations, and public agencies other than K-12 schools or school districts)
Long-term lessees of same, in conjunction with owners of record
What Gets Funded
Project planning, design, materials, labor, permits and fees
Architectural and engineering design; construction drawings; bid documents
Building permits and fees
Materials and contracted labor
Landscaping (if the landscaping is a designated feature of significance)
Documented project management and administration costs related to the project, up to 15% of the grant award
When to Apply Annual Deadline - March 3, 2010 - 5:00 p.m. PST
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Online application period opens January 6, 2010. Deadline for application is March 3, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. PST. Projects, or portions thereof, funded through this program may begin no earlier than May 1, 2010.
How Awards are Made Review criteria and competitive selection process
Applications to the Landmark Rehabilitation Program are reviewed by staff for accuracy and completeness. An independent peer review panel of preservation specialists meets to review applications. The panel will select and recommend the most compelling projects for funding, based on the following criteria:
Review Criteria
Quality & Significance
Significance of the landmark, and extent to which the project addresses its historic features
Extent to which the project will aid in the long-term preservation and continued use of the landmark property
Potential of the project to stimulate economic activity or improvements in the neighborhood or community
Degree to which the project will benefit the general public, including residents, school children, local organizations, or tourists. Note: occasional public access to the exterior of the property is required if not visible from a public right-of-way
Feasibility
Readiness of the applicant to undertake the proposed work this year (percentage of project costs in hand or firmly committed, architectural and engineering studies completed or in progress, or other indications of project viability)
Demonstrated experience and expertise of the project team to successfully complete the project on time and on budget
Financial viability, including credible cost estimate from a qualified contractor or architect; ability of the applicant to undertake the project on a reimbursement basis; and financial capability of the applicant to handle unforeseen cost overruns
Additional Preservation Program Priorities
Project addresses an urgent preservation or stabilization need
Project has been considered in the context of a comprehensive preservation plan (please attach any existing planning documents or condition assessments)
Project is not eligible for any other 4Culture funding programs
Competitive Selection Process and Timeline
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 schedule a site visit.
Flo Lentz is your primary contact for the Landmark Rehabilitation Program. Contact Flo Lentz at (206) 296-8682 to discuss your project and schedule a site visit.
Completed applications are due Wednesday, March 3, 2010.
In late March, peer review panel meets.
Panel recommendations are forwarded to 4Culture's Historic Preservation Advisory Committee. In late April, the 4Culture Board of Directors meets to take final action.
In early May, applicants receive formal notification from 4Culture's Executive Director, following Board action and appropriation of program funds.
After formal notification, 4Culture staff works with award recipients to develop a contract that specifies the scope of work to be funded. 4Culture reserves the right to re-define the project scope to address critical needs first.
Award recipients must be under contract with 4Culture, and the project 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.
FAQ
How large are Landmark Rehabilitation awards? Awards have ranged from $3,000 to $12,000 over the past 5 years. This year, the maximum award is capped at $10,000.
Do you make partial awards? What about second or third awards? Less than 1/3 of our applicants receive full funding in any one cycle; most receive a portion of the funds requested. You may apply and get funds more than once, as long as you can demonstrate that your project is moving forward and meeting goals and timeline.
If I'm awarded funding, will I get the money up front? No, 4Culture awards are made on a reimbursement basis. Reimbursement may be set up for two or more increments during contracting.
What are my obligations if I receive an award? All recipients of Landmark Rehabilitation Program funds must meet defined insurance and public benefit requirements. For private property owners, public benefit requirements will be recorded with the property title. All award recipients must obtain a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) from the King County Landmarks Commission, and any required County permits, 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 in January or February. We are happy to answer questions and give pointers.
Who do I work with? Flo Lentz is your primary contact for the Landmark Rehabilitation Program. Contact Flo at (206) 296-8682.
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 form. In this section, you will find three tools for preparing your information
Annotated Application Preview
Narrative Question Guide
Supplemental Materials Guide
Annotated Application Preview
The online application will ask you for information that you should prepare before you login to apply. To prepare your information, we suggest you review the Application Preview. It shows you what the online application will look like and contains helpful notes/tips from staff.
If you do not have the Adobe Acrobat software required to view this document, you can download a free Adobe® Acrobat viewer.
Narrative Question Guide
In the online application, you will be asked four narrative questions. Below is a bit more guidance on responding to these questions.
Tell us about your landmark property, and why you think it's historically significant. Briefly summarize its current condition.
Tell us about your big-picture plans and goals for the property.
Provide a clear description of the specific project for which you are requesting funding. Be sure to explain your approach to meeting preservation standards.
Note: you'll probably need at least 3 paragraphs here, and it's ok to go over 250 words.
Narrative Question: Project Impact (Impact & Public Benefit)
Tell us how your project will help extend the life of the landmark and its role in the community.
Is the project likely to encourage additional preservation activity on the block or in the neighborhood?
How will people benefit from this public investment? Is the landmark (and the project itself) visible from a public right-of-way? will you allow any access to occasional tour groups, school children, or tourists?
Tell us what background you, your sub-contractors, and others on your project team have in preservation, construction or design, and grants management. Note: a brief summary is enough; resumes are not required!
Narrative Question: Project Plan (Feasibility)
Outline your project schedule, and show how you're ready to begin the project this year.
Provide some narrative or notes on how you developed your budget figures.
Are you able to do this project on a reimbursement basis? If you're awarded only partial funding, would you be able to use other resources or proceed with some phase of the work?
Note: you'll probably need at least 3 paragraphs here, and it's ok to go over 250 words.
Supplemental Materials Guide
Here are the supplemental materials that you will be asked to submit. You have some options as to how to submit these materials.
Supplementary Info Form (to be uploaded) Please note that this form contains two worksheets for you to fill out. Look for the tabs down at the bottom of the page to click between the worksheets.
Project Budget worksheet: Enter your estimated project costs in the Expenses column; add in additional detail lines if desired. Enter your sources of income for the project in the Income column.
Preservation Priorities worksheet: Use this table to prioritize the overall needs of your landmark property.
Contractor Bids (to be uploaded, or mailed) At least one contractor bid or architectural estimate is required.
Images (to be uploaded, or mailed on CD) Send us 6 to 12 digital color images in .jpg format. We prefer between 2 and 5 megabytes in size. Images should show historic property:
In its setting or neighborhood context
Each side of exterior of primary structure
Features (exterior or interior) affected by proposed project
Optional Miscellaneous materials (to be mailed) Any existing master plans, studies, assessments; any existing site plans, drawings or sketches that support your project.
Any mailed supplemental materials must be postmarked by March 3rd, 2010 and sent to:
Attn: Flo Lentz
4Culture / Preservation
101 Prefontaine Pl S
Seattle, WA 98101
STEP 3 - Sign in to begin your application
Individuals must follow the link below to fill out the application designed for individual applicants. Organizations (and public agencies) must follow the link below to fill out the application designed for organization applicants.
Note: Once you have started the process of applying online, you can hit "save" after each completed step in the application, sign out, and your application will remain saved as a draft. You can then return to your application any time before the deadline to continue working or to make changes by signing in with the username and password you created. Once you hit "submit," you will still be able to see your application but you will not be able to make any more changes.
For technical questions about the online application system, contact staff member Brandi Link at 206-296-8707.
