Historical Society Grand OperaThe Historical Division of the Department of CuItural Affair~
STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF IOWA
Where past meets future
June 18, 2002
American GotBlc House
Eldon
Blood Run NI-IL
Larchwood
Centennial Building
Iowa City
The Honorable Terry Duggan
Mayor
50W. 13th Street
Dubuque, IA 52001-4864
RE: The Grand Opera House, 135 8th Street, Dubuque, Dubuque County
Dear Mayor Duggan:
We are pleased to inform you that the above named property, which is located within
your community, was accepted for nomination to the National Register of Historic
Places by the State Nominations Review Committee at its June 14, 2002 meeting.
Once a final version is received in our office, the nomination will be submitted for final
review by the National Park Service.
Listing in the National Register provides the following benefits to historic properties:
Consideration in the planning for Federal, federally licensed, and federally assisted
projects. Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 requires
Federal agencies allow the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation an
opportunity to comment on projects affecting historic properties listed in the
National Register. For further information please refer to 36 CFR 800.
Eligibility for Federal tax benefits. If a property is listed in the National Register,
certain Federal tax provisions may apply. The Tax Reform Act of 1986 revises the
historic preservation tax incentives authorized by Congress in the Tax Reform Act
of 1976, the Revenue Act of 1978, the Tax Treatment Extension Act of 1980, the
Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981, and Tax Reform Act of 1984, and as of
January 1, 1987, provides for a 20 percent investment tax credit with a full
adjustment to basis for rehabilitating historic commercial, industrial, and rental
residential buildings. The former 15 percent and 20 percent investment Tax
Credits (ITCs) for rehabilitations of older commercial buildings are combined into a
single 10 percent ITC for commerciai or industrial buildings built before 1936. The
Tax Treatment Extension Act of 1980 provides Federal tax deductions for
charitable contributions for conservation purposes of partial interests in historically
important land areas or structures. For further information please refer to 36 CFR
67 and Treasury Regulation Sections 1.48-12 (ITCs) and 1.170A-14 (charitable
contributions).
Consideration of historic values in the decision to issue a surface coal mining
permit where coal is located, in accord with the Surface Mining and Control Act of
1977. For further information, please refer to 30 CFR 700 et seq.
Qualification for Federal and State grants for historic preservation when funds are
available.
Eligibility for State Tax Credits for rehabilitation. Properties listed on the
National Register, eligible for listing on the National Register or Barns
IOWA HISTORICAL BUILDING
600 East Locust · Des Moines, Iowa 503190290
Phone:(515) 281-6412 · Fax:(515) 242-6498 or (515) 282-0502
www. iowahistory, org
The Honorable Terry Duggan
June 18, 2002
Page 2
constructed before 1937 are eligible to apply for a 25 percent state tax credit
for rehabilitation. The cost of a 24-month qualified rehabilitation project
would exceed either $25,000 or 25 percent of the fair market value for a
residential property or barn less the land before rehabilitation. For commercial
properties, the rehabilitation project would exceed 50 percent of the assessed
value of the property less the land before rehabilitation - whichever is less.
The State Historic Preservation office must approve the rehabilitation work
before an amount of tax credits will be reserved for your project. There are
limited credits available each year, so let us know if you want the application
information.
Elected officials, representing the communities within which nominated properties are
located are encouraged to comment concerning the propriety of those nominations
and the accuracy of nomination content. A fifteen day period of public comment,
during the period of Federal review, follows the listing of this nomination in the Federal
Register. Any comments previously submitted to the State Nominations Review
Committee are automatically forwarded as part of the nomination and need not be
repeated for the Federal review. If the owner of a single property nomination or a
majority of private properb/owners in a district nomination object, a property will not
be listed; however, the Keeper of the National Register can make a determination of
the eligibility of the property for listing in the National Register. If the property is then
determined eligible for listing, although not formally listed, Federal agencies will be
required to allow the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation an opportunity to
comment before the agency may fund, license, or assist a project which will affect the
property.
Should you have any questions about the National Register of Historic Places, tax
incentives or about this nomination in particular, please feel free to contact me by
telephone at 515-281-4137 or by e-mail at beth.foster(~dca.state.ia.us. ]f you have
questions regarding grants, please contact Cynthia Nieb at 515-28:L-8754 or
cynthia.neib@dca.state.ia.us.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Foster, Tax Incentive Programs Manager
National Register Coordinator