As part of the revamped Mills Act Property Tax Abatement Program (Mills Act), an economic incentive program for historic properties, the City of Long Beach will host two events to educate the public about how to qualify and apply for tax benefits while also preserving the City’s designated landmarks.
The first event will be a pre-application workshop on Saturday, June 27 at 10:30am at the Long Beach Public Library Lobby, 101 Pacific Ave. The second will be an application workshop on Saturday, July 11 at 1:30pm at the Burnett Neighborhood Library Community Room, 560 E. Hill St.
“Reinstating this important program will help to protect the city’s historic sites and provide property owners with substantial savings each year,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “This significant effort reflects our strong commitment to historic preservation and dedication to upholding the rich heritage of Long Beach.”
On Jan. 6, the City Council approved revisions to the Mills Act to provide more opportunities for eligible historic property owners. The Mills Act is a state program that is administered and implemented by local governments and offers economic incentives to qualifying owners of historic or designated landmark sites upon agreement to rehabilitate, restore and protect their property.
Under the Mills Act contracts, private owners receive tax relief in exchange for proper maintenance and preservation of the historical and architectural character of the property for a revolving 10-year term.
The first workshop will feature an overview of the Mills Act and eligibility requirements. It will also include a review of the process for preparing an application and calculating individual property-tax savings. The application workshop will provide more specific information geared toward those interested in proceeding with the application process.
All potential applicants or their representative must attend the first workshop. Mills Act applications are processed once a year, during the application period. The deadline to submit an application is Friday, July 17.
The Mills Act is especially beneficial for recent buyers of historic sites and current owners of historic buildings who have made major improvements to their property, according to city officials. Since going dormant in 2006, review of the City’s Mills Act Program and existing contracts has been underway, in accordance with historic preservation standards and specific contract requirements.
There are currently 34 properties with Mills Act contracts in Long Beach.
For questions regarding the Mills Act, call (562) 570-6288 or email christopher.koontz@longbeach.gov . For additional information about the program, visit lbds.info/millsact . To view a copy of the Historic Preservation Element, visit lbds.info/planning/historic_preservation .
Source: City of LB
