The public is invited to attend two events about how to qualify and apply for tax benefits while also preserving Long Beach’s designated landmarks, as part of the Mills Act Property Tax Abatement Program (Mills Act), an economic incentive program for historic properties.
“The Mills Act helps to preserve the City’s historic structures and provides considerable tax savings to property owners,” said Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia. “This program illustrates our commitment to protecting the city’s cultural resources and historical identity.”
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 it 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 benefits in exchange for proper maintenance and preservation of the historical and architectural character of the property for an initial 10-year term.
A pre-application workshop will take place Saturday, March 12 at 10:30am at the Long Beach Public Library Lobby, 101 Pacific Ave.
The workshop will feature an overview of the Mills Act and eligibility requirements. The event will also include a review of the process for preparing an application and calculating individual property tax savings.
An application workshop will take place Saturday, March 26 at 10:30am at the Dana Neighborhood Library Meeting Room, 3680 Atlantic Ave.
The event will provide more specific information geared toward those interested in proceeding with the application process.
All potential applicants or their representative must attend the pre-application workshop. Mills Act applications are processed once a year, during the application period. The deadline to submit an application is Friday, April 1, 2016.
The Mills Act is especially beneficial for recent buyers of historic sites or owners who may have recently had a property transfer or tax re-assessment, according to city officials.
Last year, nine Mills Act contracts were awarded for historic properties within Long Beach, representing a mix of single-family homes, commercial properties and mixed-use apartments and condominium buildings. Forty-two properties currently have Mills Act contracts in Long Beach.
For more information regarding the Mills Act, call (562) 570-6288 or e-mail 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 .
