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Old Northeast named historic site
By JON WILSON, Times Staff Writer
ST. PETERSBURG -- The quest is complete. Late last month, the Historic Old Northeast won its place on the National Register of Historic Places after residents plugged toward it for seven years. The all-volunteer effort cataloged nearly 4,000 pieces of property -- houses, garages, apartments and virtually all else standing in the 425-acre neighborhood. Considered to be among the one or two largest National Register districts in Florida, it sprawls from Fifth Avenue N to 30th Avenue N, between Fourth Street N and the waterfront byways of North Shore Drive and Coffee Pot Boulevard. "I take it as a sense of pride as someone involved in historical renovation," said Steve Kipp, a Historic Old Northeast resident. "It affects me personally, and all my neighbors. It's just wonderful." Historic Old Northeast becomes the second St. Petersburg neighborhood to win National Registry designation. The first was Roser Park, named in 1998. Two other neighborhoods -- Historic Kenwood and the Round Lake area of Uptown -- are close to winning their designations. About 20 individual sites have earned past listings, among them St. Petersburg High School, the Open Air Post Office and the Renaissance Vinoy Resort. When an entire neighborhood wins such a designation, the contributing properties in it -- about 85 percent are considered as such in Historic Old Northeast -- can be eligible for tax breaks when owners renovate. But most of the rewards are intangible. One of the bigger is the sense of accomplishment. In Historic Old Northeast's case, a bunch of amateurs pulled it off. They literally went door to door to survey every property. Among the hundreds of elements cataloged were a log cabin on 14th Avenue NE, four identical houses built for four sisters and an Indian mound near the Vinoy. "Practically every block has something about it that is surprising," said Rob Wertz, who helped get the project rolling and was one who pounded the pavement with notebook in hand. Such an effort, combined with producing a report, might have cost as much as $80,000 if done by professionals, said City Council member Virginia Littrell, who lives in the neighborhood. Historic Old Northeast did have some aces in its ranks. Kate Hoffman, one of those who trekked up and down streets and across avenues, is vice president of Janus Research, a firm that does for a living projects such as this one. She said Janus agreed to donate her time and some in-kind services. She also credited residents like Steve Lange, who instigated the project, and Wertz. "They did an awful lot of work before people jumped on board with it. As they moved through the process, people got more and more excited," said Littrell, including Hoffman among the early sparkplugs. "It's a pride thing for the neighborhood," Hoffman said. People think their neighborhood is special and become more interested in maintaining and improving it. Some other intangible benefits might include tourism marketing and calling attention to historic renovation, preservation planners say. The tax breaks can also catch a homeowner's attention. Renovations -- if they enhance the building's historic character -- can result in partial exemption from property taxes for 10 years on the added value the renovation brings. The exemption holds only for the share property taxes the city or county levies. There is no exemption from taxes that go to other agencies, such as the School Board. The Save Our Homes amendment, which limits annual increases in the total assessed value of property to 3 percent, can coexist with the historic exemptions on the same property, said Pam Dubov, chief deputy property appraiser. A federal tax credit in the amount of 20 percent of the renovation's value also is possible for owners who follow the rules and rehabilitate commercial or residential rental property. The rules for both kinds of tax breaks can be challenging. "I think the tax benefits are difficult to maneuver," Littrell said. Best bet, officials say, is to check with officials -- for example, city planners, the county property appraiser's office, the state Division of Historic Resources -- before plunging into a renovation with the expectation of tax windfalls. An event honoring Historic Old Northeast's designation may take place later. Littrell said several ideas are being discussed. Meanwhile, Wertz said, plans are under way to establish walking tours of the neighborhood and install historic plaques.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
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