History forward: Preservation isn't just a nod to the past; it's smart policy for the future

There is a reason some people aren't sure they want to get behind the historic tax credit program in North Carolina.

It goes back to the theory of taxes, budgets and red ink vs. black.

They think that the money that is taken off the tax rolls is just another government benefit, another chance for a lucky few to get free money and another drain on revenue the state doesn't need and can't afford.

When there is an unnecessary drain on revenue, they say, that increases the bills for taxpayers as revenues are juggled from other sources and programs to make up the difference.

But that is not how you should look at historic tax credits.

Rather than a drain on resources, it is actually a way to invest in your community -- and to actually increase your city, county and state's tax bases.

And there is a side benefit, too -- preserving what matters about North Carolina, its history.

There is a reality that goes along with the passage of time -- buildings that were once brand new and pristine become older and, sometimes, dilapidated.

And that is the story in many of the state's historic downtowns.

While there is a call to invest in these neighborhoods, the truth is it is expensive.

It is much easier to build a new, shiny building rather than to reconstruct an historic structure. The costs are prohibitive for not only business investment but for residential investment as well. And the truth is, in a downtown area, having one without the other is useless.

Bottom line, no one is going to live in a rundown house or choose a downtown address if affordable options with modern conveniences are not available, and you need people to live downtown to be able to support a growth strategy. That is just how it works.

Tax credits are an incentive to get people to take the risk to make that investment both in residential and business properties.

There are no grants.

There is no free money.

There is just the promise that if there is an investment, if the risk is taken, there will be a reward for turning what could be a liability into a positive development in North Carolina's future.

But it is not just about money.

These downtowns, these buildings, they tell North Carolina's story. In their walls are the evidence of another generation's risk, another time when someone took a chance and built a community on faith.

They represent the legacies of those who came before -- and will be a message for those who come after about what they should value and protect.

And we should work to preserve as many of these buildings as possible and the history that goes along with them.

New construction is easier. New construction is shinier.

But it is not always better.

There are many success stories that go along with the use of historic tax credits -- successful downtown revitalizations and buildings that are thriving centers of commerce instead of decaying eyesores.

That is a choice that is worth making.

And the bottom line is -- it is an investment worth making as well.

Wayne County is lucky to have a group of legislators that understands that not all government programs are reasons to hide the women and children.

Now, all we have to do is remind the rest that North Carolina gets stronger when it encourages investment, spends smarty, rebuilds infrastructure -- and remembers and honors where it came from.

Published in Editorials on April 9, 2015 11:52 AM