Stratford church receives tax credit for perservation

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The Ohio Development Services Agency Tuesday awarded $22.8 million in Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credits to 18 applicants planning to rehabilitate 33 historic buildings. Together, the projects are expected to bring approximately $225.6 million in private investment in 12 communities.

One of those is the Stratford M.E. Church in Delaware County.

“A community’s historic buildings make it unique,” said David Goodman, director of the Ohio Development Services Agency. “Giving a building new life honors the history of the building, while creating construction jobs in the short term and opportunity for economic activity into the future.”

Total project cost is $996,758, with tax credit of $191,538, according to a news release.

Built in 1843, to serve members of the small mill community of Stratford, south of Delaware, the Stratford M.E. church remained active until 1958. Aside from some marginal uses and maintenance, it has been mostly vacant.

It was home to a congregation of the Methodist Episcopal Church until the community faltered following the company’s closure. Situated at the southern end of the company town, it remains prominent because of its architecture, and it has been named a historic site.

After rehabilitation, the church, at 2960 Columbus Pike, will become the offices for David Kerr Architect LLC. The historic sanctuary space will be retained and the original stone walls repaired.

The awards will assist private developers in rehabilitating historic buildings in downtowns and neighborhoods. The renovated buildings drive further investment and interest in adjacent property. Developers are not issued the tax credit until project construction is complete and all program requirements are verified.

The Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit program is administered in partnership with the Ohio History Connection’s State Historic Preservation Office. The State Historic Preservation Office determines if a property qualifies as a historic building and that the rehabilitation plans comply with the United States Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.

The historic Stratford M.E. Church in Delaware County.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2016/12/web1_Stratford-ME-church.jpgThe historic Stratford M.E. Church in Delaware County.

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