ADVERTISEMENT

    Restoration of Lazarus House a Win for Preservationists

    Although small in scale compared to the many large apartment projects currently planned or under construction Downtown, the recent renovation of the Lazarus House at 380 East Town Street may provide some lessons for developers faced with the significant cost of restoring historic properties.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    The husband and wife team of Jeff Darbee and Nancy Recchie, who live on Town Street and work as historic preservation consultants, used state and federal historic tax credits to help offset the cost of rehabbing the building and converting it into three apartments.

    They undertook the project after becoming concerned that the house might be torn down and replaced with a parking lot – the fate of a Civil War-era mansion that once stood next door at the corner of Town and Grant. After applying for and receiving a 25% Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit in December of 2012 (which they then combined with a Federal Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit), the renovation itself took about a year to complete.

    The building, which dates to 1890, was the home of Fred Lazarus – president of the F&R Lazarus company and son of Simon Lazarus, the man who started the men’s clothing store downtown that would grow into the Lazarus chain of department stores.

    Discoveries of the rehabilitation include hidden architectural details like inlaid floors that had been covered with linoleum and carpeting. Some original features could not be salvaged – pocket doors were taken out long ago, and some of the floors had been covered with glued-down tiles that could not removed, so new hardwood was put in over them.

    While acknowledging that the process of applying for historic tax credits can be daunting, Recchie hopes the successful completion of their project – which she said would not have been financially feasible without the credits – will inspire other developers to follow in their footsteps.

    “Part of the reason we undertook this project was to show that small-scale projects can use the credit,” she said, adding that, “these programs are not just for multi-million dollar projects.”

    Recchie offered some suggestions for those looking to use tax credits for smaller projects.

    “First, select a building that is already listed in the National Register of Historic Places, either individually or as a contributing building in a National Register Historic District – there are literally thousands of them in Columbus’ historic districts,” she said. Secondly, it’s helpful to use an architect that “has experience working on tax credit projects and has a thorough understanding of the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation,” which the project will have to follow.

    She added that the project must be income-producing for at least five years, but the tax credits are not limited to residential projects; retail, office, industrial and mixed-use projects are also eligible.

    For more info on the Lazarus House apartment rentals, check the listings on our Urban Living.

    Before & After Photos Provided by Nancy Recchie.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Subscribe

    More to Explore:

    French Bistro Slated for Prominent Downtown Corner

    Another new restaurant is coming to the corner of...

    Updated: Madison County Solar Farm Would Be One of the Largest in U.S.

    UPDATE (3/21/24): The Ohio Power Siting Board voted seven...

    The Confluence Cast: Downtown with Michael Brown

    We're exploring the evolution of downtown with Michael Brown, who has been a cornerstone in the city's development planning and worked both in and outside city government to cheer on its growth. Columbus Underground editor Walker Evans and Mike delve into the city's challenges and triumphs, the synergy between projects, the balance between iconic and neighborhood-level public art investments, and the concerted efforts to address systemic issues like homelessness and affordable housing. Through anecdotes and insights, they highlight Columbus's young, creative energy and the dynamic urban policies that continue to drive its growth.

    Main Street Delaware Launches “Just Next Door” Brand to Enhance Downtown Identity

    In response to the voices of downtown businesses and the community, Main Street Delaware recently unveiled a new identity brand for Downtown Delaware – "Just Next Door." 
    Brent Warren
    Brent Warrenhttps://columbusunderground.com/author/brent-warren
    Brent Warren is a staff reporter for Columbus Underground covering urban development, transportation, city planning, neighborhoods, and other related topics. He grew up in Grandview Heights, lives in the University District and studied City and Regional Planning at OSU.
    ADVERTISEMENT