ELYRIA — The school board agreed Tuesday to seek state and federal preservation tax credits to offset the cost of including the Washington Building in the new Elyria High School.

“The idea is to use these grants to retain as much of the building’s historic character without going over budget,” said Steven McQuillin, a building preservation consultant who presented the idea to the board. “It’s about time the school capitalized on that to get more money.”

The portion of the building with the sandstone front that faces Middle Avenue is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Under the proposed building plans for the new high school, the Washington Building will be used for academic space. The internal design will closely match the design inside the rest of the school, while its exterior will keep the same look.

“Going after this or any other type of money could really help because we don’t really know what that phase of the project will entail until we get in there,” said Donald Boddy, school board president.

There are at least three possible tax credit programs available that would allow the district to maximize any dollars received, McQuillin said. After the presentation, the board voted to give Superintendent Paul Rigda and McQuillin the OK to determine the district’s eligibility for each.

The most beneficial could be the newly enacted Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit, which could generate a subsidy of up to 25 percent of the cost of renovation.

However, the program is limited to only 100 projects per year.

To get the federal tax credit, the district would have to partner with a local tax-paying financial institution or corporation. The partnership will not prevent the district from having full ownership of the property or project, McQuillin said.

Board member Holly Brinda did question whether the tax credits would give the district discretion in the design phase.

McQuillin assured her the credits do allow for some leeway, especially because the building has undergone a few changes including a renovation in 1920 — about 59 years before it received the historic place designation.

Contact Lisa Roberson at 329-7121 or lroberson@chroniclet.com.

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