Safeguarding Tucson’s Heritage: SHPO’s Pivotal Role in Preservation

The Arizona State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) plays a vital role in safeguarding Tucson’s rich cultural heritage, offering critical funding, expert guidance, tax incentives, and regulatory support. Its efforts have not only preserved the city’s historic character but also spurred millions in economic investment. Through a range of strategic programs and initiatives, SHPO has helped elevate Tucson as a statewide leader in historic preservation—earning the city an outsized share of resources, attention, and acclaim.

Heritage Fund Grants: Significant State Investment in Tucson

Since the Heritage Fund's reinstatement in 2022, Tucson has emerged as the primary beneficiary of these critical preservation grants. The data reveals Tucson's exceptional success in securing state funding:

2022-2024 Heritage Fund Awards to Tucson:

• Dunbar School Rehabilitation: $150,000 (with $200,000 local match)

• Juan Santa Cruz Campground Rehabilitation: $300,000 (with $123,360 local match)

• Historic Fort Lowell Rehabilitation: $300,000 (with $1,236,240 local match)

• Teatro Carmen Facade Rehabilitation: $300,000 (with $120,000 local match)

• Rialto Theatre Roof Restoration: $95,916 (with $38,500 local match)

• Romero Site Interpretive Sign Project at Catalina State Park: $40,136 (with $38,448 local match)

• Saint Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church Roof and Walls: $99,712 (with $106,301 local match)

• Total Heritage Fund Investment: $1,285,764 in state funds leveraged $1,862,849 in local investment

This represents 31% of all Heritage Fund awards statewide from 2022-2024, demonstrating Tucson's exceptional ability to develop competitive preservation projects and secure state funding.

Certified Local Government (CLG) Program: Federal Partnership Success

Tucson's participation in the CLG program has resulted in substantial federal investment through the National Park Service, administered by SHPO:

CLG Grant Awards (2018-2024):

• CCC in Tucson Mountain Park/Saguaro NP West: $21,794.71

• Broadmoor-Broadway Village NR Nomination: $15,960.00

• Midcentury Modern Survey 1945-1975: $20,000.00

• Barrio Kroeger Lane DOE: $6,164.00

• Asian American Reconnaissance Survey 1870-1980: $12,504.00

• African-American Survey: $11,951.40

• Barrio Kroeger Lane National Register Nomination: $4,491.60

• Conference Sponsorships: $2,918.00

• City of Tucson African American Survey Phase II: $12,000.00

• Total CLG Investment: $167,852.73 over seven years

Tucson receives 21.29% of all CLG funds statewide, significantly higher than its proportional population, reflecting the city's commitment to professional preservation planning and SHPO's confidence in Tucson's preservation program.

National Register of Historic Places: Statewide Leadership

Under SHPO's guidance and technical assistance, Tucson has achieved remarkable success in National Register recognition:

• 188 individual property listings on the National Register

• 50 historic districts encompassing 9,190 contributing properties

• Second in the state behind only Phoenix (53 districts)

• Home to Arizona's largest historic district: Sam Hughes Neighborhood Historic District with 1,333 contributing properties

• Blenman-Elm Historic District ranks as the state's second-largest with 982 contributing properties

This National Register success provides the foundation for federal and state tax credit programs, regulatory protection, and enhanced property values throughout Tucson.

Historic Property Tax Reclassification: Economic Development Tool

SHPO administers the Special Property Tax (SPT) program that provides significant economic incentives for historic property maintenance:

• 3,797 SPT participants in Tucson (residential properties)

• Represents 41% of all statewide SPT participants (9,283 total)

• Provides annual property tax savings for historic property owners

• Encourages ongoing maintenance and preservation of historic buildings

Historic Tax Credit Program: Leveraging Private Investment

SHPO's administration of state historic tax credits has generated substantial private investment in Tucson's historic properties:

Recent Successful Projects (2020-2023):

• 35 E Toole Street: $1.2 million in Qualified Rehabilitation Expenditures (QREs)

• Jacobson House: $300,000 QREs

• Simpson Rowhouses: $580,000 QREs

• Total recent investment: $2.08 million

Long-term Impact (2001-2023):

• Total QREs: $34,490,061 in private investment leveraged by tax credits

• Housing projects: $15,072,973 of the total investment

• Current active projects: Eight additional projects in various stages of completion

Current Projects in Pipeline:

• Odd Fellows Hall

• Tucson House (part of $237 million Choice Neighborhoods project)

• Trading Post

• Bolsius House

• Valley National Bank

• Multiple single-family residential projects

Section 106 Federal Compliance: Protecting Heritage During Development

SHPO provides essential federal compliance review under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, ensuring historic properties are considered in federally-funded projects:

Current High-Profile Projects:

• HUD-funded Milagro on Oracle: Rehabilitation of the De Anza Motel

• HUD Choice Neighborhoods: $237 million redevelopment within Miracle Mile Historic District, including the state's largest planned Historic Tax Credit project (Tucson House)

• Middle Mile Broadband Project (NTIA funding)

• Silverbell Widening Project

Without SHPO's Section 106 review services, these projects would face significant delays and potential loss of federal funding, particularly affecting affordable housing developments that depend on complex financing timelines.

Economic Impact and Conclusion

The Arizona State Historic Preservation Office's programs have generated exceptional returns for Tucson:

• Over $36 million in documented private investment through tax credit programs

• $1.3 million in direct state Heritage Fund grants leveraging $1.9 million in local matching funds

• $168,000 in federal CLG grants supporting professional preservation planning

• Annual property tax savings for nearly 4,000 historic property owners

• Regulatory protection ensuring consideration of historic properties in major federal projects worth hundreds of millions of dollars

Tucson's success in securing a disproportionate share of state preservation resources (31% of Heritage Fund awards, 21% of CLG grants, 41% of SPT participants) demonstrates both the city's commitment to historic preservation and SHPO's recognition of Tucson as a preservation leader. The State Historic Preservation Office serves not merely as a regulatory agency, but as an essential economic development partner that helps Tucson leverage its historic assets for community revitalization, affordable housing creation, and cultural tourism while maintaining the authentic character that makes the city unique.

The data clearly demonstrates that SHPO's continued support is critical to Tucson's ongoing success in balancing historic preservation with economic development, ensuring that the city's remarkable collection of historic resources continues to serve as engines of community and economic development for future generations.