flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Architects to Congress: ‘You're making a terrible mistake’

Architects

Architects to Congress: ‘You're making a terrible mistake’

House and Senate gut historic building credits and penalize architecture firms.


By AIA | December 4, 2017
Architects to Congress: ‘You're making a terrible mistake’
Architects to Congress: ‘You're making a terrible mistake’

December 3, 2017 - The American Institute of Architects (AIA) will lobby aggressively in coming days against significant inequities in both the House and Senate versions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, just as the legislation heads into conference.

The House legislation abolishes the Historic Tax Credit (HTC), vital to the revitalization of America’s city centers and widely hailed as an economic engine since the Reagan Administration put them into place more than three decades ago. The Senate bill eliminates the current 10 percent credit for pre-1936 structures, and significantly dilutes the current 20 percent credit for certified historic structures by spreading it over a five-year period.

The Senate's tax reform bill allows small businesses that are organized as “pass through” companies (i.e. partnerships, sole proprietorships and S-Corporations) to reduce income through a 23 percent deduction. But, like the House-passed bill, the Senate bill totally excludes certain professional services companies - including all but the smallest architecture firms - from tax relief.

AIA 2017 President Thomas Vonier, FAIA, says:

"By weakening the Historic Tax Credits, Congress and the Administration will hurt historic rehabilitation projects all across the country - something to which architects have been committed for decades. Since 1976, the HTCs have generated some $132 billion in private investment, involving nearly 43,000 projects. The Historic Tax Credit is fundamental to maintaining America's architectural heritage.

"Unfortunately, both bills for some reason continue to exclude architects and other small business service professions by name from lower tax rates. There's no public policy reason to do this. Design and construction firms do much more than provide a service; they produce a major component of the nation's gross domestic product and are a major catalyst for job growth.

"Our members across the country are already mobilized to make sure their Congressional delegations know these views. In the coming days, we will spare no effort to make sure members of the House-Senate conference committee know the views of the AIA's more than 90,000 members on the inequities in both pieces of legislation

"We say this again: tax reforms must achieve three basic goals to ensure the vitality of small business and the health, safety and welfare of our communities:

·   Preserve tax policies that support and strengthen small businesses.

·   Support innovative, economically vibrant, sustainable and resilient buildings and communities.

·   Ensure fairness.

"So far, this legislation still falls well short of these goals. If passed, Congress would be making a terrible mistake."

Tags

Related Stories

| Apr 19, 2012

The 10 mistakes most likely to get you sued

The California Chamber of Commerce has produced a white paper cataloging the top 10 mistakes most likely to get a company sued. While a few of the laws cited apply specifically to California, some of them are federal and may apply in your state.

| Apr 19, 2012

Holcim cement plants recognized at PCA Spring Meeting

The Holly Hill plant received the PCA’s Chairman’s Safety Performance Award in recognition of their exceptional health and safety programs. The Theodore plant received the Environmental Performance Award in recognition of the steps they take beyond those required by laws, regulations and permits to minimize their impact on the environment.

| Apr 19, 2012

KTGY Group’s Arista Uptown Apartments in Broomfield, Colo. completed

First of eight buildings highlights unique amenities.

| Apr 19, 2012

Nauset begins work on $20M Joint Forces HQ at Hanscom AFB

3D imaging key to project timetable and cost containment.

| Apr 19, 2012

HBD Construction names Steven Meeks vice president

Meeks will provide expertise for the company in its many diverse areas of construction projects including health care, senior living, education and retail.

| Apr 18, 2012

Lafarge moving North American headquarters to Illinois

Lafarge CEO John Stull says the factors in their decision were location in the Midwest and area transportation.

| Apr 18, 2012

Positive conditions persist for Architecture Billings Index

The AIA reported the March ABI score was 50.4, following a mark of 51.0 in February; greatest demand is for commercial building projects.

| Apr 18, 2012

Syska Hennessy re-launches Information and Communication Technology practice

The ICT practice will focus a blend of products including Information Technology, Security, Audiovisual, Building Automation, Fire Life Safety, Medical Communications and Intelligent Building Systems.

| Apr 18, 2012

Perkins+Will designs new complex for Johns Hopkins Hosptial

The Charlotte R. Bloomberg Children’s Center and the Sheikh Zayed Tower create transformative patient-centric care.

| Apr 18, 2012

BBS Architects & Engineers acquires Ward Associates

The merged companies’ on-going project portfolio valued at $220 million.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category


Urban Planning

Bridging the gap: How early architect involvement can revolutionize a city’s capital improvement plans

Capital Improvement Plans (CIPs) typically span three to five years and outline future city projects and their costs. While they set the stage, the design and construction of these projects often extend beyond the CIP window, leading to a disconnect between the initial budget and evolving project scope. This can result in financial shortfalls, forcing cities to cut back on critical project features.



Libraries

Reasons to reinvent the Midcentury academic library

DLR Group's Interior Design Leader Gretchen Holy, Assoc. IIDA, shares the idea that a designer's responsibility to embrace a library’s history, respect its past, and create an environment that will serve student populations for the next 100 years.

halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021