New program supports exterior home maintenance in historic neighborhoods

Own a historic home or one in a historic neighborhood? The city of Sioux Falls is offering a new program to help with exterior maintenance.

The new Historic Preservation Loan Program offers a zero-interest loan to qualified homeowners who live in one of the city’s five residential historic districts — All Saints, Cathedral, Hayes, McKennan Park and Sherman — or in an individually listed property on the National Register of Historic Places.

“Sioux Falls values rich history, and historic districts and homes play an important role in preserving that history,” said Diane deKoeyer, the city’s neighborhood and preservation planner. “Residents have told our city team that a program to help homeowners rehabilitate and restore historic properties would make a great impact as other national and state funding support is limited and competitive.”

The goal is to promote safe, accessible housing, she said, adding, “when a property is revitalized, it can energize an entire neighborhood.”

The program will offer zero-interest loans of up to $25,000 for work such as exterior restoration or rehabilitation for windows, doors, roofing, gutters, stucco, masonry, siding, trim, stairs, railing, porch/deck, painting, handicap accessibility and other items that may be deemed necessary for site or structural improvements. Interior work is not allowed.

Only single-family, owner-occupied applicants qualify for the program. Homeowners can verify that their property is located within a district or individually listed here.

There’s a $100,000 pool of funds available for the first year, meaning four projects can be funded or more depending on the scope of the work. As a loan program, the idea would be that as the money is repaid, other projects can be funded. The application process will be conducted in phases, and applicants need approval to move from one phase to the next. Projects cannot start until after the loan is awarded, and construction must be complete within one year of the loan approval.

Applications are due by Feb. 9.

The city’s Board of Historic Preservation will oversee the application process and final loan approvals. The application process will be open once per year. Loan approvals will be based on program funding availability and the proposed projects’ impact to historic properties.

The program is being piloted this year and then will be evaluated to determine if it will be offered again.

 “The city has long supported homeowners and neighborhoods, and we view this pilot program as a great complement to the other income-based housing programs the city offers,” deKoeyer said.

To learn more

The city will host an informational meeting about the program from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Jan. 22 at the Downtown Library, 200 N. Dakota Ave. For additional information and to apply for the loan, visit siouxfalls.gov.