Another chance to preserve history offered by Lee County Historic Preservation grants

historic

Owners of older buildings in unincorporated Lee County have a chance to obtain funds to fix up their old, historic structures under the Lee County Historic Preservation Grant Assistance Program.

This year the program makes available $50,000 in rehabilitation grant funds.

Lee County’s historic resources are major contributors to the quality of life enjoyed by residents and visitors. Gloria Sajgo, Lee County’s principal planner, said the purpose of the program is to help preserve these resources because they are valuable, contribute to neighborhood preservation and urban revitalization, are part of our area’s rural character, enhance our sceneries, and help give our county its identity and special sense of place.

To qualify for participation in this program, a building must be about 50 years old and designated or qualify for designation under the Lee County Land Development Code Chapter 22, Historic Preservation. The structure must be located in unincorporated Lee County.

“The criteria used to evaluate an application includes percentage of total project cost to be funded by the grant and percentage to be funded by the applicant, age and historical significance of the property, condition and degree of endangerment of the property (i.e., urgency of the project) and project planning and plans for future preservation,” Sajgo said.

The average grant award made is for $5,000. However, grants have been awarded for as much as $25,000 and as little as $800.

All applications are due by 4 p.m. on December 16 at the Lee County Planning Division.

To obtain an application or for more information, contact the Lee County Planning Division, P.O. Box 398, Fort Myers FL 33902-0398, (239) 533-8311, FAX (239) 485-8319 or e-mail sajgogm@leegov.com

The Lee County Planning Division is located on the second floor of the Lee County Community Development and Public Works Building at 1500 Monroe St. in downtown Fort Myers.