Preservation Consultant Services
A.C.O.R.N.’s
Preservation Consultant Services are a
"One-Stop-Shop" for your Historic Rehabilitation Project
Do you have questions about maintaining or renovating your historic home?
Please read this testimony of one local client who worked with an A.C.O.R.N. Tax Credit Consultant:
"I knew that the restoration of my old house would qualify for tax credits, but the paperwork stopped me in my tracks. Two workshops at the Department of Historic Resources only furthered my frustration. "Don't try this at home" became my motto. And then I called A.C.O.R.N. and connected with Karri Richardson on their staff! The clouds parted and the sun came through. The forms were completed to DHR's satisfaction, and lawyers and accountants showed up to ease the work all the way through the syndication of the tax credits. And I met new contractors for the odd necessities of an old house along the way. My advice to you if you are thinking about working on an old house is to make A.C.O.R.N. your first call."
Waite Rawls (Richmond, VA )
Commission of Architectural Review
Presentation Consulting
If you are the owner of a historic property in the City of Richmond or a resident of one of Richmond's City Old & Historic Districts, you may have to deal with specific issues pertaining to the maintenance or renovation of your home. The rehabilitation of properties that fall within these boundaries is subject to regulation by the Commission of Architectural Review (CAR), which oversees the protection of City Old & Historic districts. The CAR has the power to grant or deny a certificate of appropriateness (COA) for projects such as facade repair, fence installation, or the addition of a structure to your historic home. A.C.O.R.N. preservation consultants can help you develop a design solution that will contribute to a strong CAR application.
CLICK HERE to access a CAR application
CLICK HERE to visit the City of Richmond Commission of Architectural Review web site
State & Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credit Application Preparation
In addition to preparing you to apply for a COA, A.C.O.R.N. preservation consultants are experienced in the state and federal tax credit application process. Tax credits reduce the amount of income taxes owed by taxpayers who rehabilitate qualifying historic buildings. If your renovation meets certain requirements, you may be able to claim 20% of qualified rehab costs as a credit on your federal income taxes and 25% of qualified costs on your state income taxes. Please CLICK HERE for more details on our historic tax credit consulting program.
CLICK HERE to visit the Virginia Department of Historic Resources and find out about the rehabilitation tax credit application process.
Architectural Design Consulting & Schematic Drawings
If you are considering the redesign of your front porch, adopting a new color scheme for your house, or planning a major aesthetic change to your property, consider A.C.O.R.N.'s preservation consultants your historic design specialists. Preservation consultants will create schematic plans and elevations -- as well as design distinct building elements -- that will detail the character and impact of an architectural alteration, allowing you to make an informed decision on a historically sensitive design for your home. A.C.O.R.N. consultants will also give you professional advice on the need for repair and renovation of special historic home elements, such as distinctive ironwork, brickwork, or window repair. As you continue to invest in your residence and neighborhood, this will improve your property values over the long term and contribute to the overall neighborhood character.
House History Research and Report 
If you've ever wondered when your home was constructed, by whom, and for what purpose, or perhaps who lived there over the decades and centuries and how the house was adapted over time, contact A.C.O.R.N. to make an appointment with our researchers. These experienced research consultants will provide you with a house history report that will shed light on how your residence and neighborhood developed over time. Let A.C.O.R.N. consultants help enrich your experience of living in a historic home.
Please explore the links below to access other helpful information:
- City of Richmond Planning Commission
- Library of Virginia
- Historic Richmond Foundation
- Richmond History Center
- VCU Special Collections
To see a copy of A.C.O.R.N.'s Preservation Services brochure, click on the following links: (PAGE 1, PAGE 2).