Historic Preservation

Rehab Right: Landmark Rehabilitation Loans

Part of "rehabbing right" is leveraging available funding to help maintain your historic property. The City of Fort Collins provides zero-interest loans to help City Landmark owners complete projects that keep these sources of community pride in good condition. These loans provide a financial tool to finance rehabilitation and repair projects with no interest with repayment in full due at the owner's discretion. Funds returned to the City are recycled back into the program, providing an ongoing source of dollars for additional projects.

Program Details

Fort Collins City Council established this loan program in 1994 to help property owners of City Landmarks. The program is governed under Chapter 14, Article V of the Fort Collins Municipal Code, which establishes the general intent and aspects of the program:

• Maximum loan amount: The maximum loan amount for any property in a single year is $7,500. There is no minimum loan amount. There is no application fee. There are no restrictions on the number of loan awards an applicant may receive.
• Interest: Loans are 0% interest.
• Cash Match: Applicants must provide a cash match of at least the same amount requested in loan funds (i.e., 50% match). A larger cash match will improve the chances of being funded. Funds provided by other organizations, such as History Colorado, can be used to match the City's loan.
• Repayment Schedule: Loan repayment is made in a single lump-sum at the recipient's discretion, or when the property is sold, transferred, or refinanced (if the owner receives cash or equity). 

Eligibility

To qualify for funding, a project must be on a property that has been designated as Fort Collins Historic Landmark or a contributing structure in a City Landmark District. Listing a property in the State or National Registers, or within State or National Register Districts, does not qualify a property for City loan funds. Properties must be designated as Historic Landmarks before a loan can be approved.

Not sure if your property is a Fort Collins Landmark? Check here.

Think you have a property that is eligible for Landmark status but hasn't been designated yet? Find out more about applying for Landmark designation. 

Application Process

Pre-application meeting: A pre-application submittal meeting with City staff should occur at least one week before the submittal deadline. The meeting is intended to help you with preparing a quality application and to clarify the eligibility of any proposed work. Some projects may require design assistance through the City's Design Assistance Program. To set up a meeting, contact staff by January 24th.

LPC Review: Landmark Preservation Commission (LPC) review. The LPC typically holds one or two hearings in February and March to review the design of loan-related projects. The applicant or his/her representative is required to attend the meeting. The selection process is based on a simple ranking system. Not all qualifying projects are guaranteed to receive funding, and some projects may receive less than the amount requested.

Applications are due February 18th (the day after President's Day). Applications must be postmarked on or before the deadline or hand-delivered by 5:00 p.m. on that date. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Download the Program Guide.

Download an application. 

Please submit all applications to:
City of Fort Collins - Historic Preservation Services
Phone: (970) 416-4250
Email: cHJlc2VydmF0aW9uQGZjZ292LmNvbQ== 

Drop-Off Location:
281 N. College Avenue
Fort Collins

Mailing Address:
City of Fort Collins
P.O. Box 580
Fort Collins, Colorado 80522