Decatur Planning Director Amanda Thompson brought this to the attention of the city commission on Monday night and I asked her to forward me the details so I could share with the online world.

Downtown Decatur was placed on the National Register of Historic Places this October and the Cakes & Ale build out along Church Street will be the first local business to reap the benefits.  Here are the cold hard facts:

Cakes and Ale is a case study of a city, property owner, business owner, and the state and federal government working together to preserve an important part of the historic square and establishing a new business that will bring diners and dollars to Decatur.

1) Federal preservation tax credits equaling 20 % of renovation costs (no cap) will be captured by the property owner.

2) State preservation tax credits(25% with a cap of $300K) and a 8 ½ year property tax freeze will be captured by the property owners and the value will be given to the business owner for the build out costs.

3) A low interest loan from the GA Cities Foundation will be acquired by the Decatur DDA on behalf of the business owners to help purchase the equipment for the restaurant and fund some of the build out.

4) Federal program allowing the tax credit of equipment purchase will be utilized by the property owners. The end result of this program is that the equipment will cost them less than 50% of the original cost.

The initial demolition of non-historic interiors has uncovered an old wall advertisement for Mrs. Teeles Bakery and Alberts Real Estate. The original wood floors in two of the spaces are in good enough condition that they can be saved and restored.

In related news, the MAK District is currently applying to the State Preservation Office for a similar listing on the National Register of Historic Places.  MAK was Decatur’s first local historic district, but it isn’t currently listed with the NRHP.