HB 1664 — An Act providing for the redevelopment of older buildings; and establishing the Older Building Redevelopment Assistance Grant Program and the Older Building Redevelopment Fund.

PRINTER'S NO.   2026

                   THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 1664
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY CIRESI, GIRAL, SANCHEZ, PROKOPIAK, HADDOCK,
        GUENST, PIELLI, SAPPEY, JAMES, NEILSON, HILL-EVANS, PROBST,
        SCHLOSSBERG, BURGOS, MERSKI, FREEMAN, GALLAGHER, HOWARD,
        OTTEN, KENYATTA, CERRATO, GREEN, DAVIDSON AND BOROWSKI,
        JUNE 25, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, JUNE 25, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Providing for the redevelopment of historic and older buildings;
 2      and establishing the Historic and Older Building
 3      Redevelopment Assistance Grant Program and the Historic and
 4      Older Building Redevelopment Fund.
 5      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 6   hereby enacts as follows:
 7   Section 1.   Short title.
 8      This act shall be known and may be cited as the Historic and
 9   Older Building Redevelopment Assistance Grant Program Act.
10   Section 2.   Definitions.
11      The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
12   have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
13   context clearly indicates otherwise:
14      "Applicant."    A property owner or developer that submits an
15   application under section 3(d).
16      "Application."    An application submitted under section 3(d).
17      "Department."    The Department of Community and Economic
 1   Development of the Commonwealth.
 2      "Developer."     A person that promotes or constructs
 3   redevelopment projects and is engaged in the development of real
 4   estate.
 5      "Fund."      The Historic and Older Building Redevelopment Fund
 6   established under section 4(a).
 7      "Grant."     A grant awarded under this act.
 8      "Historic and older building."        A building located in this
 9   Commonwealth that is at least 50 years old.
10      "Historic character."     All of the visual aspects and physical
11   features that comprise the appearance of a historic and older
12   building such as the overall shape of the building, its
13   materials, craftsmanship, decorative details, interior spaces
14   and features, as well as the various aspects of its site and
15   environment.
16      "Program."     The Historic and Older Building Redevelopment
17   Assistance Grant Program established under section 3(a).
18      "Project."     The redevelopment, rehabilitation or enhancement
19   of a historic and older building for which a developer or a
20   property owner seeks a grant under this act.
21      "Property owner."     An owner of record evidenced by a publicly
22   recorded deed and an equitable owner that can demonstrate an
23   ownership interest in a property as provided by law, including:
24             (1)   an inherited interest in a property;
25             (2)   a party to an agreement of sale or long-term
26      leasehold agreement;
27             (3)   an equitable owner of record prior to a fraudulent
28      conveyance of the property; and
29             (4)   a trust beneficiary or a person holding a partial
30      ownership interest in the property such as tenancy by the

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 1      entirety, joint tenancy, tenancy in common and life estate.
 2      "Redevelopment plan."        A plan that provides for the
 3   improvement of a historic and older building and meets the
 4   requirements under section 3(e).
 5   Section 3.     Historic and Older Building Redevelopment Assistance
 6                  Grant Program.
 7      (a)   Establishment.--The Historic and Older Building
 8   Redevelopment Assistance Grant Program is established within the
 9   department.
10      (b)   Administration.--The program shall be administered by
11   the department.
12      (c)   Purpose.--The purpose of the program shall be to issue
13   grants for the redevelopment, rehabilitation or enhancement of
14   historic and older buildings across this Commonwealth.
15      (d)   Application.--An applicant must submit a written grant
16   application to the department in a manner prescribed by the
17   department. The application must include the following
18   information:
19            (1)   A detailed description of the project and how the
20      grant would be used, including any private or public sector
21      participation.
22            (2)   A copy of the redevelopment plan required under
23      subsection (e).
24            (3)   A statement of the ability to produce income once
25      the project is complete and an explanation of how the project
26      will contribute significantly to economic and community
27      redevelopment or the revitalization of adjacent communities.
28            (4)   If applicable, an explanation of how the project
29      will provide for historic preservation or commercial or
30      recreational opportunities for the public.

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 1            (5)    If the project includes the purchase of property, an
 2      identification of the intended use of the property and a
 3      timeline for redevelopment of the property.
 4            (6)    The total cost of the project.
 5            (7)    A detailed description of the practices the
 6      applicant will perform to improve or maintain the property
 7      and the historic character of the property.
 8            (8)    A statement of favorable consideration or
 9      endorsement of the project from a local nonprofit economic or
10      community development organization.
11            (9)    Evidence of a firm commitment from the developer or
12      property owner to use the project upon completion.
13            (10)    If applicable, how the redevelopment will increase
14      accessibility for people with disabilities.
15            (11)    Other information that the department may require.
16      (e)   Redevelopment plan.--An applicant that applies for a
17   grant shall prepare a redevelopment plan. The redevelopment
18   plan, at a minimum, shall:
19            (1)    Establish the project use as commercial, industrial,
20      transportation or multifamily residential.
21            (2)    Involve at least one of the following primary
22      activities:
23                   (i)    Mechanical improvements.
24                   (ii)    Electrical improvements.
25                   (iii)    Plumbing system improvements.
26                   (iv)    Fire protection system improvements.
27                   (v)    Building egress or accessibility improvements.
28                   (vi)    Structural improvements.
29            (3)    Clearly designate the property and areas included
30      within the redevelopment plan for the property.

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 1            (4)   Identify the economic impact on the improved area,
 2      the surrounding neighborhood and the municipality in which
 3      the property is located.
 4            (5)   Identify any Federal or State law applicable to
 5      historic building preservation or restoration and discuss
 6      plans for compliance.
 7            (6)   Provide any additional information as required by
 8      the department for redevelopment plans.
 9      (f)   Publication and notice.--The department shall transmit
10   notice of the program's availability to the Legislative
11   Reference Bureau for publication in the next available issue of
12   the Pennsylvania Bulletin after the effective date of this
13   subsection.
14      (g)   Department action.--
15            (1)   The department shall review an application and,
16      within 90 days of receipt of an application, approve or
17      disapprove the application.
18            (2)   In reviewing grant applications, the department
19      shall consider the following:
20                  (i)    Whether the project proposed to be funded is
21            authorized under this act.
22                  (ii)    Whether the application complies with this act.
23                  (iii)    Consistency of the project with the
24            redevelopment plan required under subsection (e) for the
25            area in which the property is located.
26                  (iv)    Additional historic preservation, commercial or
27            recreational opportunities for the public provided by the
28            project.
29                  (v)    Significant contribution by the project to the
30            municipality's economic and community redevelopment or

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 1          the revitalization of adjacent communities.
 2                (vi)    The viability of the redevelopment plan
 3          required under subsection (e).
 4                (vii)    The level of public and private commitment and
 5          other resources available for the project.
 6                (viii)    Other criteria that the department considers
 7          relevant.
 8    (h)   Award of grants.--
 9          (1)   The department may issue a grant award to an
10    approved applicant for a project that contributes to the
11    redevelopment or revitalization of historic and older
12    buildings throughout this Commonwealth that meet any of the
13    following purposes:
14                (i)    Provide for activities on the property
15          consistent with the project's redevelopment plan.
16                (ii)    Provide for the demolition of buildings,
17          structures or other facilities on the property that are
18          not historic and older buildings or do not contribute to
19          the property's historic character and are inconsistent
20          with the project's redevelopment plan.
21                (iii)    Provide for the acquisition of property or the
22          assembly of property consistent with the project's
23          redevelopment plan.
24                (iv)    Provide public infrastructure and public
25          facility improvements to the property consistent with the
26          project's redevelopment plan.
27                (v)    Provide for the improvement or maintenance of
28          the historical nature and traditional style of properties
29          within the municipality consistent with the project's
30          redevelopment plan.

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 1            (2)   The department shall award a grant of no less than
 2      $50,000 and no more than $500,000 or an amount equal to 30%
 3      of the total project cost, whichever is less, to each
 4      eligible applicant, subject to the availability of funding.
 5            (3)   A project must be completed no later than two years
 6      after the date of the grant. The department may grant an
 7      extension for an additional period up to six months.
 8   Section 4.     Historic and Older Building Redevelopment Fund.
 9      (a)   Establishment.--The Historic and Older Building
10   Redevelopment Fund is established in the State Treasury. Money
11   in the fund is appropriated to the department on a continuing
12   basis for the purpose of awarding grants in accordance with this
13   act.
14      (b)   Alternative funding.--The department may accept
15   alternative funding, including Federal funds, grants and
16   donations from any source to assist with the goals of this act.
17   All money received by the department under this subsection shall
18   be deposited into the fund.
19      (c)   Administrative expenses.--The department may use no more
20   than 3% of money in the fund for administrative costs associated
21   with the program.
22      (d)   Transfer to General Fund.--Any money in the fund that is
23   unexpended, unencumbered or uncommitted two years after the
24   effective date of this section shall be transferred to the
25   General Fund.
26   Section 5.     Recapture.
27      The department may recapture all or a portion of a grant
28   award, as determined by the department, if the project is not
29   timely completed as provided in section 3(h)(3).
30   Section 6.     Reports.

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 1      The department shall submit a report to the General Assembly
 2   on expenditures from the fund and the progress of economic
 3   development and rehabilitation of historic and older buildings
 4   throughout this Commonwealth following the expiration of the
 5   grant making authority under this act. The report shall include
 6   the following information:
 7          (1)   The number of projects.
 8          (2)   The types of projects.
 9          (3)   The number and amount of grants.
10          (4)   The economic impact of the program.
11          (5)   Recommendations for the continuation or expansion of
12      the program.
13          (6)   Any other information required by the department.
14   Section 7.   Guidelines.
15      The department shall develop guidelines necessary to
16   implement this act.
17   Section 8.   Expiration of grant authority.
18      The department may not award grants beginning two years after
19   the effective date of this section.
20   Section 9.   Effective date.
21      This act shall take effect in 180 days.




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