Homeowners Foundation Engineers Network

Preserving America’s Historic Main Street Starts at the Foundation

Picture of a main street

 

The stereotypical image of Main Street is historic turn-of-the-century buildings all lined up next to one another. The image is so classic; Walt Disney made Main Street U.S.A. the entrance to his Disneyland and Disney World theme parks.

Disney Main Street U.S.A. with a crowd of people looking toward castle.
Walt Disney used the stereotypical image of an American Main Street to create Main Street U.S.A. at his theme parks.

Across the United States, thousands of towns and communities feature similar Main Streets.

Restaurants, hardware stores, insurance agencies, and ma-and-pa shops line the street.

The buildings typically range from one to four stories, and most buildings were constructed between the 1880s and 1940s. The Main Streets showcase the character of American small towns.

Historic downtown buildings have charm. They have history. And often, they have foundation problems.

Fixing leaning or bowing foundation walls, crumbling masonry, or wet basements requires expertise and top-of-the-line products.

Earth Contact Products manufactures the best waterproofing and foundation repair products. Helping restore America’s Main Streets are products proudly Made in the United States.

Four-story downtown building with a boarded upper window.
Thousands of historic downtown buildings across the United States are in need of renovation work.

Earth Contact Product’s network of My Foundation Repair foundation experts has the professional know-how and skill to tackle any foundation project, including those in historic downtown corridors.

Federal Tax Incentives Available

The good news for building owners restoring and repairing historic buildings is that funding opportunities are available. 

More than 1 million buildings are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Commercial buildings on the list in need of repair that will be used for business or rental housing are eligible for federal tax incentives.

In 1976, the year of the United States’ Bicentennial, the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program was created.

Administered by the National Park Service, the federal incentives program offers a 20% federal tax credit for qualified rehabilitation expenses.

Preserving Buildings Preserves Heritage

According to the National Park Service, the government “recognizes the importance of preserving our building heritage and the need to encourage the rehabilitation of deteriorated properties.” 

Starting off, the first step in any renovation project is making sure the building sits on a firm foundation. 

ECP products and the My Foundation Repair network of foundation repair contractors will revitalize and stabilize historic commercial buildings.

Restoring and repairing properties along America’s historic Main Streets ensures communities continue to survive and thrive.

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