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• • 11 many of the recommendations of these guidelines. If applying for the federal or state tax credits, contact the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (VDHR) early in the planning stages of the project before spending time and money on architectural plans. 3. Seek advice from or use contractors experienced in working with historic buildings and materials. Some tasks, such as repointing or cleaning historic masonry, require special knowledge, techniques, and methods. . 4. Consider employing an architect ex- perienced in working with historic buildings or with new construction in historic districts. In larger com- mercial, office, or institutional build- ings you must work with a licensed ar- chitect or engineer in order to receive a building permit. C. Available Guidelines Sections These historic districts guidelines have been divided into the following sections so that you need only read those pertinent to your project. 1. Before You Begin Your Project 2. Guidelines for Site Elements: Residen- tial & Commercial 3. Guidelines for New Construction & Additions: Residential & Commercial 4. Guidelines for Residential & Commer- cial Rehabilitation 5. Guidelines for Vending Structures, Outdoor Cafes, & Temporary Signs 6. Guidelines for Public Improvements 7. Guidelines for Demolition & Moving D. Federal and State Tax Credits for Rehabilitation If you are undertaking a major rehabilita- tion of a contributing historic building in the National Register Historic Districts, which have nearly the same boundaries as the local historic districts adminis- tered by the BAR, you may be eligible for certain tax credits. Buildings listed individually on the National Register also are eligible. For federal tax credits, the building or parts of the building must be income- producing; owner -occupied residences are not eligible. You also must spend a substantial amount of the value of the building on the rehabilitation. The tax credit is calculated as twenty percent of these rehabilitation expenses. The state tax credit is similar, except that buildings need not be income pro- ducing (although these also can qualify) and the rehabilitation costs must exceed 50 percent of the building's assessed value. When fully phased in, this pro- gram will offer a tax credit of up to 25 percent of rehabilitation costs. To be a "certified rehabilitation" under either program, you must file an appli- cation with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (VDHR) before any construction begins and your rehabili- tation must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating His- toric Buildings. Contact VDHR for more information. E. Description and Map of Subareas BAR review is required for the down- town residential historic district, the commercial downtown, and recently added sections of the Ridge Street area and the West Main corridor. These guidelines have been developed for these districts and they recognize that the entire area is made up of a variety of different subareas. These (with the exception of Ridge Street) are shown and described in the following maps. Charlottesville Historic District Guidelines: Before You Begin Your Project 3