Phil Gordon Threatened Building Grant Program

The Phil Gordon Threatened Building Grant Program, funded by the City of Phoenix, aims to preserve and rehabilitate historic downtown warehouses and buildings at risk of demolition. The program provides up to 100% funding for eligible projects, contingent upon owners investing an equal amount in rehabilitation. With a focus on exterior preservation and compliance with historic standards, it ensures that significant properties are maintained for future use, contributing to the city's cultural heritage and urban landscape.

Warehouse and Threatened Building Program
​​​​​The Phil Gordon Threatened Building Grant Program helps protect historic downtown warehouses and other threatened historic buildings. The city uses bond funding and general funds to assist with acquisitions of threatened historic properties OR to assist a property owner with rehabilitation work.
For rehabilitation projects, the program can pay up to 100% of eligible project costs provided that the owner is expending an equal or greater amount on other rehabilitation work items (e.g., interior elevators, plumbing upgrades, etc.). In exchange for funding, owners convey a conservation easement to the city. The program considers requests over $10,000, with the maximum award based on the project needs, project's contribution to city goals, and the availability of funds. Monies are disbursed after work items are completed and approved by the Historic Preservation Office.
Program Goals And Principles
The purpose of the Program is to preserve historic buildings that are threatened with demolition or otherwise at risk. The Program supports projects which rehabilitate building exteriors, reverse inappropriate alterations, reconstruct missing historic details and provide needed exterior repairs. Projects proposing to save historic buildings by converting them to new uses (such as the conversion of a warehouse to a restaurant) are encouraged. All projects must meet the City’s Preservation Philosophy and the General Design Guidelines for Historic Properties.

Eligibility

Eligible Buildings
To be eligible for this Program, properties must meet one of the eligibility criteria below:1. A property that is individually listed or eligible for individual listing on the Phoenix Historic Property Register and threatened with demolition, in a highly deteriorated condition or otherwise at risk.2. An individually listed or individually eligible historic warehouse in the central city area 3. A contributing or potentially contributing property in the Oakland Historic District.Eligible Work
The program assists projects that substantially rehabilitate the exteriors of significant historic buildings, although the project can also fund interior restoration work. All funded projects must result in the stabilization, preservation, restoration, rehabilitation or in-kind reconstruction of the building's exterior skin.Eligible Rehabilitation Work items include:

• Exterior Walls
• Door and Window repairs and weatherization improvements
• Roofs
• Exterior Woodwork
• Masonry/Stucco Repairs
• Porches and Steps
• Cornices and Parapets
• Demolition of Non-Historic Additions
• Storefronts
• Structural rehabilitation/reinforcement
• Restoration of decorative interior historic features provided there is public access to portion of building where features are located
• Foundations
• Historic Outbuildings
• Reversal of Previous Inappropriate Alterations
• Reconstruction of Original Architectural Elements Based on Historic Documentation or Physical Evidence
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) AlterationsArchitectural and Engineering Costs.

Needed architectural and engineering costs can be reimbursed provided they are 10% or less of the total request.Expenses must relate directly to eligible work items (e.g., engineering drawings required to complete needed roof truss repairs). Applicants cannot be reimbursed for professional services they plan to provide for their own project, for work done prior to an application, or for construction administration costs. All services must be performed by licensed professionals.

Ineligibility

Ineligible Expenses.
This program does not fund landscaping, signage, site work, or additions/new construction other than historic reconstruction work. Painting is only eligible if related to another eligible items. The city determines the eligibility of all work items. General conditions, profit, and overhead costs, and contingencies that are not in line with going industry rates will not be eligible for reimbursement.