Trust Building gets $100K from state for rehab project

August 10, 2018

Rick Shrum
Observer Reporter

Pennsylvania is providing a boost to preserve the history of a historic structure in downtown Washington.

Washington Trust Building, at the corner of South Main and East Beau streets, has been awarded $100,000 in Historic Preservation Tax Credits. The office of Gov. Tom Wolf announced Thursday morning $3 million in tax credits is being spread among 21 building preservation projects throughout the state.

The allocation for the Trust Building, according to a news release, is to go toward rehabilitation of the structure “into commercial use and affordable housing.” Since October, Pittsburgh-based Trek Development Group has been converting offices into two dozen single-bedroom apartments on floors two through 10 of the building’s tower. The units are expected to be available for occupancy by the end of the year.

In April, the Trust Building received a $340,000 award from Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement for the rehab.

Trek, which specializes in restoring and repurposing historic buildings in the Pittsburgh area, has owned the Trust Building since 2013. The company also is handling the rehabilitation of Brownsville’s “Neck” area.

The Trust Building is the only structure in Washington and Greene counties to have been selected for a tax credit. Six locations in Allegheny County, all in Pittsburgh, will receive allocations.

Wolf said in a prepared statement: “Pennsylvania is proud of the historic buildings that define our unique cities and towns. The economic benefits of historic rehabilitation and the impact of the historic tax credit program go far beyond one building and have the potential to spur reinvestment and revitalization in historic communities across the state.”

The Department of Community and Economic Development and the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission administer the Historic Preservation Tax Credit program.

Since 2013, more than $15 million has been invested through the program to rehabilitate 81 historic buildings.