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 washingtonpost.com > Nation > Special Reports > Rich With History


Sen. Kent Conrad donated a facade easement on his D.C. home but has said he supports a cap on tax deductions. (Lucian Perkins -- The Washington Post)
Interactive Features
facade thumbnail• Interactive: How historic easements work and who profits from them.
• Graphic: The number of property owners applying to have their home or commercial building certified as contributing to a designated historical district has increased dramatically.
• Map: Washington is the nation's leading city for historic facade easements, with easements protecting about 960 properties, many clustered in upscale neighborhoods.
RICH WITH HISTORY : Preservation Creates Tax Windfall
Loophole Pays Off on Upscale Buildings
Washington area homeowners living in historic districts are rapidly taking advantage of substantial federal income tax write-offs under obscure easement trust plan.
• Local Laws Already Bar Alterations
• Why One Building Lost Its Character While Another Didn't
Tax Break Becomes Big Business
Historic preservation was a sleepy field until seven years ago, when James Kearns and Steven McClain began advising homeowners of an obscure federal program that they could use to claim sizable income tax write-offs.
• As Word Spreads, Clamor to Donate Grows
More in This Series
Alliance Starts Plan to Improve Land Trusts: Association Moves to Train and Accredit Conservation Organizations (Post, April 20, 2005)

Charities Fight for Easement Donors: Preservation Groups Target Legislators in Move to Save Tax Breaks (Post, Feb. 26, 2005)

Panel Advises Ending Tax Breaks for Easements (Post, Jan. 28, 2005)

Group Ends Pitches for Home Easements: Criticism of Tax Deductions Leads National Architectural Trust to Halt Practice (Post, Jan. 12, 2005)

Senators Vow to End Tax Break on Easements: Wealthy Homeowners Have Taken Advantage (Post, Dec. 18, 2004)

Editorials and Letters

A For-Profit Facade? (The Washington Post, 12/14/04)

Easements: Preservation or Profit (The Washington Post, 12/18/04)

'Protection' Not Needed (The Washington Post, 12/23/04)



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