Protecting New Bern’s Historic Buildings for Generations to Come
Some of New Bern’s most important historic buildings have survived because someone cared enough to save them. The New Bern Preservation Foundation offers property owners another way to become part of that legacy: donating a historic building or placing a preservation easement on a historic property.
Since 1972, NBPF has worked to prevent the loss of New Bern’s historic architecture. The Foundation has helped save more than 75 historic properties, often using protective covenants and preservation easements to ensure that a building’s historic character remains protected even when ownership changes.
Donate a Historic Building
If you own a historic home or building that you believe should be preserved but are concerned about its future, consider donating the property to the New Bern Preservation Foundation.
A donated property may become part of NBPF’s preservation efforts, depending on the building, its significance, condition, and the Foundation’s ability to take on the property. In the past, NBPF has acquired endangered historic structures, stabilized and restored them, and placed preservation protections on them before transferring them to new owners.
A property donation can be an especially meaningful legacy. Instead of simply selling or transferring an old building, an owner can help ensure that an important piece of New Bern’s history has a future.
Donate a Preservation or Façade Easement
You don’t have to give up ownership of your historic building to help protect it.
A preservation easement is a legal agreement that places permanent protections on important historic features of a property. Depending on the property and the agreement, those protections can address significant architectural features, alterations, and demolition.
A façade easement focuses specifically on the exterior appearance and architectural character of a building — the part of the building that contributes to the historic streetscape and to the character of the surrounding neighborhood.
The owner continues to own and use the property. The easement simply establishes protections that remain with the property and are binding on future owners.
NBPF currently holds preservation easements, covenants, and related agreements on numerous historic properties throughout New Bern.
NBPF Makes the Process Easier
If you are interested in placing a preservation or façade easement on your historic property, the New Bern Preservation Foundation will prepare the easement documents and pay the filing fee at no cost to the property owner.
Our Acquisitions & Covenants Committee can discuss your property, explain how the process works, and determine whether an easement is appropriate.
Once recorded, the easement becomes part of the property’s legal record and helps ensure that the historic features it protects will be respected by future owners.
Why Place an Easement on Your Property?
A preservation easement can:
- Help protect a historic building from demolition
- Preserve important architectural features for future generations
- Help maintain the historic character of New Bern’s neighborhoods
- Provide a permanent preservation commitment that continues when the property is sold
- Allow the owner to retain ownership and use of the property
- Potentially provide tax benefits in qualifying circumstances
Tax treatment varies, and property owners should consult their own tax adviser and legal counsel regarding any potential tax consequences or benefits.
A Gift That Doesn’t Require Giving Up Your Home
Many historic-property owners want to preserve their buildings but have no desire to give them away. A preservation easement can provide a middle ground: you continue to own your property, while helping ensure that its historic character will survive for generations.
It is a way to make a lasting contribution to New Bern without making a financial donation.
Help Preserve What Makes New Bern Special
Every historic building that survives adds another chapter to New Bern’s story. By donating a historic property or placing a preservation easement on your building, you can help make sure that story continues.
Interested in donating a historic property or preservation/façade easement?
Contact the New Bern Preservation Foundation and select “Covenant/Easement” or “Donation/Legacy Gift” when completing our contact form. Our Acquisitions & Covenants Committee will be happy to discuss your property and answer your questions.
New Bern Preservation Foundation, Inc.
(252) 633-6448
Preserve@NewBernPF.org
Preservation isn’t just about saving buildings today. It’s about making sure they are still here tomorrow.