Heritage is a national firm that advises owners and developers of older and historic buildings through the development process, helping them secure federal, state, and local incentives, where appropriate. The staff at Heritage possesses a broad understanding of government policies and application processes, and has decades of experience navigating through local, state, and federal regulatory processes. Heritage provides a realistic assessment on the development of old buildings in a modern world. Founded in 1982 by John Tess, Heritage has completed over 1,500 projects throughout the United States and is currently active in locations nationwide, including projects in New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, New Orleans, Chicago, Detroit, Fort Worth, Denver, San Francisco, Seattle, and Portland. Heritage is often engaged in guiding large, complex projects through the historic tax credit process, such as the IBM Building, Jersey City Medical Center, Denver Union Station, and Quicken’s Downtown Detroit initiative. With decades of experience in securing approvals for conversions to hotel use, Heritage has also developed a hospitality industry niche, completing projects for Kimpton, HRI Properties, Sage Hospitality, and other clients. As a result of the company’s success, Heritage has been invited to play an important role in the public policy arena, being regularly asked to participate in industry conferences, coalitions and initiatives, including Preserve America—a national summit established by First Lady Laura Bush to offer strategic direction moving forward in the twenty-first century. With such recognition and expertise, Heritage also consults with city leaders, redevelopment agencies, and private developers in the strategic treatment of older and historic buildings for development projects, and continues to work closely with the leading attorneys, accounting firms, and equity investors who specialize in the redevelopment arena.
