Tax Credit Program Highlight: Lundgren Building

Elgin, Bastrop County

1900

Designation	Listed in National Register as part of Elgin Commercial Historic District
Historic Use	Retail, offices
Current Use	Retail, apartments
Total Rehabilitation Cost	$347,482
Qualified Rehabilitation Expenses	$307,474
Date Certified	April 21, 2016
	Also certified for Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credits.

History

Since Elgin became a Texas Main Street City in 1990, community members and volunteers have worked to turn unoccupied and rundown structures into new downtown businesses and housing, drawing in residents and visitors and facilitating economic growth. Allan Tolbert’s third historic rehabilitation project in downtown Elgin since September 2014 is the Lundgren Building at 101 North Main Street. Mr. Tolbert discovered the Lundgren Building’s interesting history during the project: a duo known as the Smith Brothers ran a saloon in the building and the second floor was originally “laid out like a top notch boarding house.” More importantly, Mr. Tolbert learned why the structure’s balcony seemed to baffle him: it was built on a slope much like porches in New Orleans to shed water and to allow onlookers to view the street below.

Rehabilitation Project

Numerous non-historic office partitions were removed from the first floor retail area to reestablish the full height and character of the space, complete with its original beadboard ceiling. The second floor and rear addition were converted into modest apartment units, with a focus on retaining historic doorways, trim, and decorative coffered ceilings. Repairs to the exterior balcony and arched replacement windows that match the long-lost originals add the finishing touches.