FLINT, MI – With its neighbor reduced to a giant pile of rubble, the former Flint Journal building has been granted a historical designation that guarantees that the exterior of the newspaper’s longtime home will remain unchanged.

The National Park Service has placed the former Flint Journal building on the National Register of Historic Places, a move that makes current owner, Uptown Reinvestment Corp., eligible to receive federal tax credits to renovate the building.  

“That was the primary reason was so they could take advantage of the (tax credits), but they also wanted to recognize the building and its importance to the history of Flint,” said Kristine Kidorf, a Detroit-based historic preservation consultant who was hired by Uptown to apply for the designation.

Uptown officials could not be reached for comment.

With plans calling for the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine to occupy the first two floors and apartments above them, the historic designation prevents the exterior of the building from being changed. 

The building, at 200 E. First St., was built in 1924 and is a three-and-a-half story Neo-Classical style building, with two-and-a-half story tall International style additions.

Noted Detroit architect Albert Kahn designed the Neo-Classical portion of the building, while Detroit architect William E. Kapp designed the 1952 addition and 1954 remodeling project, according to the National Register of Historic Places.

“Kahn was a major architect (who) did a lot of work in the automotive industry and around Michigan,” said David White, president of the Genesee County Historical Society. “His work is very sought after and very appreciated.”

The fact that the building is associated with events that made a significant contribution to history and that it embodies distinctive characteristics were both criteria listed in the application. 

The application to add The Flint Journal building to the national register was approved by the National Park Service on Dec. 11.

Uptown Reinvestment Corp. bought the building in 2012 for $1.6 million, according to city records.

The purchase included the newspaper’s former printing facilities, which is near the main building, and is currently being renovated as the new home for the Flint Farmers Market.

Michigan State University plans to lease 40,000 square feet in the former Journal building from Uptown that will be office and teaching space for MSU’s College of Human Medicine.

MSU will be around $700,000 per year as part of a 20-year lease, The Flint Journal previously reported. 

“The historical designation only controls the exterior of the building,” White said. “None of that work (inside) will have an impact because of the historic designation.”

The main Journal building is about 120,000 square feet. The space that MSU isn’t using will be converted into 16 loft apartments positioned on the upper floors, Uptown previously said.

Owners of properties listed in the National Register may be eligible for a 20 percent investment tax credit for the rehabilitation of historic structures, according to the National Park Service website.

The Flint Journal news and advertising staffs moved into their new headquarters in the Rowe building on Saginaw Street in 2012, the same day parent company MLive Media Group officially launched as a new statewide news organization with operations in 10 cities.

The building on the corner of First and Harrison streets was the home of The Journal for more than 85 years. The four-story landmark was built by the newspaper’s owners.

“I just think that it’s great that it’s being reused for a new purpose and will remain a landmark in downtown,” White said of the old building’s historic designation.

Kidorf said she spent about two or three months working on the application for the designation. 

“Its a beautiful building – that’s why its worthy of the listing,” Kidorf said. 

Dominic Adams is a reporter for The Flint Journal. Contact him at dadams5@mlive.com or 810-241-8803. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Google+.