[Argie's Wife]

Ah, but I think that the location of those buildings is what's significant about them. Rather than moving them, why not turn them into year-'round profit makers: restaurants, b&b's, museums, conference centers, offices, boutiques, and the like. Why not let the VA collect revenue from them that would off-set the cost of the VA Homes in NH? It would be supplemental income, keep the buildings in use, and bring in more traffic (and more businesses) into that area. Change the use of the buildings vs. moving the buildings and forever changing the landscape of the area, like what happened with Urban Renewal (yuck!).

In the meantime, perhaps a property tax relief for that area could be granted to any new businesses willing to open up shop and renovate some of the pre-existing buildings in the area. If prospective businesses were willing to put money into the buildings and their businesses (not to mention creating more jobs), vs. paying a bunch of property taxes, perhaps we could have a win-win situation.

Example: A business goes before City Council with a proposed plan improving the building and once approved, they are granted a 20% tax break on their property tax for the next 5 years, but if their plan includes creating more jobs through running their business, then perhaps they could receive additional tax breaks. Money that would have gone to the city, would go into the local economy - but that will eventually go back to the city if you think about it: more jobs means more people are spending money and less people are on public assistance.

Edited to add this for consideration: Taxing the VA buildings is illogical; they are paid for through the government, which get it's funds from the taxpayers. It would be like taking money from your left pocket and placing it in your right pocket. It would make no sense, if you think about it that way... and that's just on the simplest fiscal terms of your idea - those buildings should not be touched or taxed. Period.