State aid for relocation of buildings

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, any project that is eligible for state financial aid for demolition of buildings shall be eligible to apply for state financial aid under the same program such project was eligible for demolition for the costs of moving one or more buildings that are a part of such project from one location to another, provided (1) the subject buildings currently contain or will be renovated to contain one or more dwelling units per building, and (2) the total cost of relocating the subject buildings does not exceed by more than five per cent the total of all costs associated with the demolition of such buildings, including, but not limited to: The costs of preparing the buildings for demolition, including the costs of abatement of asbestos and other hazardous materials; the actual costs of taking the buildings down; the relocation of residents, including the costs of relocation assistance; utility relocation; environmental remediation after the buildings have been demolished; removal of the foundations; the filling of the site with clean fill; and any other costs associated with the demolition of the buildings or the return of the sites to a condition suitable for future development, provided any costs which would be incurred regardless of whether the subject buildings are moved or demolished shall not be included in such comparison in any way, and (3) the entity requesting state financial aid can demonstrate to the agency providing state financial aid the benefits to the neighborhood or municipality of preserving the character of the area by retaining the subject buildings. (b) Any relocation of a building eligible for relocation assistance under subsection (a) of this section shall be deemed to be a rehabilitation of such building for the purposes of determining the eligibility of the building or the project of which it is a part for any state program of financial assistance. (c) Any building that is moved in accordance with this section shall comply with the separate standards within the State Building Code for the rehabilitation of buildings. (d) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to preclude any agency from providing for the costs of relocating a building under circumstances that do not meet the provisions of this section.