The following letter was sent to the Town of Colonie Planning Board in response to proposed development adjacent to the nationally-significant Watervliet Shaker National Register Historic District.

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Concept review for Capital BOCES, 925 Watervliet Shaker Road, Colonie

June 5, 2020

Mr. Peter Stuto
Chair, Town of Colonie Planning Board
Public Operations Center
347 Old Niskayuna Road
Latham, NY 12110

Dear Chair Stuto,

I write on behalf of the Preservation League of New York State to comment on the concept proposal for the Capital BOCES at 925 Watervliet Shaker Road in Colonie. This project is immediately adjacent to the West Family structures and on the remaining agricultural land associated with the West Family site. The Preservation League is New York’s statewide nonprofit historic preservation organization. We advocate for the protection of historic buildings and landscapes throughout New York State, assisting in advancing historic preservation and community development efforts.

The project proposed at 925 Watervliet Shaker Road is part of the nationally-significant Watervliet Shaker National Register Historic District. In 2018, the Preservation League listed this historic district as among the state’s most endangered, part of our 2018-19 Seven to Save list. At the time of designation, the League noted that the district was “exceptionally susceptible to insensitive development,” a threat that has only grown over the last two years.

Full build-out on this parcel, as proposed by the developer, would devastate the integrity of the West Family site. Other municipalities cherish, celebrate, and promote their unique Shaker heritage. It is sad indeed how much inappropriate development has been allowed within this important historic district. Not to mention the loss of agricultural land, wetlands, and open space within a heavily trafficked corridor.

We believe that the required permitting for this project will lead to a State Historic Preservation Office review under Section 14.09 of the 1980 NYS Historic Preservation Act. We also believe that given the size and National Register designation, this project would have a positive declaration as a Type 1 under the State Environmental Quality Review Act, requiring a full Environmental Impact Statement that includes the cumulative impact of all project phases.

The Preservation League has met with the developer of the neighboring parcel and Shaker Heritage, offering assistance in promoting the incredibly intact collection of West Family buildings. Allowing the maximum development at 925 Watervliet Shaker Road would also destroy the buildings’ viewshed, which the Afrim’s Sportsplex on the opposite side worked hard to preserve.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions. Thank you and the other members of the Colonie Planning Board for your consideration.

Best regards,
Erin

Erin M. Tobin (she/her)
Vice President for Policy and Preservation
Preservation League of New York State

Last week, a letter was sent to Congressional leadership from the National Trust for Historic Preservation supporting historic preservation initiatives during these challenging times. The Preservation League of New York State signed-on along with 378 other organizations and businesses, including the National Main Street Center, National Trust Community Investment Corporation, National Preservation Partners Network, and the Coalition for American Heritage.

You can view a blog post on the Preservation Leadership Forum that gives a brief overview of the National Trust’s work over the past several weeks.

We encourage those who care about preservation in New York State to reach out to your Congressional delegation to support the priorities set forth in the letter with particular emphasis on the programs you know best and are most relevant to your work. 

120 members of Congress signed-on to the House HPF letter in support of $150 million in funding for the HPF for FY 2021. This is the second highest number of signers and the highest level of funding ever requested in an HPF letter.

A special thank you to our New York Representatives who supported this effort: 

Antonio Delgado (NY-19), Eliot Engel (NY-16), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Brian Higgins (NY-26), Hakeem Jeffries (NY-8), John Katko (NY-24), Carolyn Maloney (NY-12), Joseph Morelle (NY-25), Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), Kathleen Rice (NY-4), Max Rose (NY-11), Elise Stefanik (NY-21), Thomas Suozzi (NY-3), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Nydia Valazquez (NY-7)

Federal Historic Tax Credit Program | Positive Economic Impacts for New York State

The impact of historic preservation goes far beyond that of preserving historic architecture and our history. Positive economic results are achieved through the federal historic tax credit program, which can be credited with stimulating investment, creating jobs, generating taxes, and increasing income/GDP/Output. The National Park Service along with Rutgers prepares a yearly report on the Economic Impact of the Federal Historic Tax Credit. While the 2019 report is not yet available, the Preservation League has estimated the 2019 data in the interim and provides a look between those estimates and the program numbers from FY 2014-2018.

In the early morning on April 3rd, the NYS Legislature passed the final budget bills for Fiscal Year 2020-21. New York State faced unprecedented challenges in finalizing the budget in the midst of responding to COVID-19 and the associated economic impacts. The Transportation, Economic Development and Environmental Conservation (TED) Bill had several provisions relevant to historic preservation, including prevailing wage, the Restore Mother Nature Bond Act, and the Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act. The Capital Projects Bill included $300 Million for the Environmental Protection Fund, which supports historic preservation projects funded through the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

The Preservation League successfully advocated for prevailing wage protection for historic preservation projects. Those who use the NYS Historic Tax Credit and nonprofits with gross revenue under $5 million will not be subject to prevailing wage requirements.

The Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act has the important and laudable goal of creating sustainable, environmentally responsible energy production as a key component to fighting climate change. We appreciate Governor Cuomo’s leadership on that front and support thoughtful siting of renewable energy production. The that end, we noted that this act seeks to “avoid, minimize or mitigate potential adverse environmental impacts from the siting, design, construction and operation of a major renewable energy facility.” As the state considers environmental impacts, we are sure they will include historic and cultural resources, and the Preservation League will remain vigilant in speaking up for the places that are important to New Yorkers.

Unfortunately, the FY 2020-21 NYS Budget Appropriation Bills did not include any improvements to the NYS Historic Tax Credit Program. We believe that an increased credit for small projects will stimulate local community development and economic revitalization efforts throughout New York State, helping small business and building owners, as well as providing much-needed jobs. The Preservation League will continue to advocate for this much-needed NYS Historic Tax Credit improvement and stimulus.

(Preservation League staff and advocates on our 2020 Preservation Advocacy Day, with Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, who introduced Historic Tax Credit legislation this session)

In an effort to increase public enjoyment of the Hudson River and increase rail safety, Scenic Hudson commissioned a Hudson River Access Plan.

The plan provides a comprehensive look of existing public access along the river’s rail corridor between Poughkeepsie and Rensselaer. It suggests possible locations for shoreline access and recommends improvement to crossing rail lines safely.

Of particular interest to the Preservation League of New York State is the preservation of the multiple early 20th century historic pony truss bridges that cross the railroad along the corridor, some in danger of being removed or otherwise discontinued from use. Many of these bridges fall within the Hudson River National Historic Landmark Historic District and discontinuing use creates an adverse effect for these important landmarks.

Read our full comment letter.

(Left: bridge @ Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site. Photo Credit: Peter Melewski, courtesy of Scenic Hudson.

Right: Scenic Hudson bridge @ the former Dominican Camp. Photo Credit: Jeff Anzevino)

Assembly bill A.10095, introduced by Assemblymember John T. McDonald III, would amend the real property actions and proceedings law to expand the applicability of the receivership law to the entire state of New York for the purpose of remedying conditions dangerous to life, health or safety.

This legislation aims to address real property issues in cases where tenants voice complaints to landlords, yet issues remain unaddressed. This tool will help address building code violations and situations when buildings have fallen into serious disrepair. A strong receivership program will ultimately deter building vacancy and demolition of unsafe properties, keeping more of our older residential buildings well-maintained and out of the land. Maintaining safe and livable housing is paramount for stabilizing and maintaining neighborhoods and contributing to the quality of life for residents across New York State.

Read our full memo of support.

Thanks to the organizations below for joining the Preservation League in support of this legislation:

On March 9, 2020 the Senate introduced the Great American Outdoors Act.

S. 3422 would provide up to $9.5 billion of dedicated funding to be used toward the backlog of deferred maintenance of the National Park Service (& other Federal agencies). This legislation would provide much needed support for the preservation of historic and cultural properties.

Thank-you to Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand for being among the original co-sponsors of this legislation.

Stay tuned for updates including the potential introduction of House same-as legislation.

Read the Preservation League’s comment letter.

We encourage advocates of historic preservation to submit your comments by March 10th, voicing your opposition to the proposed changes to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Comments can be submitted using this link. View the proposed regulations here.

You can also help the cause by contacting your New York Congressional Representatives and telling them your opposition to this proposal.

On February 26, 2020 Preservation advocates traveled to Albany from near and far to advocate for historic preservation in New York State.

A big thank you to our New York State legislators and to our participants for supporting historic preservation!

Read more.