On February 26, the House of Representatives passed the National Heritage Areas Act (H.R. 1316) led by Paul D. Tonko (D-NY) and David McKinley (R-WV), as part of the Protecting America’s Wilderness and Public Lands Act. This important act also reauthorized the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, an important partner in preserving and celebrating our National Historic Landmark canal system.
The Preservation League of New York State is New York State’s statewide historic preservation nonprofit. We lead advocacy, economic development and education programs across the state. We believe that the power of our New York State Canal System, a National Historic Landmark, is rooted in its history, authenticity as a continuously operating end-to-end canal system, vibrancy, and ability to leverage tourism now and in the future.
Upon reading Governor Cuomo’s “Canal System Revitalization Act” proposed in a 30-day budget amendment, we believe that actions taken with respect to our National Historic Landmark treasure should be done with transparency and thorough, meaningful public engagement.
While the Preservation League encourages and supports meaningful investment in our National Historic Landmark NYS Canal System, we have concerns with the bill’s stated Legislative findings and statement of purposes, as well as the actions and goals that follow.
In 1992, the NYS Legislature created the Canal Recreationway Commission. According to the NYS Canal Corporation:
In addition to maintaining and periodically revising the Canal Recreationway Plan, the primary responsibility of the Commission is to make recommendations concerning the future of the Canal System. Embodied in the Commission’s vision are three fundamental goals:
Preserving the best of the past.
Enhancing recreational opportunities.
Fostering appropriate and sustainable economic development.
Given the overlap between the Canal Recreationway Commission’s purpose and goals and those stated in Governor Cuomo’s proposed Canal System Revitalization Act, we ask what purpose it serves to dissolve a commission that has not had an opportunity to meet since 2017, in order to create a separate and largely Governor-controlled entity?
The Canal System Revitalization Act proposed substantive changes to our National Historic Landmark NYS Canal System including removal of important preservation considerations, and therefore deserves opportunity for open presentation and discussion outside of the 30-day budget amendment process.
The Preservation League strongly urges the NYS Legislature to strike New Part VV from the Transportation, Economic Development and Environmental Conservation (TED) Bill and ask Governor Cuomo to engage in an open and transparent conversation about the purpose and goals of dissolving the Canal Recreationway Commission and establishing significant funding authority to a new and duplicative New York State Canal System Revitalization Trust.
We write in support of Bill A.3670 (Woerner) and S.4439 (Kennedy) relating to improving access to the NYS Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit for small projects. We urge the Assembly and Senate to include this bill in their budget bills this March. These improvements will help small business and Main Street building owners rehabilitate their historic buildings, while ensuring that the NYS Historic Tax Credit serves as an incentive throughout our upstate urban centers.
The League recently submitted this letter of support to the Adirondack Park Agency advocating for the preservation of Debar Lodge. This follows the letter the League submitted to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation in November 2020, urging them to reconsider their proposal to demolish the National Register-listed Debar Pond Lodge.
Dear Members of the APA Board,
Please accept these comments by the Preservation League of New York State (League) regarding the Proposed Adoption of the Debar Mountain Complex Unit Management Plan (UMP). The draft UMP proposes, among other things, the removal of the National Register listed Debar Pond Lodge Complex and its replacement with a day-use picnic area. While the League supports improvements for visitors to the park, we feel it should be done in a manner that does not sacrifice historic resources. As such, we strongly oppose the proposed demolition of the historic Debar Pond Lodge Complex.
The Debar Pond Lodge Complex in Franklin County is an important example of an Adirondack rustic camp and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Designed by architect William Distin, the buildings represent one of the last significant developments of its type in the park. Distin was the designer of a number of buildings in the Adirondacks including St. John’s in the Wilderness Episcopal Church in Paul Smiths and the ice arena in Lake Placid that hosted events for the 1932 Winter Olympics. We feel that the preservation of his work is essential to understanding the long and rich history of the Adirondacks. If we lose these touchstones, we risk telling an incomplete story of one of New York’s and the nation’s most important places, the Adirondack State Park.
The League supports an alternative to the demolition of the Debar Pond Lodge that would utilize a constitutional land exchange amendment to avert demolition and allow public access to the buildings and its setting. This alternative would allow for a land exchange between New York State and a nonprofit organization whereby the state would pass the Debar Pond Lodge buildings and a few acres of land to the nonprofit in exchange for a much larger parcel of land of equal value, which would become part of the Adirondack State Park. This is a mechanism with which the League is very familiar as we were a leading partner in advocating for a similar successful land transfer to save the outbuildings of Great Camp Sagamore in 1983. That camp, as you know, is a tremendous asset for the state. Operated by the Sagamore Institute it continues to serve an important educational role.
This win-win land exchange would expand the Adirondack Park, preserve National Register listed historic buildings, save the cost of demolition by New York State, and create another wonderful opportunity for visitors to understand the full history of the Adirondack Park.
The nonprofit organization in this case would be the Debar Pond Institute, which would agree to restore and maintain the buildings while operating the Debar Pond Lodge Complex for public purposes, including the recreational use of Debar Pond. Uses will include educational programs, public recreation, lodging, and tours. This nonprofit has already formed and lists among its board members longtime Adirondack residents with a history of advocacy for the park and its historic resources. For its part, the Institute has already secured commitments for private funds to acquire 300 acres of land to satisfy their part of the land exchange. The next step is up to New York State.
The Preservation League of New York State calls on New York State to adopt the land exchange model as the best solution for keeping the history of the Adirondack Park alive and vital for all visitors. We stand ready to assist in any way we can.
With appreciation for your commitment to New York State,
Jay DiLorenzo
President
Preservation League of New York State
Good news: The federal government will not implement federal rule changes proposed by the prior administration that were hostile to the National Register designation process. In April 2019, the Preservation League submitted a letter, along with countless other preservation organizations, in opposition to these National Register changes and are thrilled they are now off the table.
These changes would have:
Created multiple burdens and roadblocks to designation of culturally and historically significant public land.
Had a significant negative impact on how federal properties were nominated to the National Register and determined eligible.
Allowed National Register objections to be weighted based on property size, as compared to the current system of one owner equals one vote.
Affected communities across the country and had a devastating impact on the Historic Tax Credit program.
Thank you to all the preservation advocates who stood up for preservation and opposed the implementation of these rule changes!
The past year brought many challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic, which continues to ravage our nation resulting in significant loss of life and livelihoods, has also caused great difficulty for businesses and nonprofits across the state. We encourage the role that historic preservation can play in New York State’s economic recovery. Preservation projects create jobs, leverage private investment, and bring life to New York’s Main Streets and historic neighborhoods.
During the 2021 New York State legislative session, the Preservation League's policy team is working to advance the Preservation League's mission through the following initiatives and advocacy work:
Increasing the Historic Tax Credit from 20%-30% for projects under $2.5 million [Assembly: A03670, Senate: S04439]
Protecting the authenticity and integrity of our National Historic Landmark NYS Canal System, the oldest continuously operating canal system in our country by removing the Canal System Revitalization Act from the budget. We ask the NYS Legislature to intentionally omit it from their budget bills.
Rethinking the Governor's proposed Empire Station Complex to limit demolition of National Register-listed and eligible buildings surrounding Penn Station. Our specific legislative ask is for the proposed $1.3 billion Capital Projects Budget appropriation (page 854) for this urban renewal land grab to be removed from the Legislative budget bills.
Funding for NYS Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation (NYS OPRHP) and the NYS Council on the Arts
Including support for capital investment at NYS OPRHP, with particular attention to the needs of NYS Historic Sites, as well as historic buildings and landscapes within NYS Parks
Maintaining Historic Preservation Grants under a $300 million Environmental Protection Fund
Support of the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution [Assembly: A04742, Senate: S04410]
Thoughtful siting consideration for the renewable energy our state needs to ensure a sustainable future
You can read more about our key issues reflected in our response to Governor Cuomo’s proposed 2022 budget.
Read our September 2020 letter to the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation highlighting our NYS budget priorities.
Our first-ever Virtual Preservation Advocacy Day took place on February 24, 2021.
On the federal level, we look forward to working with the new administration Congressional leadership to further emphasize historic preservation as one solution to a nationwide economic recovery. To accomplish this, we are currently focused on:
Supporting COVID-19 relief provisions related to historic preservation under the federal historic tax credit program. We anticipate Congress will introduce a bill this month drawing upon provisions of the 2019 HTC-GO bill and the 2020 H.R. 2 infrastructure bill (Moving Forward Act).
The Moving Forward Act included temporary COVID-19 relief to HTC projects distressed by the pandemic.
HTC-GO proposed several permanent enhancements to the Fed HTC to bring more value to HTC transactions and encourages redevelopment of smaller, income-producing properties.
Full funding of the Historic Preservation Fund.
March 8 – 11, 2021, Advocate for the HTC Virtually at Preservation Advocacy Week 2021. Virtual conference hosted by Preservation Action & National Conference of SHPOs.
The League stands at the ready to advocate for additional needs related to historic preservation in this ever-changing environment.
Earlier this month, the much anticipated FY19 economic impact report of the federal historic tax credit was published. This report highlights the success of the federal historic tax credit program nationwide specifically, that it generated $6.2 Billion in GDP and created 109,000 Jobs in 2019. Meaningful impacts of the program can also be seen here in New York, with $550 million in GDP, and 9,561 jobs created. Further evidence that the historic tax credit program has an incredibly important role as the nation looks toward a post-pandemic economic recovery.
"For more than 42 years, the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program has enabled the preservation and rehabilitation of more than 45,000 historic properties, while generating more than $188.2 billion in GDP nationally,” said Margaret Everson, Counselor to the Secretary, exercising the delegated authority of the National Park Service Director. “This is an incredible example of a federal/state partnership that continues to drive investments in historic preservation and revitalize communities across the country."
The Preservation League has been working with neighborhood advocates in Poughkeepsie to save the historic Williams Hall on the Vassar campus since this past summer. Click here to read the letter of support submitted by League Vice President for Policy & Preservation Erin Tobin.
This Wednesday, December 2, the Town of Poughkeepsie will meet to decide whether to preserve this historic building and its associated surroundings. Please add your name and vote YES to preserve before the hearing. Poughkeepsie town leaders are listening.
If you would like to learn more, sign the petition, and Zoom into Wednesday's Poughkeepsie Town Board meeting, please visit the Arlington Neighborhood Association's website.
Last month, we called attention to the impending demolition of the circa 1926 former Colonie Village School, and highlighted some great school reuse projects across New York State.
The League submitted a determination of eligibility for this school to the State Historic Preservation Office, and recently learned that the agency determined it eligible for listing on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. The agency indicated this school building meets the criteria for listing on the registers under both criterion A (association with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns in our history) and criterion C (Embodying the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction; or represents the work of a master; or possesses high artistic values; or represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction).
Regrettably, public documents available seem to indicate the Village of Colonie Planning Board may not have given this historic building appropriate consideration under SEQR, prior to the issuance of a demolition permit for this historic school.
Earlier this month, the much anticipated Annual Report on the Economic Impact of the Federal Historic Tax Credit for Fiscal Year 2019 was published. This report highlights the success of the Federal Historic Tax Credit program nationwide, specifically that it generated $6.2 Billion in GDP and created 109,000 jobs in 2019. Meaningful impacts of the program can also be seen here in New York, with $550 million in GDP and 9,561 jobs created. This report provides further evidence that the historic tax credit program has an incredibly important role as the nation looks toward a post-pandemic economic recovery.
"For more than 42 years, the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program has enabled the preservation and rehabilitation of more than 45,000 historic properties, while generating more than $188.2 billion in GDP nationally,” said Margaret Everson, Counselor to the Secretary, exercising the delegated authority of the National Park Service Director. “This is an incredible example of a federal/state partnership that continues to drive investments in historic preservation and revitalize communities across the country."