Preserve New York Grants - 2017
At its 2017 meeting, the Preserve New York grant panel selected 30 applicants in 21 counties to receive support totaling $239,634. Many of these grants will lead to historic district designation or expansion, allowing property owners to take advantage of New York State and Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credits. With the announcement of the 2017 awards, support provided by Preserve New York since its launch in 1993 totals more than $2.4 million to 376 projects statewide.
Grants are listed below by county.
Albany County
Historic Albany Foundation - $5,000
Washington Avenue Historic District State and National Register Nomination
Washington Avenue is one of the earliest east-west roads in the city, and as the population moved westward, buildings sprung up along the turnpike. Many of these buildings still exist alongside significant structures from the recent past. Historic Albany Foundation received Preserve New York funding in 2009 to nominate the Lower Washington Avenue Historic District to the State and National Registers of Historic Places, and in 2015 the Foundation also completed a reconnaissance-level survey of the upper corridor with Preserve New York support. A $5,000 Preserve New York grant will enable Historic Albany Foundation to hire Christopher Brazee of Troy to expand the State and National Register nomination for the remaining section of the Washington Avenue Historic District. If approved, many more property owners will be able to earn rehabilitation tax credits for work they do on their historic buildings.
Rensselaerville Library - $9,104
Rensselaerville Library Historic Structure Report
The Rensselaerville Library was constructed as two rowhouses – one side served as a boot shop and the other as a private residence. The library is located on the main street in the hamlet, which was designated in its entirety as a League Seven to Save site in 2010. The library provides an important community gathering place in this rural hilltown, promoting a love of learning and enriching the lives of children and adults alike. Many areas of the building are currently deteriorating and the library needs additional space to serve growing demand. A $9,104 Preserve New York grant will enable the library to hire Holmes, King, Kallquist Architects of Syracuse to develop a report to prioritize repairs to the structure.
Broome County
West Endicott Board of Fire Commissioners - $10,000
West Endicott Fire Station Building Condition Report
The West Endicott Fire Station was built in February 1927 by George F. Johnson, an American businessman who founded Endicott-Johnson Corporation and donated the structure to the residents of West Endicott to be used as a fire station and community resource. While still used as a fire station today, the building has deteriorated – especially the floor where the fire equipment is housed. A $10,000 Preserve New York grant will enable the West Endicott Board of Fire Commissioners to hire Crawford & Stearns to complete a Building Condition Report. This report will help the Fire Commissioners to prioritize repairs to the fire station so the community can continue to use it for years to come.
Cayuga County
Seward House Museum - $10,000
Seward House Museum Stone Barn and Carriage House Building Condition Report
The Seward House, built in 1816, is a National Historic Landmark. It was the home of William Henry Seward, Secretary of State under Abraham Lincoln, from his marriage in 1824 until his death in 1872. Seward also served as Governor of New York and a United States Senator. In 2015, a Preserve New York grant supported the cost of a Cultural Landscape Report on the gardens behind the house, including two stone barns that were built to the designs of Frederick Seward, William Henry Seward’s son. These barns were constructed in 1860 to replace two structures lost in a fire. A $10,000 Preserve New York grant will enable the museum to hire Crawford & Stearns of Syracuse to complete building condition reports for the two stone structures. The barns are currently vacant, and a condition report will inform rehabilitation so the structures can be put into active use.
Chemung County
Elmira Downtown Development, Inc. (EDD) - $6,795
East Water Street, Baldwin Street, and William Street Historic District State and National Register Nomination
Elmira Downtown Development (EDD) manages the Downtown Business Improvement District (BID and increases public awareness of Elmira through marketing and beautification projects in partnership with the City of Elmira. EDD also works with other economic development agencies to promote the revitalization of the City, and encourages historic preservation best practices. A $6,795 grant will support the cost of hiring Johnson-Schmidt & Associates of Corning to complete a State and National Register nomination for the East Water Street, Baldwin Street, and William Street Historic District. The nomination will include an extended period of significance, spanning more than a century and including commercial brick buildings constructed in the 1860s and the 1971 midcentury modern Chemung Canal Trust building. This historic district nomination and expansion will enable Elmira Downtown Development to bring historic preservation tax credit opportunities to business owners and encourage sensitive redevelopment in the city.
Columbia County
Austerlitz Historical Society - $4,680
Hamlets of Austerlitz and Spencertown State and National Register Nomination
The hamlets of Austerlitz and Spencertown in Columbia County boast many historic buildings dating from the 19th, and some from the 18th centuries. The earliest building in Spencertown dates from the 1760s. Although there is no immediate threat to these historic hamlets, the establishment of State and National Register Historic Districts in Austerlitz and Spencertown will increase local appreciation of architectural and historic heritage. The Austerlitz Historical Society is devoted to researching and promoting the history of the area, and recently completed a five-year study of the historic buildings in each hamlet. This study is the basis of a book titled “The Old Houses of Austerlitz” slated for publication in 2018 as part of the town’s bicentennial celebration. A $4,680 Preserve New York grant will enable the historical society to retain Larson Fisher Associates of Woodstock to complete National Register nominations for the hamlets of Austerlitz and Spencertown.
Dutchess County
City of Beacon - $8,216
Bridge Street Bridge Historic Structure Report
The Bridge Street Bridge in Beacon is a rare surviving example of a single-span, Whipple-type truss bridge built by the New York Bridge company in 1879. The bridge was closed to vehicle traffic in the 1980s but can currently be used by pedestrians (at their own risk). In conjunction with the creation of a recreational trail, the City of Beacon wishes to rehabilitate and preserve the bridge for safe pedestrian use. An $8,216 Preserve New York grant will enable the City to retain Frank Griggs and DeGennaro Engineering to complete a thorough inspection and analysis of the bridge. Restoration will further the goals of the City’s comprehensive plan by encouraging and expanding the preservation of historically and culturally significant assets, and will ensure that the bridge serves the community for years to come.
Dutchess County Art Association d/b/a Barrett Art Center - $11,600
Barrett Art Center Historic Structure Report
The Dutchess County Art Association was formed in 1935 by Works Progress Administration artist Thomas Weeks Barrett, Jr. to provide a professional society for regional artists, and to foster an appreciation of the arts in the general public. In 1974, the DCAA found a permanent home when Barrett’s sister willed the family’s 1840s Greek Revival townhouse to the organization with the understanding that it be used for “purposes that will contribute to the appreciation and understanding of art.” Today, the DCAA is known as the Barrett Art Center and continues to provide dynamic public programming, art classes, and research material to the Poughkeepsie area. A fall 2015 Technical Assistance Grant from the League supported the cost of a condition assessment of the roof; this study demonstrated the need for a more thorough and comprehensive analysis of the entire building. This $11,600 Preserve New York grant will enable the Barrett Art Center to hire Marilyn Kaplan of Albany to complete phase I of a historic structure report. The report will inform plans for restoration of the building and interpretation of its history.
Kaatsbaan International Dance Center, Inc. - $5,000
Stanford White Barn Historic Structure Report
Kaatsbaan International Dance Center, the Hudson Valley’s “Cultural Park for Dance,” was formed in the 1990s as a response to the growing lack of affordable studio and rehearsal space for dancers in New York City. The current facility in Tivoli includes both contemporary and historic structures, one of which is referred to as the “Stanford White Music Barn.” White designed the barn and associated farmer’s cottage in 1895; the barn occupies a prominent spot on the Kaatsbaan campus but is currently not used due to its condition. A $5,000 Preserve New York grant will enable the Kaatsbaan International Dance Center to hire Lacey Thaler Reilly Wilson Architecture of Albany to complete a thorough condition analysis and historic structure report of the barn. The study will help the Kaatsbaan International Dance Center prioritize repairs to the structure and create a preservation plan that maintains the barn’s most important character-defining features. The Dance Center hopes to one day turn the barn into a visitor’s center where performance attendees, students, and tourists can view exhibits, attend public programs, and buy tickets for dance performances.
Erie County
University District Community Development Association, Inc. - $10,000
Buffalo University District Reconnaissance-Level Survey
The University District Community Development Association works alongside residents, block clubs, businesses, educational institutions, and local government to invest resources in the people and places that matter most to the community. The Association offers public programs to children and adults, and spearheads community and housing development projects in the City of Buffalo. While many historic districts have been designated in Buffalo, there are still neighborhoods and eligible properties to be surveyed. A $10,000 Preserve New York grant will enable the University District Community Development Association to hire Kerry Traynor of Buffalo to complete a reconnaissance-level survey focusing primarily on the Summit Park, Kensington Heights, and Kensington Park neighborhoods. These neighborhoods developed between 1900 and 1940, in large part because of the expansion of streetcar service and the University at Buffalo. They boast a diverse mix of architectural styles, including American Foursquare, Colonial Revival, and Workmen’s Bungalows. A survey will help to determine eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places which would expand the availability of historic rehabilitation tax credits for approved repairs to older buildings.
Franklin County
Malone Chamber of Commerce - $4,032
Village of Malone Intensive Level Survey
The Malone Chamber of Commerce seeks to promote the interest and welfare of those residing, employed, or engaged in business in northern Franklin County and functions as a liaison between residents and government officials. Malone was settled in the early 19th century, and the Village contains a distinctive mix of residential, commercial, and religious architecture. The Chamber of Commerce has collaborated with volunteers to survey the buildings in the Village and determined, along with the State Historic Preservation Office, that many of these structures might be eligible for inclusion on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. A $4,032 Preserve New York Grant will enable the Chamber to hire Adirondack Architectural Heritage of Keeseville to update the existing survey and create a State and National Register Nomination for the Village. If the nomination is approved, allow property owners would be eligible for historic rehabilitation tax credits. The Chamber hopes that this incentive will bring new businesses to the Village and inspire homeowners to preserve the character-defining features of their homes.
Greene County
Town of Windham - $8,000
Windham Civic Centre and Centre Church Building Condition Report
The Centre Church in Windham was built in 1830 and has a traditional New England-style frame, as well as elements of Federal and Greek Revival design. The church was turned over to the town in 1970 when it was decommissioned for religious use. In the years following, the church was threatened with demolition because its poor condition posed a public safety hazard. The Committee to Preserve the Centre Church formed and successfully nominated the building to the State and National Registers of Historic Places in 1979. Since then, the building has been used as a community and event center, as well as a public library, and the Town of Windham has committed to maintaining the property for community use. An $8,000 Preserve New York grant will enable the municipality to hire Ryan Biggs Clark Davis of Clifton Park to complete a full structural analysis of the church. This will be a first step to continued preservation and maintenance of an important community asset.
Jefferson County
Antique Boat Museum - $9,000
Intensive Level Survey of Gilded Age Properties in the Thousand Islands
The Antique Boat Museum is a premier cultural institution of the North County that celebrates the rich history and heritage of boating activity in New York’s Thousand Islands through exhibitions, programming, tours, and other events. The Thousand Island region became a famous tourist destination in the early 1870s, when George Pullman, the inventor of the Pullman sleeping train car, invited President Ulysses S. Grant to his summer home near Alexandria Bay. Throughout the 1880s and 90s and into the early 20th century, wealthy tourists flocked to the area and built lavish summer homes – many of which still exist. A $9,000 Preserve New York grant will enable the Antique Boat Museum to hire Robert Charron to complete an Intensive Level Survey of the Gilded Age architecture from this time period. This will continue efforts begun in the early 1980s to survey and document the built environment of the Thousand Islands, and will lead to several State and National Register Nominations through a Multiple Property Documentation Form, as well as new programming for the Antique Boat Museum.
Lewis County
Town of Leyden - $2,400
Leyden Common School No. 2/Leyden Town Hall Building Condition Report
The Leyden Town Hall is a former one-room schoolhouse that still retains many of its original features, including girls and boys entrances. In 2003, Crawford & Stearns Architects and Preservation Planners of Syracuse prepared a building condition report and made preliminary recommendations for preservation treatment. The Town implemented many of those recommendations, but has now turned its attention to more explicit preservation and restoration of the structure. A $2,400 Preserve New York Grant will allow the Town to hire Crawford & Stearns to revisit their initial building condition report and update it, incorporating the changing needs of Town Officials, who would also like the space to serve as a small local history museum in the future.
Monroe County
Landmark Society of Western New York - $10,000
Park Avenue Historic District State and National Register Nomination
The Landmark Society of Western New York is one of the Nation’s oldest and most active historic preservation organizations dedicated to preserving, interpreting, and fostering interest in the architectural, historical, and cultural heritage of their nine county service area. The Landmark Society also helps neighborhoods and communities secure State and National Register designations. The Park Avenue neighborhood in Rochester is the largest concentration of architect-designed, middle/upper class homes and post-World War I apartment buildings in the city. Many of the homes were designed by prominent architects, which resulted in the nickname “Millionaires Row” for East Avenue, a street within the district. A $10,000 Preserve New York grant will enable the Landmark Society to hire Clinton Brown Company Architecture of Buffalo to complete a Nomination to the State and National Registers of Historic Places. Homeowners in the district will be able to take advantage of historic rehabilitation tax credits, which may help combat some of the development pressure currently imposed on buildings in the neighborhood by offering incentives for sensitive rehabilitation.
Montgomery County
Amsterdam Free Library - $12,000
Amsterdam Free Library Historic Structure Report
The Amsterdam Free Library was constructed in 1903 after the President of the Library Board of Trustees, Dr. S. H. Frech, wrote to Andrew Carnegie and asked for the funds to build it. Carnegie agreed, as long as the city would support the library after construction. The building was designed by Fuller & Pitcher architects of Albany and has served clients of all ages since its doors opened nearly 115 years ago. A $12,000 Preserve New York grant will enable the library to hire John G. Waite Associates of Albany to complete a Historic Structure Report of the library building. This report will serve as complete documentation of the building’s history and a guide for future maintenance. The need for the study became even more urgent in June, 2017, when the building was damaged by fire.
Village of Palatine Bridge - $5,600
Village of Palatine Bridge State and National Register Nomination
The Village of Palatine Bridge is a small municipality located on the northern side of the Mohawk River, across the river from the larger and more industrially developed city of Canajoharie. Palatine Bridge began as a bedroom community, as the bridge provided easy access to factory jobs located across the river. Today, Palatine Bridge retains notable domestic architecture as well as a few municipal and commercial structures. In 2015, a $9,000 Preserve New York grant supported the cost of a reconnaissance-level survey of historic resources in the village. This $5,600 Preserve New York grant will enable the Village to hire Jessie Ravage of Cooperstown to complete a State and National Register Nomination for the Village. Palatine Bridge is located in a qualifying census tract for New York State rehabilitation tax credits, and if the nomination is successful, homeowners would be eligible for rehabilitation tax credits for approved repairs to older buildings.
Nassau County
Old Westbury Gardens - $12,350
Old Westbury Gardens Building Condition Report
Old Westbury Gardens is a rare example of a Long Island country estate that retains its original manor house, landscape architecture, and farmstead features dating from 1860 to 1958. Many of the landscape elements and buildings were designed by renowned architects and landscape specialists. Today, the outbuildings generate income for the not-for-profit through rentals, but structural and mechanical issues are raising concerns about public safety for visitors and guests. A $12,350 Preserve New York grant will enable Old Westbury Gardens to hire Jan Hird Pokorny Associates of New York City to complete a comprehensive building condition report for these outbuildings and other structures, to guide the staff and board of Old Westbury Gardens in repairs and maintenance of the historic outbuildings at the complex.
New York County
West Harlem Community Preservation Organization - $12,000
West Harlem (Amsterdam Avenue to Riverside Drive/Hudson River) State and National Register Nomination
The Amsterdam Avenue to Riverside Drive neighborhood in West Harlem contains a cohesive group of buildings of great architectural, historical, and cultural significance. This includes late 19th-century rowhouses, large apartment buildings, theaters, churches, and other mixed use properties. The area grew rapidly in the early 20th century following the construction of the Broadway IRT subway and the Riverside Drive Viaducts. Increased interest in real estate has led to development pressure in the neighborhood with little consideration for historic structures. A $12,000 Preserve New York grant will enable the West Harlem Community Preservation Organization to hire Christopher Brazee of Troy to complete a State and National Register Nomination. The nomination may also lead to local designation of the neighborhood by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.
Niagara County
Niagara Arts & Cultural Center, Inc. - $13,600
Niagara Arts & Cultural Center (Old Niagara Falls High School) Historic Structure Report
The Niagara Arts and Cultural Center (the NACC) operates in the former Niagara Falls High School Building. The school was constructed in 1923-24 after a fire destroyed the original building and was listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places in 2002. The Staff and Board of the NACC has worked tirelessly to rehabilitate the 180,000 square foot building, but much work remains to be done. The large theater space inside the building is presently underutilized; once renovated it will become a source of revenue for ongoing improvements and maintenance of the entire Center. A $13,600 Preserve New York grant will enable the Niagara Arts and Cultural Center to hire Flynn Battaglia Architects of Buffalo to complete a historic structure report for the historic school building. This will serve as a guiding document for continued restoration and maintenance, thereby ensuring that audiences can enjoy arts and cultural programming in Niagara Falls for years to come.
Onondaga County
Village of Fayetteville Historic Preservation Commission - $6,341
Village of Fayetteville Reconnaissance-Level Survey
The Village of Fayetteville, now a suburb of Syracuse, was once a turnpike and canal village as well as a manufacturing center. Its buildings and streetscapes represent all periods of the village’s development – these include the former Stickley factory, an Episcopal church, and the Wellwood School. These buildings have been determined eligible for inclusion on the State and National Registers of Historic Places, but many other neighborhoods in Fayetteville have not yet been surveyed. A $6,341 Preserve New York grant will enable the Village to hire Jessie Ravage of Cooperstown to complete a reconnaissance-level survey of historic resources. A survey will help to determine eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places which would expand the availability of historic rehabilitation tax credits for approved repairs to older buildings.
University Neighborhood Preservation Association - $10,800
Gustav Stickley House Historic Structure Report
The Gustav Stickley House in Syracuse is one of the premier Arts and Crafts sites in the United States. The house was constructed in the Queen Anne style in 1900, but in 1901 Stickley redesigned the interior in the Craftsman style after a large fire. The contrast in styles between the exterior and interior is essential to understanding the birth of the modern Arts and Crafts movement in the United States. Although there has long been an interest in preservation of the building, efforts to rehabilitate the structure failed in the 1990s and eventually the building was transferred from the L & JG Stickley Company to the University Neighborhood Preservation Association (UNPA). A $10,800 Preserve New York grant will enable UNPA to hire Crawford & Stearns of Syracuse to complete a Historic Structure Report of the Gustav Stickley House. Analysis and documentation of the deteriorated structure will serve as a guiding document for complete restoration of this important building.
Greater Syracuse Land Bank - $4,000
South Presbyterian Church Building Condition Report
The Greater Syracuse Land Bank is a public authority tasked with returning vacant and abandoned properties to productive use. The Land Bank seeks responsible buyers for properties which are locally designated as historic, or listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. The Land Bank’s goal is to find buyers who can renovate and maintain the properties, and avoid demolition whenever possible. The South Presbyterian Church at 2110 S. Salina Street, which dates to 1906, boasts a limestone exterior with stepped gables and an interior that seats over 1,000 and features a distinctive curved balcony. This State and National Register-listed building needs a new owner to maintain and preserve it. A $4,000 Preserve New York grant will enable the Greater Syracuse Land Bank to hire Holmes, King, Kallquist Architects of Syracuse to complete a building condition report of the church to provide guidance on preservation and maintenance for prospective new owners.
Preservation Association of Central New York - $10,000
Greater Westcott Neighborhood Reconnaissance-Level Survey and State and National Register Nomination
The Westcott Neighborhood in Syracuse is a streetcar suburb which illustrates urban and social changes from the late 19th through the early 20th centuries, including the rise in popularity of single detached homes, which developed individually or in small groups. The neighborhood retains a commercial hub as well as a number of religious and civic buildings. Today, Westcott remains a vibrant residential area consisting of both owner-occupied structures and rental properties. A $10,000 Preserve New York grant will enable the Preservation Association of Central New York (PACNY) to hire Samuel D. Gruber and Bruce Harvey of Syracuse to complete a State and National Register Nomination for the neighborhood. PACNY is the regional organization tasked with promoting preservation best practices, and knows that a successful nomination of the Greater Westcott Neighborhood to the National Register will enable more building owners to take advantage of New York State Rehabilitation Tax Credits.
Schoharie County
Town of Jefferson Historical Society - $4,687
Hamlet of Jefferson Intensive Level Survey
The hamlet of Jefferson remains largely unchanged from the 19th century. The central fixture of the hamlet is the historic green, which was donated to the Town by Jefferson’s founding father, Stephen Judd. At the time, the green was to be used for militia drills. Now mostly residential, the buildings that remain represent various architectural styles from the 19th century. The Town’s current comprehensive plan and rural land use law prioritize the importance of rural character, but residents in Jefferson are seeking incentives to preserve their buildings. The area is also frequently threatened with development pressure from commercial chain stores and neglect of vacant properties. A $4,687 Preserve New York grant will enable the Jefferson Historical Society to hire Jessie Ravage of Cooperstown to complete an intensive level survey of the hamlet. This survey will yield information which could lead to nomination to the State and National Registers of Historic Places and expand the availability of historic rehabilitation tax credits for approved repairs to older buildings.
Village of Schoharie - $6,779
Village of Schoharie State and National Register Nomination
The Village of Schoharie was incorporated as a village in 1819, but the settlement dates back to the early 18th century. The buildings in the village reflect this history, dating from the early 1700s to the late 20th century. In 2011, Schoharie suffered devastating flooding during Hurricane Irene; many Main Street businesses were destroyed and homes evacuated. The community has been working since then to mitigate the damage. In 2015, the Village secured a $10,000 Preserve New York grant to complete a reconnaissance-level survey of historic resources. This Preserve New York grant of $6,779 will enable the village to hire Jessie Ravage of Cooperstown to complete a State and National Register Nomination of the village. A successful nomination will fully document the village’s historic resources and open the door to New York State Rehabilitation Tax Credits, providing additional incentives to repair the flood-damaged buildings.
Steuben County
Finger Lakes Boating Museum - $8,000
Taylor Wine Company Buildings #4, 9, 10, and 11 Building Condition Report
The Finger Lakes Boating Museum was founded to preserve the rich history of boat building and boating activity in the region through workshops, special events, and other educational programs. Although the institution was chartered in 1997, the museum did not have a headquarters to call its own until it moved into the Taylor Wine Company buildings, which were donated to the museum by the Mercury Aircraft Corporation. The Finger Lakes Boat Museum secured a $3,000 Technical Assistance Grant from the Preservation League in 2016 to analyze the condition of the Taylor Wine Company building #5 with a goal of using this structure as a boat-building workshop and classroom space. Now, the museum has also turned its attention to Taylor Wine Company Buildings #4, 9, 10, and 11. An $8,000 Preserve New York grant will enable the museum to hire Bero Architecture of Rochester to complete comprehensive building condition reports for these four structures on the museum campus. The condition reports will serve as guiding documents for rehabilitation and continued use by the museum.
Suffolk County
Sag Harbor Partnership - $6,400
Intensive Level Survey of the Sag Harbor Hills, Azurest, and Ninevah Subdivisions (SANS)
The Sag Harbor Hills, Azurest, and Ninevah Subdivisions (SANS) on Long Island were built shortly after World War II as destinations for African Americans who wished to enjoy leisure time along the Sag Harbor waterfront. At that time, Jim Crow housing segregation and mortgage financing discrimination prohibited many people of color from developing and enjoying resort housing. The neighborhoods flourished in the mid-twentieth century and served as a backdrop for a rich social and cultural history. Today, the neighborhoods suffer from intense development pressure as many original SANS families have left the area. Developers purchase modestly-sized homes as tear-downs to build large, out-of-scale mansions on the waterfront. A $6,400 grant will enable the Sag Harbor Partnership, a community organization, to hire Allison McGovern to complete an intensive-level survey of the neighborhoods. Thorough documentation of existing structures and their accompanying social history may encourage residents to choose preservation over insensitive development.
Southampton Historical Museum - $9,250
Captain Albert Rogers Mansion Historic Structure Report
The Captain Albert Rogers Mansion in Southampton was constructed in 1648 and expanded in 1750, 1843, and the early 1900s. A full history of the structure has never been published, but the Southampton Historical Museum works to interpret the significance of the structure, its occupants, and its importance in the community through programming, tours, and other events. The home’s age and varied construction techniques have led to water infiltration and deteriorated windows. A $9,250 Preserve New York grant will enable the Southampton Historical Museum to hire Sally Spanburgh of Southampton to complete a full Historic Structure Report of the mansion. This document will organize and reveal a full history of the home’s development, assess its condition, and make recommendations for repairs and upkeep of the structure.
Sullivan County
Village of Monticello - $4,000
Downtown Monticello Historic District State and National Register Nomination
Monticello, the county seat of Sullivan County, was incorporated as a village in 1830. In 1909 and again in 1919, two massive fires destroyed many buildings on Broadway, the main road that runs through the village. The village retains a mix of structures – some built in the late 1830s and some built after the fires in the 20th century. Road widening and sidewalk improvements have made Broadway quite wide and accessible for vehicles and pedestrians, but many commercial storefronts on Broadway are vacant, and many historic buildings are in disrepair. A $4,000 Preserve New York grant will enable the Village of Monticello to hire Larson Fisher Associates of Woodstock to complete a State and National Register Nomination of the commercial corridor. Many of Monticello’s historic properties could be revitalized with the assistance of New York State Rehabilitation Tax Credits, and village officials hope these incentives will encourage building owners to take pride in their community’s history.