The League recently submitted a letter of support to the Landmarks Preservation Board in Yonkers to express support for designating The Yorkshire as a local landmark.

As stated in the Landmarks Application, The Yorkshire is a “public amenity” and “public delight” much beloved by the surrounding community. It is also an architecturally significant Tudor Revival apartment building, part of a collection of apartment buildings on Garrett Place that reflect the social and architectural history of Yonkers. The Yorkshire is also an important piece of Yonkers social fabric, as it provides necessary affordable housing through many rent-controlled and stabilized apartment.

Click here to read the full letter.

The Preservation League recently submitted a letter to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, urging them to reconsider their proposal to demolish the National Register-listed Debar Pond Lodge. This proposal by New York State is an egregious violation of the 1980 NYS Historic Preservation Act — as well as not being environmentally friendly, wasting the resources contained within this beautiful 20th century landmark. We support our Preservation Colleague, Adirondack Architectural Heritage (AARCH), who has also called for NYS DEC to table their draft scoping statement calling for demolition, bring together stakeholders, and allow for a thorough discussion of alternative solutions for the lodge.

Click here to read the League’s letter.

AARCH put together a video featuring the lodge and property, with Executive Director Steven Engelhart providing an overview of the property's history and his organization's involvement in seeking preservation solutions for the lodge.

On October 21, the League's Vice President for Policy and Preservation Erin Tobin had the great honor of participating in the New York State Senate Arts & Culture Roundtable. This event focused on the pandemic's impact on arts and cultural institutions, as well as the integral role these institutions will play in New York State's post-pandemic recovery. Erin's presentation focused specifically on the role that historic preservation plays in stimulating economic development, affordable housing, and the creation of artistic spaces.

Read more in the League's written statement and watch the recorded webcast below.

Since 2010, when we included Willert Park/A.D. Price Courts on our Seven to Save list, the Preservation League has supported Preservation Buffalo Niagara's work to save this significant historic site. Now we join them in calling for the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority to begin the mandated federal review process and sit down with stakeholders. Click here to join the advocacy effort with Preservation Buffalo Niagara. 

Click here to read the League’s letter of support.

Click here to read the League’s support letter.

We are pleased that 17 partner organizations signed-on showing overwhelming support for the following preservation initiatives increasing the historic tax credit from 20% to 30% for small projects, renewing the historic barn tax credit, maintaining funding for historic sites, support for the Environmental Protection Fund, and inclusion in a future Environmental Bond Act. All of which will provide much needed economic stimulus in a post-COVID economy in New York State. We look forward to continuing to work with the agency and our colleagues on important preservation matters.

Community members have rallied around the modest 1911 gambrel home located at 88-28 43rd Avenue in Elmhurst. A recommendation submitted to the city’s Landmarks and Preservation Commission details the historical significance of the home, which was formerly the longtime home of Walentyna Janta-Polczynska, the “First Lady of Polish Americans.”

Walentyna, a WWII Polish War Heroine, resided at this residence until she passed away on April 2, 2020 at 107 years old. She was the last living member of the Polish Government-in-Exile and from 1940 to 1943 she served as a confidante and secretary of the prime minister and commander in chief, General Wladyslaw Sikorski. Her home became an important stopping place for Polish emigre elite fleeing Communist Poland as well as distinguished scholars, professors, and dignitaries. 

This cultural site is a rare example of significance not only for Polish and Polish American culture but on the accomplishments of a modern female war heroine. To read more about Walentyna’s accomplishments, check out this article. You can also read our letter of support, which outlines the historic and cultural importance of this site.

On September 8, the Southampton town board voted unanimously to pass two resolutions to address the preservation of unmarked burials and grave sites within the town. Resolution 2020-759 serves to protect the sanctity of unmarked burial sites by creating the position of town archaeologist, establishing a clear local process when remains are uncovered, ensure consultation, and explore acquisition of land from willing sellers. Resolution 2020-760 enacts a temporary six month moratorium on certain development actions within the hamlet of Shinnecock Hills, which will allow the review of current laws and ensure that human remains and associated funerary artifacts remain undisturbed to the greatest extent possible. 

You can read more here, in our letter of support, and review the text of the resolutions here.

We applaud Southampton for taking actions to celebrating its historic and cultural past!

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

An important bill passed in the Senate this session: S3645A. We appreciate the Senate's support and recognition of the importance of the NYS Historic Tax Credit and how these improvements will make the credit more functional and valuable for smaller, Main Street, and nonprofit projects. We would like to thank Senator Kennedy (D- 63rd District) for introducing this bill and to the following Senate co-sponsors: Metzger (D- 42nd District), Serrano (D- 29th District), and Kaplan (D- 7th District).

Thank you again to Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, the Assembly and Senate, especially Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Assembly Ways and Means Chair Helene E. Weinstein and Senate Finance Chair Liz Krueger for including improvements to the Historic Tax Credit in the budget bill earlier this session, so that both State Historic Sites and cities with a poverty rate over 15% can take advantage of the Historic Tax Credit.

At the conclusion of the 2019 legislative session, the NYS Senate and Assembly passed legislation which adds Ulster county to the list of counties in the Hudson Valley eligible to raise funding for preservation through a Community Preservation Fund. The legislation will be delivered to the Governor.