The National Park Service recently proposed revisions to the regulations governing the listing of properties in National Register of Historic Places. The Preservation League believes these revisions circumvent the intent of the National Historic Preservation Act and subsequent amendments. The League believes that the proposed rule changes are hostile to the National Register nomination process.

The League summited a letter to Joy Beasley, Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places, to voice our concerns. Click here to read it.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR LETTER OF SUPPORT.

The Estabrook Mansion/Ward Wellington Ward House is a significant piece of Central NY Arts & Crafts architectural history. It was constructed between 1922-23 and is the largest work of Ward Wellington Ward that survives in the Syracuse area. The building touts significant contributions by highly acclaimed artisans such as Henry Keck Stained Glass and Moravian Pottery & Tile Works. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building is owned by a private individual who recently applied to the Town of Manlius for a zoning change of the property from Residential (1-A) to Commercial (C-A). The proposed zoning change would almost certainly lead to demolition of the property in favor of developing the area to suit more strip-mall style businesses. 

Significant public push-back led this issue to be taken off the table for the April 10 Town Board Meeting. Several members of the Arts & Crafts Society of Central NY and other concerned citizens attended the meeting anyway because they felt it important to make their opinions known. The Town Board did indeed vote to permanently strike down the request so the property will not be rezoned from residential to commercial. The Town Board acknowledged the great number of letters they received in support of the building’s preservation.

Press:
4.5.19, Syracuse.com: 'Nip it now’: Onondaga County executive, legislator oppose Wellington House proposal

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Two important improvements to the State Historic Tax Credit have made it into the final state budget. All historic buildings within two distinct groups can take advantage of the State Historic Tax Credit, regardless of prior qualification:

1. Historic buildings within New York State Parks and State Historic Sites
2. Historic homes in cities with a population under one million with at least 15% poverty threshold 

This win for historic preservation would not be possible without the leadership of 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. 

Recognition also belongs to Assemblymembers Carrie Woerner, Donna Lupardo, Patricia A. Fahy, Steve Otis, Steven Englebright, Robin Schimminger, Anthony D'Urso, and Carmen Arroyo and NYS Senators Timothy Kennedy and Jose M. Serrano who sponsored the initial bill that included the poverty rate qualification for cities. 

Click here to learn more.

Thank you, NYS Assembly! The State Senate and Assembly Released Their Proposed Budgets – Including Improvements to the State Historic Tax Credit in the Assembly’s Version!
We hoped both houses would include these improvements, but we are grateful to see them represented, nonetheless. Our team has been advocating for these changes along with our colleagues and partners in preservation since the fall. Many thanks to everyone who contacted their representatives, the legislature, and especially Assembly members Carrie Woerner, Donna Lupardo, Patricia Fahy, Steve Otis, Steven Englebright, Robin Schimminger, Anthony D’Urso, and Carmen Arroyo and NYS Senators Timothy Kennedy and Jose Serrano who sponsored these amendments.

And if you want to see these improvements included in the Governor’s final budget, keep calling your state senators and your assemblymembers!

State Tax Credit Enhancements make it into the Assembly budget bill: Part U of A2009B
 View the entire Assembly Budget Bill

In 2019, the League is advocating for the following enhancements to the State Historic Tax Credit:

1) Ability to directly transfer NYS Historic Tax Credits, mirroring the allowed transferability in the NYS Low-Income Housing Tax Credit.

Transferring NYS Historic Tax Credits provides a greater return on New York State’s tax credit dollar, driving more investment into economic development rehabilitation projects. 

2) Increasing the NYS Historic Tax Credit from 20% to 30% for small projects under $5 million.

Owners of smaller historic buildings, the type typically found in a Main Street neighborhood commercial corridor, are challenged to make a historic rehabilitation project feasible in projects under $5 million. This increase will encourage these projects to move forward.

3) Qualifying every city under one million with a 15% poverty threshold for the NYS Historic Tax Credit. 

Allowing entire cities in upstate New York to qualify for this economic development incentive will benefit cities and the state overall, removing qualification ambiguity.

​Our good pal, Tug Urger has been making waves, thanks to Assemblymember John McDonald (D- Cohoes) who introduced bill A4075 to make Urger the official New York State Tugboat! Thank you to Senator Rachel May (D-Syracuse) for introducing same-as bill, S3790!

Click here to read our Memo of Support.

The League has been honored to assist in advocating for this special tug over the past year.​

S1558, introduced by Senator José Serrano (D-Bronx), and co-sponsored by Senator Diane Savino (D- Staten Island), authorizes the Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation to establish a resident curator program for the rehabilitation of state park buildings.

Click here to read our Memo of Support.