Bills A.1261/S.1947, as written, would impede community development, revitalization, and endanger historic buildings and landscapes. Specifically, projects utilizing Environmental Protection Fund grants and New York State Historic Tax Credits would be negatively affected, as this legislation would significantly increase the cost of completing such projects. This will lead to a dramatic reduction in the historic preservation projects that revitalize our communities and stimulate our economy.

Read more in our memo.

Updated memo regarding Prevailing Wage | March 2020

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.

This legislation (A4403/S1864) will help small and mid-sized cities in New York State mitigate the blight caused by vacant and abandoned buildings, while providing them with a more expedient mechanism to place the buildings with owners who can rehabilitate them.  

Click here to read the League’s Memo of Support.

Thank you to Assemblymember John McDonald (D-Cohoes), for introducing A4403, and to Assemblymembers Fahy, Gottfried, Otis, Raia, DiPietro, Peoples-Stokes, Woerner, Gunther, Palmesano, Steck, Friend, Morinello, Wallace, Hawley, Taylor, Arroyo, Cook, Crouch, Giglio, Griffin, Ramos, Sayegh, Schimminger, and Tague for co-sponsoring in the Assembly.

Thank you to Senator Gaughran for introducing S1864, and to co-sponsors Senators Helming and Parker.

On Tuesday, June 4th, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission will consider six NYC sites for designation as individual landmarks on the basis of their cultural significance, specifically the connection of these sites to New York City LGBT history. We produced this letter for our recent award-winner, the NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project, to express support for affording these important properties the full protection of the NYC Landmarks Preservation Law.

Read the League’s Letter of Support

From the NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project:

Following the 2015 designation of the Stonewall Inn, the upcoming June 4 hearing and subsequent vote are an opportunity for the LPC to further recognize our City’s important LGBT heritage. As the LGBT community in New York City, across the country and around the world come together to honor the legacy of the 1969 Stonewall uprising this June, the importance of these designations cannot be overstated.

The six LGBT historic sites to be heard on June 4th are a small sampling of the 200 researched and featured on our website, nyclgbtsites.org. We drew from this database when recommending to the LPC a list of approximately one dozen sites of significance to LGBT history and culture. We are proud that the six sites now under review are borne from the Project’s research and championing of LGBT historic sites worthy of designation.

Click here to learn more about the six sites up for consideration and how you can get involved.

On May 21, the House Appropriations Interior bill report was released. We are pleased that it includes strong support for preservation and the Historic Preservation Fund. This includes important increases for SHPOs & THPOs, expansion for the Civil Rights Movement, Save America's Treasures and HBCU grant programs, and language expressing concern over the proposed rule changes to the National Register.

For more information, view the official press release and Preservation Action’s Legislative Update.

On May 17, legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that would bring more value to historic tax credits and improve access to the credit and investment for smaller rehabilitation projects. H.R. 2825 introduced by Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and co-sponsored by Darin LaHood (R-PA), Terri Sewell (D-AL), Mike Kelly (R-PA), Michael Turner (R-OH), and Brian Higgins (D-NY). Senate introduction of similar legislation is expected within the next few weeks. 

Read the NTCIC Action Alert to learn how this legislation would increase the value of HTC transactions and encourage redevelopment of smaller, income-producing properties. Please contact your New York Congressional Representative and encourage them to co-sponsor the Historic Tax Credit Growth and Opportunity Act, sponsored by Blumenauer/ LaHood in the House.

A special thank you to representative Brian Higgins (D-NY) for being an early co-sponsor of this legislation!

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

photo via

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