The Trust for Architectural Easements takes its role as an advocate for historic preservation very seriously. Part of fighting the battle against the demolition of America's historic structures is making the public aware of news, policies and practices that are working for and against the preservation of our architectural history. The following are recent reports and articles that shed light on the cause of preservation and the controversy that sometimes surrounds it.
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- Congressman Jay Inslee to Participate on Sustainability and Historic Preservation Panel Sponsored by the Trust for Architectural Easements
- Trust for Architectural Easements Supports Local Residents’ Efforts to List Breed’s Hill Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places
- Trust for Architectural Easements Meets With Historic Preservation Advocates in New Jersey
- Trust for Architectural Easements Helps Place Historic Boston Building on the National Register of Historic Places
- Trust Announces Second Panel in Sustainability and Historic Preservation Thought Leader Discussion Series
- Garment Center Historic District Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
- Trust Meets With Obama Transition Team to Discuss Proposed Changes to Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentive Program
- Trust Sends Letter to President-elect Obama on Historic Preservation, Sustainability and the Financial Crisis
- Trust Promotes Architectural History and Historic Preservation Education
- Trust for Architectural Easements Announces Sustainability and Historic Preservation Panel Series
- Historic New York City Warehouse Protected Forever
- Preservation Easement Saves New York's Last Remaining Horse Auction Mart Building
- Two Organizations Join Forces to Ensure Preservation of Historic Communities and the Natural Environment
- Two New York City Buildings, both Integral to the History of the Engineering Profession, Listed on National Register of Historic Places
- Fifteen Beacon Street, the Current Site of Boston’s Renowned XV Beacon Hotel, Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
- Wall Street Historic District Announcement
- More Structures Within Boston's Beacon Hill Neighborhood Now Qualify for Federal Preservation Programs and Incentives
- Wall Street Historic District Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
- Trust Leads Effort to Update Beacon Hill National Historic Landmark Designation
- NYC Council Revokes Landmark Status on Brooklyn Landmark
- Political Pressure On NYC Landmarks Commission
- The Case for Preservation Easements
- Preservation Versus Demolition: A CBS News Sunday Morning Report
- National Registered Landmark Demolished
Congressman Jay Inslee to Participate on Sustainability and Historic Preservation Panel Sponsored by the Trust for Architectural Easements
March 16, 2009, Washington, DC -- A series of panel discussions sponsored by the Trust for Architectural Easements, Island Press and the US Green Building Council bring together experts from the financial, real estate, architecture, preservation, planning, and policy worlds to discuss how to create a future that is environmentally, financially, and socially sound. The first two panels – How Policy Influences Development and How We Regulate Development – have been very successful, with capacity attendance and active audiences.
The third panel – How We Finance Development – will be held on March 23, 2009 from 7:30 to 9:00 pm at the SEIU Conference Center Room 1036/38 in Washington, DC. RSVP for this free event by sending an email to kgraves@islandpress.org or calling 202-232-7933 x20.
Congressman Jay Inslee, representing the First District of the State of Washington in the Seattle area, will be joined by Chris Leinberger, Brookings Fellow; Jair Lynch, real estate developer; and Steven McClain, president of the Trust for Architectural Easements. Todd Baldwin, Vice President and Associate Publisher of Island Press, will moderate the panel which will discuss the opportunities and challenges presented by the current financial crisis.
Historic preservation is fundamentally sustainable in that its practice reuses existing built resources and encourages reinvestment in older communities. The integration of green building design into the rehabilitation of historic structures has only recently become a more common and encouraged practice in the United States. Since new construction in the U.S. produces a disproportionate percentage of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, we must continue to rethink housing and commercial development to incorporate sustainable principles. The third panel on Sustainability and Historic Preservation, How We Finance Development, moves us another step forward in the discussion.
The Trust for Architectural Easements is one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit organizations dedicated to voluntary preservation through easement donations.
Congressman Jay Inslee to Participate on Sustainability and Historic Preservation Panel Sponsored by the Trust for Architectural Easements
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Trust for Architectural Easements Supports Local Residents’ Efforts to List Breed’s Hill Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places
March 3, 2009, Boston, MA – If approved, the Breed’s Hill Historic District in Charlestown, MA will be listed on the National Register of Historic Places and will be an expansion of the Monument Square Historic District listed on the National Register in 1987.
“The National Register of Historic Places is the federal program that provides public recognition of our nation’s historic resources, whether architectural, cultural, or archaeological,” said Steve McClain, President of the Trust for Architectural Easements. “Listing a historic district is important because, in addition to honoring an area’s history, it means consideration of the district in the planning for federal undertakings, eligibility for federal tax benefits, and qualification for federal historic preservation grants, when funds are available.”
Representatives of the Trust for Architectural Easements, one of the largest preservation easement-holding organizations in the nation, joined consultants Pauline Chase-Harrell of Boston Affiliates and Edward Gordon to present the proposed Breed’s Hill Historic District to members of the Charlestown community. Many residents attended the meeting which was held February 9th at the Knights of Columbus with the gracious assistance of the Charlestown Neighborhood Council. The Trust for Architectural Easements is funding the necessary documentation, and has been working closely with Boston Landmarks Commission and Massachusetts Historical Commission to secure the nomination, which several residents attending the meeting noted they had been attempting to achieve for many years.
“We are fortunate that Mory Bahar and his associates at the Trust for Architectural Easements have provided the impetus to expand protection for the neighborhood’s architectural integrity,” said Bill Meyer, a member of the Design Review Committee of the Charlestown Preservation Society. “Past efforts have fizzled out because of the enormous task in providing the documentation needed to justify historic district designation.”
Breed’s Hill reflects the history of Charlestown’s development from a rural area to a densely-settled, residential district in the 19th century, following the burning of the town by the British after the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775. The Battle and its aftermath, and the creation of the Bunker Hill Monument to commemorate it, played important roles in shaping the history and character of Breed’s Hill. The Historic District encompasses a rich collection of architecture reflecting the major architectural styles popular from the late-18th through early-20th centuries, in a mix of frame and brick construction.
Mory Bahar, local Area Manager for the Trust, and Jennifer Brennan from the Trust’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. explained the Trust’s mission and sponsorship of the project. Chase-Harrell and Gordon covered the neighborhood’s significant history and architecture.
Betsy Friedberg, National Register Director for the Massachusetts Historical Commission, and Ellen Lipsey and Kathryn McLaughlin, Executive Director and Architectural Historian respectively, of the Boston Landmarks Commission also spoke at the meeting. Friedberg, Lipsey, and McLaughlin explained the process of listing the Breed’s Hill Historic District on the National Register and also discussed the benefits of listing. The rights of owners in the district would not be curtailed by listing, but some federal tax benefits would become available if the district is listed on the National Register. Federal tax benefits include tax credits for substantial rehabilitation of income-producing properties and tax deductions for the donation of historic preservation easements. Listing would also afford some protection from federally licensed, permitted, or funded projects that would adversely affect properties in the Breed’s Hill Historic District.
The Trust for Architectural Easements is one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit organizations dedicated to voluntary preservation through easement donations. The Trust protects more than 800 historic buildings across the United States. For more information about the Trust’s local preservation efforts, the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentive Program and the donation process, contact the Trust at 1-888-831-2107 or visit www.architecturaltrust.org.
- For A Map of the Proposed Breed’s Hill Historic District, CALL 888-831-2107 -
Trust for Architectural Easements Supports Local Residents’ Efforts to List Breed’s Hill Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places
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Trust for Architectural Easements Meets With Historic Preservation Advocates in New Jersey
February 17, 2009, Whippany, NJ -- Representatives of the Trust for Architectural Easements recently met with community members in Morris County, NJ to discuss historic preservation. The Trust, which supports voluntary preservation through the federal historic preservation tax incentive program, currently holds nine easements in New Jersey, primarily protecting row houses in Jersey City.
Once filled with estates of wealthy New York businessmen, Morris County has been confronted by developments threatening to demolish its historic homes and the surrounding open space. Incorporated in the 1730s, Morris County remained predominately agricultural until the late 1800s when wealthy businessmen retreated to its scenic solitude for weekends and summers. As a result, large estates were built, and at the turn of the century more millionaires lived in Morris County than anywhere else in the world. Eventually taxes on these estates became too expensive and the demand for housing in the county increased, so new, more affordable housing was built. Today, Morris County is predominately residential, with strong local efforts to preserve its rich architectural history.
The meeting was organized by Dianne Pierce of the Trust for Architectural Easements with assistance from Dan Lincoln, Vice-Chair of the Bernardsville Historic Preservation Advisory Committee and President of the Somerset Hills Historic Association; Wendy Montgomery, Chair of the Harding Historic Preservation Commission; Andrew Passacantando, Chair of the Morris Township Historic Preservation Commission; and Thomas Timpson, Member of the Mendham Township Historic Preservation Committee.
Heather Massler, the Trust’s Director of Operations and Stewardship, discussed the Trust’s mission and support of voluntary preservation through the federal historic preservation tax incentive program.
The Trust for Architectural Easements is one of the nation's largest not-for-profit organizations dedicated to voluntary preservation through easement donations. The Trust protects more than 800 historic buildings across the United States. For more information about the Trust's local preservation efforts, the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentive Program and the donation process, please contact the Trust at 1-888-831-2107 or visit www.architecturaltrust.org.
Trust for Architectural Easements Meets With Historic Preservation Advocates in New Jersey
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Trust for Architectural Easements Helps Place Historic Boston Building on the National Register of Historic Places
February 12, 2009, Boston, MA - The 106-year old Compton Building that Houses the Club Quarters Hotel and the Elephant & Castle Pub and Restaurant in downtown Boston has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a federal designation that bestows honor on one of Boston's architecturally and historically significant buildings.
"The Compton Building, like many other historic gems in Boston, was not listed on the National Register of Historic Places and also not protected by any preservation measures. I am delighted that we have now taken the first step by giving this building the recognition that it deserves," said Mory Bahar, the Boston representative of the Trust for Architectural Easements.
Located at 161-175 Devonshire Street, the 11-story Classical Revival granite and buff brick Compton Building was designed by the architectural firm of Winslow and Bigelow. Winslow and Bigelow designed many of Boston's buildings in the wake of the Great Fire of 1872. The building features several new engineering advances invented in the late 19th century, including steel frame construction and the elevator. Since electric lighting was still a relatively new technology, the building was designed with a large indentation at the rear of the building for improved lighting and air circulation.
"The National Register of Historic Places is the federal program that provides public recognition of our nation's historic resources, whether architectural, cultural, or archaelogical," said Steve McClain, President of the Trust for Architectural Easements. "This listing is important because, in addition to honoring a property's history, it means consideration of the property in the planning for federal undertakings, eligibility for federal tax benefits, and qualification for federal historic preservation grants, when funds are available."
The Trust for Architectural Easements is one of the nation's largest not-for-profit organizations dedicated to voluntary preservation through easement donations. The Trust protects more than 800 historic buildings across the United States. For more information about the Trust's local preservation efforts, the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentive Program and the donation process, contact the Trust at 1-888-831-2107 or visit www.architecturaltrust.org.
Trust for Architectural Easements Helps Place Historic Boston Building on the National Register of Historic Places
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Trust Announces Second Panel in Sustainability and Historic Preservation Thought Leader Discussion Series
Sustainability and Historic Preservation Thought Leader Discussion Series
How We Regulate Development
February 23, 2009, 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Choate room, 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW, at Dupont Circle on the red line
February 11, 2009, Washington, DC --A series of discussions sponsored by the Trust for Architectural Easements, Island Press and the US Green Building Council brings together experts from the financial, real estate, architecture, preservation, planning, and policy worlds to discuss how to create a future that is environmentally, financially, and socially sustainable. The first panel tackled the question “how policy influences development.” On Monday, February 23, 2009, a second panel contemplates “how we regulate development”.
Mixed-use, high density, walkable development, which minimizes carbon emissions and fuel use, is often not possible thanks to current zoning regulations. New evidence of the value of walkable, transit-oriented communities has surfaced in the sub-prime mortgage meltdown as auto-dependent suburbs have become foreclosure wastelands and high density walkable areas have retained their value.
New tools are available such as Smart Codes, but how far can they take us? How can we work within existing zoning restrictions while trying to change how we regulate and zone for the long term? How do we encourage the re-use of existing buildings, making use of vast quantities of embodied energy, rather than promote tear-downs and continued sprawl? Experts Chris Leinberger (real estate developer, professor and author of The Option of Urbanism) and other panelists will engage in a lively discussion of the current regulatory climate and the options for change and adaptation.
The adaptive reuse of existing buildings should be a critical component of any sustainable growth strategy. The Trust for Architectural Easements president, Steven L. McClain, notes that “the process of recycling and rehabilitating existing buildings is almost always more environmentally efficient than tearing down and building new structures. The positive attributes of rehabilitating older buildings is increased when one considers their protection results in the continued use of community infrastructure.”
The panel series is free and open to the general public.
Sustainability and Historic Preservation Thought Leader Discussion Series
How We Regulate Development
February 23, 2009, 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Choate room, 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW, at Dupont Circle on the red line
The Trust for Architectural Easements is one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit organizations dedicated to voluntary preservation through easement donations. Island Press was established in 1984 to stimulate, shape and communicate the ideas that are essential for solving environmental problems.
Trust for Architectural Easements Sponsors Sustainability and Historic Preservation Thought Leader Discussion Series
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Garment Center Historic District Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Contributing Property Owners Now Eligible for Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentive Programs
January 23, 2009, New York, NY --The Garment Center Historic District has recently been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Known for its pristine collection of 1920’s-era loft buildings as well as the source of recent zoning controversy, the historic district comprises nearly 25 blocks in midtown Manhattan, and roughly spans the area from 34th to 41st Streets, Sixth to Ninth Avenues. Listing on the Register is an honorary designation that makes contributing property owners eligible for participation in certain federal historic preservation tax incentive programs, but does not impose preservation restrictions on affected properties.
Built almost entirely between World War I and the Great Depression for the garment industry, many of the historic district’s 251 buildings were designed by preeminent architects, including Ely Jacques Kahn, Emory Roth, Blum & Blum, Schwartz & Gross and Starrett & Van Vleck. These buildings once collectively housed the world’s largest garment-manufacturing workforce.
The Garment Center has been the source of controversy since the City Planning Commission’s announcement in February of 2007 that it is planning to unveil a still-pending proposal to ease the stringent zoning restrictions of the Special Garment Center District (SGCD), which is situated almost entirely within the new historic district. Enacted in 1987, the SGCD zoning requires maintenance of approximately 5 million square feet (SF) of space for manufacturing and apparel-related uses. Industry groups estimate that approximately 800,000 SF is currently used in such a capacity.
Landlords have complained that the zoning is outdated and artificially depresses rents, while textile unions and manufacturers have fought to preserve affordable production space in Manhattan. Market rents for Class B and C office spaces are currently 2 to 3 times those for comparable spaces restricted for manufacturing use. The new zoning regulations are expected to drastically reduce the amount of square footage reserved for manufacturing use to as little as 350,000 SF, thereby enabling owners to convert existing manufacturing spaces to office use.
“The federal historic preservation tax incentive programs now available to contributing property owners offer substantial economic assistance in both the maintenance and/or conversion of these important historic properties,” explains Trust for Architectural Easements representative Sean Zalka. The Federal Historic Rehabilitation Tax Incentive Program provides owners with a tax credit equal to 20% of the costs of a qualified rehabilitation of the historic property. The Federal Historic Preservation Easement Program encourages owners of eligible properties to make historic preservation easement donations to qualified organizations such as the Trust for Architectural Easements. Owners who participate in the Program are eligible to receive federal income tax deductions in exchange for the contractual assurance that they will preserve the building in perpetuity.
The Trust protects more than 800 historic buildings across the United States. For more information, visit www.architecturaltrust.org.
Garment Center Historic District Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
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Trust Meets With Obama Transition Team to Discuss Proposed Changes to Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentive Program
Expansion of federal historic preservation tax incentives will stimulate the economy and protect the environment
January 16, 2009, Washington, DC --At a meeting with a member of President-elect Obama’s Transition Team yesterday, the Trust for Architectural Easements proposed changes to the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentive program that will stimulate the economy and protect the environment.
The proposed changes to the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentive Program are:
1. Expand the Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program to include residential, as well as commercial, buildings.
2. Allow property owners to combine the tax benefits of the Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program with the Historic Preservation Easement Program without being subject to the impact of a negative tax recapture.
3. Establish a safe harbor for historic preservation easement donations equal to ten percent of the total value of the property on which the easement is donated through the Historic Preservation Easement Program.
The proposed legislative changes benefit:
• The U.S. economy - because it encourages property owners to rehabilitate and develop historic properties now not later. It leverages government money 5 to 1; the cost to the Treasury is more than offset by increases in local, state and federal tax revenues.
• Low income renters - as the historic preservation tax incentives can be, and often are, combined with Section 8 Housing benefits and other low income federal programs to help provide affordable housing.
• Trade workers - electricians, plumbers, roofers, and other workers in the construction trades who have been hurt by the economic downturn by providing local jobs.
• The environment - because rehabilitation of existing historic properties is almost always more environmentally efficient than tearing down and building new.
• Older urban neighborhoods - as well as the businesses that serve these neighborhoods because it will create local jobs and stimulate local economies.
• Small businesses - because it will help to increase the amount of affordable commercial space for the incubation of new businesses.
• All Americans – because it helps to preserve and protect the nation’s architectural, historic and cultural heritage.
• Future generations - because the expenditures will be investments that will have long term and lasting positive effects on American society.
“These changes to the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentive Program would have an immediate effect on stimulating local economies, and, based upon past experiences at both the federal and state levels, these changes would generate increased tax revenues that would offset any revenue decrease caused by the tax incentives,” explains Steven McClain, president of the Trust for Architectural Easements. To support the proposed legislation, or learn more about the program or the Trust for Architectural Easements, please contact the Trust by email info@architecturaltrust.org or by phone at 888-831-2107.
The Trust protects more than 800 historic buildings across the United States. For more information, visit www.architecturaltrust.org.
Trust for Architectural Easements Meets With Obama Transition Team
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Trust Sends Letter to President-elect Obama on Historic Preservation, Sustainability and the Financial Crisis
Dear President-elect Obama:
Environmental and economic considerations are becoming dominant reasons for preserving older buildings and the neighborhoods they anchor. Recycling existing buildings is almost always more environmentally efficient than tearing down and building anew. Rehabilitating historic buildings minimizes waste and the consumption of materials and energy required in new construction. The positive attributes of rehabilitating older buildings are increased when one considers that maintaining and improving historic buildings and neighborhoods also allows for the continued use of valuable infrastructure: sidewalks, gutters, streets, utility lines, schools, public transportation lines, etc. If sustainable development is to balance human needs with the carrying capacity of the environment, then preservation is the greenest choice.
The two federal programs that currently encourage property owners to rehabilitate and protect their historic buildings are the Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program and the Historic Preservation Easement Program. These programs not only sustain and protect our nation’s cultural heritage, but also leverage private capital to rehabilitate historic buildings. These programs are increasingly important as a means of providing Americans with affordable residential and commercial buildings.
The Trust for Architectural Easements requests your support of the following legislative changes to these programs to help stimulate the economy, protect the environment, and revitalize urban communities:
1. Expand the Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program to include residential, as well as commercial, buildings.
2. Allow property owners to combine the tax benefits of the Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program with the Historic Preservation Easement Program without being subject to the impact of a negative tax recapture.
3. Establish a safe harbor for historic preservation easement donations equal to ten percent of the total value of the property on which the easement is donated through the Historic Preservation Easement Program.
These suggested changes would have an immediate effect on stimulating local economies, and, based upon past experiences at both the federal and state levels, these changes would generate increased tax revenues that would offset any revenue decrease caused by the tax incentives.
The staff of the Trust for Architectural Easements would welcome the opportunity to meet with your transition team to discuss in detail these suggested legislative changes.
We wish you and your new administration success in the coming year.
Sincerely,
Steven McClain
President
Trust Sends Letter to President-elect Obama on Historic Preservation, Sustainability and the Financial Crisis
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Trust Promotes Architectural History and Historic Preservation Education
January 2, 2009, Washington, DC -- Laura L. Thornton, Director of Education for the Trust for Architectural Easements, summarizes the present state of historic preservation education in the primary and secondary schools through a review of resources available to teachers who seek to teach historic preservation to their students in the inaugural issue of Preservation Education and Research.
The Trust for Architectural Easements promotes educational programs in architectural history and historic preservation as part of its mission to save America’s historic architecture. Thornton develops and leads educational workshops in architecture, historic preservation and urban design, for inner-city public school students.
The Trust is one of only a few organizations promoting historic preservation education in the primary and secondary schools. Thornton’s article examines a sampling of websites devoted to the teaching of historic preservation to young people, and posits recommendations for furthering historic preservation education in the primary and secondary schools.
The Trust for Architectural Easements is one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit organizations dedicated to voluntary preservation through easement donations. The Trust protects more than 800 historic buildings across the United States. For more information about the Trust’s educational programs, local preservation efforts, the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentive Program and the donation process, contact the Trust at 1-888-831-2107 or visit www.architecturaltrust.org.
To subscribe to Preservation Education and Research, send a check for $60 payable to the National Council for Preservation Education with name and mailing address to PER, c/o NCPE, Box 291, Ithaca, NY 14851.
To learn more about the information contained in this article, please contact: Laura L. Thornton, Trust for Architectural Easements – 888-831-2107, ext. 12
Trust Promotes Architectural History and Historic Preservation Education
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Trust for Architectural Easements Announces Sustainability and Historic Preservation Panel Series
A series of panel discussions sponsored by the Trust for Architectural Easements and Island Press will bring together experts from the financial, real estate, architecture, preservation, planning, and policy worlds to discuss how to create an environmentally, financially, and socially sound future. The panels will cover “how policy influences development,” “how we regulate development,” and “how we finance development.”
In the next twenty years, the number of urban dwellers will swell to an estimated five-billion people. How we develop or redevelop to accommodate this growth will determine the future of our cities and regions, the natural environment, and the health and human welfare of all of the earth’s inhabitants. As we face the challenges of climate change and diminishing fossil fuel resources, how will urban areas accommodate a growing population while minimizing resource use?
The re-use and adaptation of existing resources in the built environment should be a critical component of any sustainable growth strategy. Trust for Architectural Easements president, Steven L. McClain, notes that “the process of recycling and rehabilitating existing buildings is almost always more environmentally efficient than tearing down and building new structures. The positive attributes of rehabilitating older buildings is increased when one considers their protection results in not only preserving historic buildings, but also the continued use of the communities they anchor.”
Visionary developer and author of The Option of Urbanism Christopher B. Leinberger will participate in each panel in the series with an eye towards linking the topics, ideas, and debates from one panel in the series to another. Leinberger has a progressive approach to development that will contribute significantly to the impact of this panel series.
The Trust for Architectural Easements is one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit organizations dedicated to voluntary preservation through easement donations. Island Press was established in 1984 to stimulate, shape and communicate the ideas that are essential for solving environmental problems.
Sustainability and Historic Preservation Panel Series: Panel One
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Historic New York City Warehouse Protected Forever
December 19, 2008, Washington, DC
After a long journey including public hearings and unsuccessful efforts by community groups and preservation organizations, another piece of New York City’s architectural heritage has been saved. On Thursday December 11th, the 95-year old Austin, Nichols & Co. Warehouse located at 184 Kent Avenue in Williamsburg was formally protected by the donation of a historic preservation deed of easement to the Trust for Architectural Easements. The easement prohibits destruction of the warehouse, prevents use of development rights extinguished by the easement, and preserves the building’s height, bulk and irregular rectangular box shape in perpetuity.
Cass Gilbert, one of the most influential of American architects, designed the building for Austin, Nichols & Co., the largest grocery wholesaler in the world at the time. When he received the commission for the Austin, Nichols & Co. Warehouse in 1913, Cass Gilbert had already received critical acclaim for design of the state capitol of Minnesota and the U.S. Custom House, and was completing the design of his most famous work – the Woolworth Building.
The Austin, Nichols & Co. Warehouse first drew the attention of community and preservation groups in 2004 when the owner announced plans to dramatically alter the building by building a large rooftop addition and modifying the window pattern. Due to public interest in preserving the structure, in 2005, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission recommended that the building be added to the city’s list of registered landmarks but the City Council reversed the landmarks decision. Mayor Bloomberg vetoed the Council’s reversal but was subsequently overridden by the Council – leaving the Austin, Nichols & Co. Warehouse completely unprotected. In 2007, the National Trust for Historic Preservation placed the Brooklyn Industrial Waterfront, which includes the Austin, Nichols & Co. Warehouse, on its list of 11 most endangered places.
A new owner – 184 Kent Fee LLC - purchased the building in 2006. The rehabilitated building will feature a 60,000 square foot courtyard that will serve as event space for artists, a riverside walkway, a water taxi, hip retail space and cutting edge living lofts. Residential and retail space will be available in the summer of 2009.
“This building had plans and permits for demolition and high rise development. If it wasn’t for the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentive Program, this national treasure would be sitting in a landfill somewhere,” explains Trust for Architectural Easements representative Dan Reardon.
“Federal historic preservation tax incentives made saving the building as economically feasible as tearing the building down,” adds Trust for Architectural Easements president Steven McClain. In addition to providing rehabilitation tax credits, the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentive Program encourages owners of buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places and those contributing to registered historic districts, to make historic preservation easement donations to qualified organizations such as the Trust for Architectural Easements. Owners who participate in the program are eligible to receive federal income tax deductions in exchange for the contractual assurance that they will preserve the building in perpetuity.
The Trust for Architectural Easements is one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit organizations dedicated to voluntary preservation through easement donations. The Trust protects more than 800 historic buildings across the United States and approximately 550 historic properties in New York. For more information about the Trust’s local preservation efforts, the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentive Program and the donation process, contact the Trust at 1-888-831-2107 or visit www.architecturaltrust.org.
Historic New York City Warehouse Protected Forever
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Preservation Easement Saves New York's Last Remaining Horse Auction Mart Building
February 25, 2008, Washington, DC...
Another piece of New York City's architectural heritage has been preserved. The city's lone remaining horse auction mart building, the former Van Tassell & Kearney building located at 126-128 East 13th Street, is now protected by a preservation easement.
The 1903 building designed by Jardine, Kent & Jardine, which has not been designated a New York City landmark, first drew the attention of community and preservation groups as well as local media in 2006 when its new owner announced plans to demolish the only remaining horse auction barn in the city and build an apartment house in its place. Several local preservation advocacy groups attempted to halt these plans by asking the Landmarks Preservation Commission to grant landmark status to the Beaux-Arts structure, thereby preventing its demolition. Although hearing were held, no decision on landmark designation was made by the Commission. Instead, the owner and the Commission reached a "standstill agreement," preventing demolition or alteration of the auction mart while designation was considered. Despite the failure to protect the building through the use of New York City's ordinances, the Van Tassell & Kearney building is now guaranteed to be preserved in perpetuity because of the actions of its owners and the Trust for Architectural Easements - holder of the preservation easement.
The distinctive red brick and limestone building, with a symmetrical arched façade, was among the city's most prominent horse auction marts, selling horses and carriages to members of New York City's social elite. In 1916, soon after the "horseless carriage" appeared on the scene, Van Tassell & Kearney began auctioning automobiles at the building. In the second quarter of the 20th century, the open interior was divided into classrooms where men prepared for civil service exams and women studied machine technology. From 1978 to 2005, preeminent artist Frank Stella used the building as his studio, perhaps drawn by the abundant natural light provided by the skylights that had originally showcased horses.
The building owners, moved by the community and preservation groups' interest in preserving the building, sought out more comprehensive protection for the building on their own. They made the case that the building was historically significant and should be listed on the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places. The Park Service agreed and added the building to the National Register on November 20, 2007, finding it a significant example of a rare late 19th- and early 20th-century building type - the horse and carriage auction mart. This listing on the National Register made the building eligible for the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentive Program.
This government program uses tax incentives to encourage owners of buildings of historical significance, and those contributing to registered historic districts, to make historic preservation easement donations to qualified organizations such as the Trust for Architectural Easements. Owners who participate in the Program are eligible to receive federal income tax deductions in exchange for the contractual assurance that they will maintain the building's historical character in perpetuity and not make changes to its exterior without authorization from the easement holder. The donation of a preservation easement on the former Van Tassell & Kearney Horse Auction Mart was completed in December.
"This program is the federal government's way of providing an extra level of protection to a limited and endangered national treasure - America's historic architecture. In this case the protection offered by the Program was the only type available to this one-of-a-kind historic building. Thanks to the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentive Program and the owner's efforts, we were able to protect it," explains Trust for Architectural Easements area representative Dan Reardon.
To obtain a photograph of the former Van Tassell & Kearney Horse Auction Mart building, please contact: Christine Hagan, Kogan Communications & Design - 443-495-1211 or hagan@kogancom.com.
Preservation Easement Saves New York's Last Remaining Horse Auction Mart Building
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Two Organizations Join Forces to Ensure Preservation of Historic Communities and the Natural Environment
May 2008, Washington, DC -- A sustainable built environment is critical to protecting the natural environment. Island Press, the leading nonprofit environmental publisher and the Trust for Architectural Easements®, one of the nation’s largest preservation easement holding organization, are working together to promote the revitalization of historical communities as a necessary component to long term environmental sustainability.
Trust for Architectural Easements president, Steven L. McClain, notes that “the process of recycling and rehabilitating existing buildings is almost always more environmentally efficient than tearing down and building new. The positive attributes of rehabilitating older buildings is increased when one considers their protection results in not only preserving historic buildings, but also the continued use of the communities they anchor.” The continued use of valuable infrastructure: sidewalks, streets, water and sewers, etc. reduces pressure to create new development and consume more of the nation’s natural resources.
These two organizations together will:
- Cross-promote the concept of historic preservation as a positive influence in protecting the natural environment; and
- Encourage and promote the continued adaptive reuse of historic structures using the best available technology to achieve environmental goals.
“This new partnership will lead to increased awareness of the positive impact that the protection of historic neighborhoods can have on achieving a sustainable environment.,” said Charles S. Savitt, president of Island Press.
Two Organizations Join Forces to Ensure Preservation of Historic Communities and the Natural Environment
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Two New York City Buildings, both Integral to the History of the Engineering Profession, Listed on National Register of Historic Places
Turn-of-Century Adjoining Building in Midtown Manhattan, built by Andrew Carnegie,
earn federal designation for historical significance
September 19, 2007 ... New York, NY ...
The elegant adjoining buildings at 28-36 West 40th Street and 23-33 West 39th Street that were the focal point of the nation’s early engineering profession have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The announcement was made today by the Trust for Architectural Easements (www.architecturaltrust.org) (formerly the National Architectural Trust), which was instrumental in supporting the nomination of the buildings for the important designation.
“These two buildings are a landmark to the growth of America’s industrial society,” said Steve McClain, president of the Trust for Architectural Easements. “The engineering profession is intimately connected with the growth of the United States into a major industrial and economic power. At a time when the engineering profession was profoundly impacting the development of our nation, the focus of that activity was here. Today’s federal designation is well deserved.”
A prominent New York architectural historian, Anthony Robins of Thompson & Columbus, wrote the report nominating the buildings to the National Register of Historic Places. The report was submitted to and affirmed by the New York State Historic Preservation Office, which officially submitted the nomination to the National Park Service, the administrator of the National Register of Historic Places.
In 1904, steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie gifted $1.5 million to build a headquarters for the burgeoning engineering societies, as well as the Engineers’ Club, a social club of the variety growing increasingly prominent in New York at the time. The move was consistent with his focus on building not only libraries, but also constructing buildings for organizations that performed other educational or scientific functions. And, he had a personal connection to the engineering profession because of his leadership in the steel industry.
He and the involved professional organizations decided upon two distinct buildings, one for the Engineers’ Club, and the other as a combined headquarters for three different engineering societies: the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and the American Institute of Mining Engineers. The two buildings – the West 39th Street location for the Engineers’ Club and the West 40th Street location for engineering societies – were to be interconnected for purpose and function, but each was to be architecturally distinct.
For more than 60 years, the two buildings served as the epicenter of the American engineering profession. The engineering societies occupied the space until 1957. The Engineers’ Club remained at the location until 1979. Today the Engineers’ Club building contains cooperative apartments. The Engineering Societies’ Building has since served as a photographic arts center, and a design headquarters for clothing designer Tommy Hilfiger.
“Architects Whitfield & King (Engineers’ Club) and Hale and Morse (Engineering Societies' Building) created designs that matched the buildings' separate functions: a stylish club building facing Bryant Park, and a more subdued, though still elegant, professional headquarters on West 39th Street,” said Anthony Robins. “The location too reflects the dual use: near other social clubs, but also just across the street from the city's grand new Public Library – supplementing the Club's unparalleled engineering library. Together, the two newly listed buildings stand as handsome reminders of the role that engineering has played in the creation of New York City – inconceivable without the engineering triumphs of its bridges, subways, water works and skyscrapers.”
“The National Register of Historic Places is the federal program that provides public recognition of our nation’s historic resources, whether those be architectural, cultural, or archaeological” said Heather Massler, an architectural historian and Director of Operations and Stewardship at the Trust for Architectural Easements. “The listing of a property is significant because, in addition to honoring a property’s history, it means consideration of the property in the planning for federal undertakings, eligibility for federal tax benefits, and qualification for federal historic preservation grants, when funds are available. It’s an important piece of the voluntary preservation puzzle.”
Two NYC Buildings, both Integral to the History of the Engineering Profession, Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
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Fifteen Beacon Street, the Current Site of Boston’s Renowned XV Beacon Hotel, Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
15 Beacon Street
1903 Classical Revival Building Receives Federal Honor for its Historic Significance
September 20, 2007 ... Boston, MA ...
The elegant building that houses the renowned XV Beacon Hotel in downtown Boston has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a federal designation that bestows honor on one of Boston’s architecturally and historically significant buildings. The announcement was made today by the Trust for Architectural Easements (www.architecturaltrust.org) (formerly the National Architectural Trust), which was instrumental in supporting the nomination of the building for the important designation.
“Fifteen Beacon Street is a jewel of New England architectural history,” said Steve McClain, president of the Trust for Architectural Easements. “Much of Boston’s mercantile, cultural and political heritage can be traced to upper Beacon Street and this very location. Today it earns its proper place among our nation’s architectural treasures.”
A prominent Boston architectural historian, Pauline Chase-Harrell of Boston Affiliates, wrote the report nominating 15 Beacon Street to the National Register of Historic Places. The report was submitted to and affirmed by the Boston Landmarks Commission and then the Massachusetts Historical Commission, which officially submitted the nomination to the National Park Service, the administrator of the National Register of Historic Places.
Potential impacts on 15 Beacon Street now will be considered during planning for federal, federally-licensed or federally-assisted projects in the vicinity. In addition, the property may qualify for federal historic preservation grants when funds are available.
Plans for the commercial building at 15 Beacon Street were drawn in 1903 by architect William Gibbons Preston, and the building was completed in 1905. The building’s first occupant was the Boston Transit Commission, which is credited as the nation’s first public transportation agency, and which built the nation’s first subway system. The building was deeded to the City of Boston in 1920, and the Boston School Committee occupied the building until 1976 and oversaw the busing crisis from its offices there during the 1960s and 1970s. From 1976 to 1997, the Department of Public Facilities and its successor, the Department of Neighborhood Development, were housed in the high-rise.
In 1997 the property was conveyed to the Boston Redevelopment Authority. It was subsequently purchased by Paul Roiff, a prominent Boston developer and entrepreneur, who converted it into XV Beacon (www.xvbeacon.com), an elegant 60-room boutique hotel. Designed by Celeste Cooper, then-creative director of Repertoire, a Boston-based design atelier, XV Beacon is handsomely modernist yet retains accents of “Old Boston,” such as the building’s original cage elevator and its cast-brass lit railing with brass newel post in the lobby. Artwork is also prominent throughout XV Beacon, whose collection includes works by renowned artists including Gilbert Stuart, Martha Lloyd, Joe Greene, Tony Evanko and Ben Freeman, who were specially commissioned to create pieces for the hotel. XV Beacon is also home to MOOO…, the newest steakhouse experience in Boston. Guests enjoy easy proximity to one of the city’s most prominent neighborhoods, and the hotel is located just a block from Boston Common and the gold-domed Massachusetts State House.
“This handsome ten-story commercial building embodies the Classical Revival style of the late-19th and early 20th centuries,” said Pauline Chase-Harrell. “Its characteristics include use of symmetry, hierarchy of spaces, and heavy use of architectural details. Preston was one of Boston's leading architects in the late 19th century, and in his hands, 15 Beacon Street incorporates many Beaux-Arts accents, such as gilded shields and scrolls, a painted cast iron storefront, and a commanding copper cornice. The grand marble staircase adds to the Beaux-Arts grandeur. It is fully worthy of this important national recognition.”
“We are thrilled that this recognition has been extended to the building that houses our world-class hotel,” said XV Beacon Hotel general manager William Sander. “This building juxtaposes cutting-edge technology with extraordinary Classical Revival styling, making us a refined hotel that combines peerless personal service with the intimacy of a private residence. We believe this designation only adds to the history and allure of our facility for anyone visiting Boston.”
“As an organization committed to the preservation of American architecture, we commend the National Park Service for listing 15 Beacon Street on the National Register of Historic Places. We are always delighted to see the voluntary preservation movement in action, protecting the historical and architectural integrity of America’s cities,” said Heather Massler, an architectural historian and Director of Operations and Stewardship at the Trust for Architectural Easements.
For more information about XV Beacon Hotel, please contact Jennifer Hawkins at (212) 255-6541 or jennifer@hawkpr.com.
Fifteen Beacon Street Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
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Wall Street Historic District Announcement
More Structures Within Boston's Beacon Hill Neighborhood Now Qualify for Federal Preservation Programs and Incentives
On April 4, 2007, the Secretary of the Interior acted to increase the number of qualified properties in the Beacon Hill Historic District. Specifically, many structures built or altered between 1920 and 1955 are now included in the National Historic Landmark designation and eligible for federal protections.
“This is great news for all Americans who are committed to the preservation of our nation’s finest and least altered early urban environments,” said Steven McClain, President of the Trust for Architectural Easements. “Beacon Hill constitutes one of the finest and best preserved examples of a large early republic or federal period urban area in the United States. We commend the National Park Service for recognizing the national historic significance of Beacon Hill by including more properties in the area that contribute to the neighborhood’s proud heritage.”
The Trust for Architectural Easements sponsored the detailed study and application to revise the definition of the Beacon Hill National Historic Landmark and include architecturally significant structures built or altered between 1920 and 1955, when the Historic Beacon Hill District was created. The Trust and local architectural historians worked with the guidance and support of the Massachusetts Historical Commission. Due to the significance of Beacon Hill as a National Historic Landmark all proposed changes required expensive review, including final approval by the Secretary of the Interior.
Beacon Hill, the first local Historic District to be created outside the South, was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966. At that time, only structures built by 1835 were considered as contributing to the historic district, and Beacon Hill was described as a well-preserved “Early Republic or Federal Period Urban Area.” In the 1980s, the period of significance was extended to 1920 to include the Victorian, Colonial Revival and Neo-Federal styles, allowing buildings such as the Lincolnshire Hotel and Charles River Square to be designated as contributing to the historical significance of the district. In addition, the growing understanding of the significant role that the African Meeting House and the African American community around it had played during the abolition movement was also recognized as a nationally significant aspect of the district.
“It was a pleasure to be a catalyst in a process that resulted in a more accurate, complete recognition of the architectural heritage of Beacon Hill, which is a focal point of American history,” said Pauline Chase-Harrell, a former Boston Landmarks Commission Chairwoman and current President of Boston Affiliates, the consulting firm contracted by the Trust for Architectural Easements to conduct the study and submit the detailed application to the National Park Service. “What was missing in the Beacon Hill designation up until now was recognition of the significance of its architecture and urban planning that extends well into the 20th century, when it played a key role in both the development of the Colonial and Federal Revival styles and the creation of the historic preservation movement in the United States. The designation also now includes recognition of the way in which social reforms and literature have been found to contribute to the national significance of the area. The combination of the original areas of architecture and urban design along with the newly documented 20th century reinterpretation of that architectural heritage and the historic preservation movement gives the Beacon Hill Historic District its multilayered national significance.”
Impacts on the properties now included in the Beacon Hill National Historic Landmark will be considered during planning for federal, federally-licensed or federally-assisted projects because of the updated designation. In addition, property owners in the district may be eligible for federal tax benefits, and properties in the district may qualify for federal historic preservation grants when funds are available.
“Today’s development is great news for property owners in Beacon Hill,” said Edward Gordon, a Boston-based independent architectural historian who worked with Boston Affiliates on the study and application. “In addition to better understanding the Hill’s unique heritage, more people now will be able to participate in preserving the fabric of this great community. While none of the properties newly considered significant will be subject to additional restrictions under the Beacon Hill Architectural Commission, they will now be eligible for additional federal benefits such as tax incentives for rehabilitation of commercial buildings or for the donation of preservation restrictions.”
“Up until now, perhaps 10-15 percent of the property owners in this great historic district were forced to bear the costs if they felt committed to preserving their historic property, as government programs designed to help defray such costs were unavailable to them,” said Mory Bahar, the Trust for Architectural Easement's area manager in Boston. “But now they can take advantage of all the government tools created to assist and provide incentive for their work as voluntary guardians.”
Trust for Architectural Easements Press Release
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Wall Street Historic District Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
New York City's Federal Hall National Memorial
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Commissioner Carol Ash, along with U.S. Representatives Charles Rangel and Jerrold Nadler, Headline Event at Federal Hall
March 5, 2007 … New York, NY … The Wall Street Historic District has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a designation that bestows honor and affords protection to one of the nation’s most architecturally- and historically-significant business districts.
The announcement was made this morning at New York City’s Federal Hall National Memorial during a press conference hosted by the National Architectural Trust in partnership with the New York State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), and the National Park Service. The event featured Carol Ash, incoming Commissioner of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, the agency of which the SHPO is a part, and two distinguished members of Congress: Rep. Jerrold Nadler, who represents the Wall Street Historic District, and Rep. Charles Rangel, the new chair of the House Ways and Means Committee.
“The Wall Street District is an unmistakable symbol of the American Dream, and today’s listing serves to preserve, protect and share its remarkable history,” said Commissioner Ash. “The New York SHPO is delighted to be part of this momentous occasion, and to play a role in preserving the heritage and spreading the word about the history of one of the world’s great business districts. We thank all of those who were instrumental in helping achieve this important listing.”
In January, the New York SHPO recommended the Wall Street Historic District to the National Park Service for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, following public input and a public hearing on the proposed nomination. The nomination was based on the District’s fulfillment of two National Register criteria: 1) its association with significant historic events and 2) its embodiment of the distinctive characteristics of a time period, type of building, or method of construction and its representation of the work of master architects.
“It’s an important day for our great city,” said Rep. Rangel. “It is an honor to be a part of this historically-significant event and to see the Wall Street District recognized for its tremendous role in shaping our nation’s identity.”
The impact on properties in the Wall Street Historic District will now be considered during planning for federal, federally-licensed, or federally-assisted projects because of the listing. In addition, property owners in the District may be eligible for federal tax benefits, and properties in the District may qualify for federal historic preservation grants when funds are available.
The site of the morning event – Federal Hall National Memorial – was ideal because the building showcases the quality of the District’s architectural treasures. Built from 1833 to 1842, the former Customs House exemplifies high-style Greek Revival architecture and serves as a prime example of the rich diversity of architectural styles in the Wall Street Historic District. In 1789, George Washington was inaugurated on the site of Federal Hall National Memorial.
“I am proud to represent Wall Street today,” said Rep. Nadler. “It has a rich heritage as a center of commerce, economy, community planning, politics and government. And its architecture is world-renowned. Today is a day to celebrate all that Wall Street represents to our nation.”
Although the Wall Street Historic District is the site of New York City’s earliest settlement, New Amsterdam, almost nothing other than the street pattern survives from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries because of the Great Fire of 1835. Yet, the District is rich in architectural treasures from that moment forward. It includes significant buildings from as late as 1967, and a world-class collection of late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century styles such as French Second Empire, Renaissance Revival, and Beaux-Arts. More commonly recognized, the District contains a world class collection of early skyscrapers representing revival styles as well as early modern styles such as Art Deco, Modern, and the International Style.
“It’s possible that no single area tells the story of America's progression from a primarily rural nation to a diverse industrial society as well as the Wall Street Historic District,” said Steven McClain, emcee of the press conference and President of the National Architectural Trust. “The buildings of the District tell us who we are as an industrialized nation. As an organization committed to the preservation of American architecture, we commend the National Park Service for listing the Wall Street Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places, and we are proud to help celebrate this momentous occasion.”
Trust Leads Effort to Update Beacon Hill National Historic Landmark Designation
The National Architectural Trust (NAT) has announced plans to submit a detailed study and application to the National Park Service to revise the definition of the Beacon Hill National Historic Landmark to include architecturally-significant structures built or altered between 1920 and 1955. Beacon Hill, the first local historic district to be created outside the South, was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1966. At the time, it was listed as a well-preserved "Early republic or Federal period urban area," and only structures built by 1835 were considered as contributing to the historic district. In the 1980s, the period of significance was extended to 1930 to include the Victorian, Colonial Revival and Neo-Federal styles, allowing buildings such as the Lincolnshire Hotel and Charles River Square to be designated as contributing to the district. In addition, with the growing understanding of the significant role the African American Meeting House and the black community around it had played in the Abolition movement, this, too, was recognized as a significant aspect of the district.
Following NAT staff review and recommendations, the study will be sent to the National Historic Landmark Advisory Board. A final decision on the application could come as early as the Board's fall meeting in November.
Entire Beacon Hill Press Release
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NYC Council Revokes Landmark Status on Brooklyn Landmark
On December 2, 2005, the New York Times reported landmark status was revoked by vote of the New York City Council for a 1915 Gilbert Cass building in Brooklyn. This building which is identified as a significant historic resource by both the Department of Interior's National Register of Historic Places and the NYC Landmark Commission is now no longer protected by city ordinances and is scheduled to go through major alteration considered to be inappropriate by historic preservationists. This is another example of how historic preservation easements can prove to be a significant protection for historic properties, if used, even when protected by local ordinances. Subsequent to this article, Mayor Bloomberg vetoed the NYC Council decision which was then overturned by the Council, finalizing the decision to remove protections from this historic landmark.
NYC Council Revokes Landmark Status on Brooklyn Landmark
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Political Pressure On NYC Landmarks Commission
According to the New York Times in an article of November 14, 2005, the New York City Landmarks Commission is receiving political heat from the New York City Council. The New York City Council has recently overturned the NYC Landmarks Commission decision to grant landmark status to the Jamaica State Savings Bank, is considering the revoking of landmark status for the 1915 Gilbert Cass designed Austin, Nichols and Company building and is refusing to consider landmark protection for the 2 Columbus Circle Building which is about to undergo a highly publicized and complete alteration. (See the CBS News Sunday Morning Report below and go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2_Columbus_Circle for more information on 2 Columbus Circle.)
Political Pressure On NYC Landmarks Commission
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The Case for Preservation Easements
The following research document prepared by architectural historian, Anthony Robins of Thompson & Columbus, Inc. was prepared in May 2005 and provides a thorough analysis of why Federal historic preservation protections remain a necessity even where local preservation protections exist.
The Case for Preservation Easements
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Preservation Versus Demolition: A CBS News Sunday Morning Report
On August 21, 2005, CBS News Sunday Morning reported on several examples of historic buildings being demolished or threatened with demolition across the nation. Locations represented in the report included Illinois, Missouri and New York. Although not covered in the report, the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentive Program, if used, could provide legal protection for these properties.
Several organizations were mentioned in the article, none of which have an affiliation with the National Architectural Trust.
Click here to see the news article.
Preservation Versus Demolition: A CBS News Sunday Morning Report
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National Registered Landmark Demolished
On March 31, 2005, the New York Times published an article that is a representative example of where the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentive Program, if used, would have provided legal protection for this ornate, marble clad landmark. Its demolition was merely to facilitate the construction of a parking garage. Although identified on the National Register as a significant historic resource by the Department of Interior, this in itself did not provide the required protection to save this very important building.
Please note that the article is critical of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, initially founded by the federal government but now a private non-profit organization. The National Architectural Trust is not affiliated with this organization or any of the other preservation organizations mentioned in this article.
National Registered Landmark Demolished
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