HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-12-18 Planning and Economic Development Committee Meeting Agenda
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ILPC Meeting – 11/13/18
Resolution - RB
RE: Local Historic Landmark Designation of the former Delaware, Lackawanna & Western
Railroad Station at 701 West Seneca Street
RESOLUTION:
WHEREAS, as set forth in Section 228-3 of the Municipal Code, the Ithaca Landmarks Preservation
Commission (ILPC) may recommend the designation of historic landmarks and
districts of historic and cultural significance, and
WHEREAS, a public hearing held on Tuesday, November 13, 2018, for the purpose of considering
a proposal to designate the former Delaware, Lackawanna & Western (D.L.&W.)
Railroad Station at 701 West Seneca Street as a City of Ithaca landmark has been
concluded, and
WHEREAS, the ILPC has reviewed the New York State Building-Structure Inventory Form dated
September 1, 2002, including the Narrative Description of Property and the Narrative
Description of Significance prepared by Maria K. Meiser, and
WHEREAS, the designation of historic landmarks is a "Type II Action" under the New York State
Environmental Quality Review Act (Sec. 617.5(C)(30) and an "Unlisted Action" under
the City Environmental Quality Review Ordinance, (CEQR Sec. 176-2) for which no
further environmental review is required, and
WHEREAS, consideration of the former D.L.&W. Railroad Station as an historic resource was
recommended by the Waterfront Working Group in a resolution dated August 24,
2018, and
WHEREAS, the Waterfront Working Group’s resolution (attached) states “the former Delaware,
Lackawanna & Western Railroad Station at 701 West Seneca Street was identified as [a
resource that might have historical or architectural value] and the consideration of its
local designation is included as a recommendation in the draft plan,” and
WHEREAS, Section 228-3 of the Municipal Code defines the criteria for designation of an
individual landmark as follows:
1. Possesses special character or historic or aesthetic interest or value as part of the
cultural, political, economic, or social history of the locality, region, state, or nation; or
2. Is identified with historically significant person(s) or event(s); or
3. Embodies the distinguishing characteristics of an architectural style; or
4. Is the work of a designer whose work has significantly influenced an age; or
5. Represents an established and familiar visual feature of the community by virtue of
its unique location or singular physical characteristics.
Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission
Meeting Held Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Former Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Station
RESOLVED, that the Commission adopts as its own the documentation and information more
fully set forth in the expanded New York State Building-Structure Inventory Form
dated September 1, 2002, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Commission has made the following findings of fact concerning the
proposed designation.
As described in the Narrative Description of Significance portion of the New York State
Building-Structure Inventory Form prepared by Maria K. Meiser and dated
September 1, 2002, the former Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Station is
a structure deemed worthy of preservation by reason of its value to the city as
enumerated below:
Per criterion 1, the former D.L.&W. Railroad Station possesses special historical
and aesthetic interest as a part of the development, heritage and cultural
characteristics of the City of Ithaca as an intact remnant of a historically
significant era of railroad transportation in Ithaca.
As noted in the Building-Structure Inventory Form, the D.L.&W. Railroad
Company shifted its focus from the transportation of regionally-mined
anthracite coal to passenger service in the early-twentieth century. This shift
resulted in extensive changes and improvements along the railroad line,
including standardized tracks, increased safety through the installation of new
signaling devices, modernized trains and stations, and hundreds of miles of
new track. Led by William Truesdale, the President of the D.L.&W. Railroad
Company between 1899 and 1925, this expansive campaign to modernize the
line was one of the most ambitious of the era and resulted in the
construction of 185 new train stations and freight depots and the installation
of over 900 miles of new railroad track. The former D.L.&W. Railroad
Station in Ithaca was constructed as part of this campaign and was
specifically designed to provide an impressive gateway into the community
and to meet the needs of the rapidly expanding Cornell student population.
New stations were also built along the mainlines to Buffalo and Syracuse, as
well as in Cortland, Owego, Whitney Point and Minetto. The improvements
to the D.L.&W. passenger line during this period improved connections to
Ithaca from other metropolitan areas and helped secure its status a major
regional hub.
Per criterion 3, the former D.L.&W. Railroad Station embodies the distinguishing
characteristics of an architectural style. The railroad station is an excellent, and
likely only, local example of the Prairie Style.
As noted in the Building-Structure Inventory Form, the Prairie Style
developed in Chicago and became popular during the first two decades of
Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission
Meeting Held Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Former Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Station
the twentieth century. Typical features of this architectural style include:
symmetrical, often square or rectangular, heavy massing with a strong
emphasis on horizontality; low-pitched, generally hipped roofs with wide
eaves; and multi-paned, casement windows and doors. The massing, roof
form and fenestration of the former D.L.&W. Railroad Station reflect these
important characteristics of the Prairie Style. The one-story, rectangular,
brick station is capped by a low-pitched, hipped roof with wide overhanging
eaves, creating a sheltered area along all sides of the building. The
horizontality of the brick building is emphasized by a water table and belt
course in a contrasting, light-colored cast stone material and a brick soldier
course along the tops of the doors and windows. The building’s paired
casement windows with triple-light transoms are also indicative of this style.
The building gains additional architectural significance from its architectural
references to Cornell University and Ithaca as a “college city.” Red, white,
and green Rookwood tile mosaics on the interior and exterior of the building
form small pennants that were intended to reflect the collegiate character of
the community. The property’s original “Cornell flagpole” also referenced
the university’s colors.
Per criterion 4, the former D.L.&W. Railroad Station is the work of a designer
whose work has significantly influenced an age. As noted in the Building-
Structure Inventory Form, the railroad station is characteristic example of the work of
Frank J. Nies, the official architect of the D.L.&W. Railroad Company between 1899
and 1925.
As noted in the Building-Structure Inventory Form, Frank J. Nies was a
Hoboken-based architect who designed numerous railroad stations and
buildings in New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey for the D.L.&W.
Railroad Company between 1899 and 1925. While Nies designed buildings in
several styles, the small passenger stations he designed for the D.L.&W.
Railroad Company are characterized by their distinct Priarie Style, an
architectural mode that became increasingly popular during his tenure with the
company. Examples of his work throughout the region exhibit a low,
elongated massing typical of the Prairie Style and detailing borrowed of the
Renaissance Revival and Arts and Crafts models. His major works include train
terminals in Newark, Morristown and Boonton, New Jersey, and Scranton,
Pennsylvania, and small passenger stations in communities throughout New
York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
RESOLVED, that the Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission, determines that based on the
findings set forth above, the former Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad
Station meets criteria 1, 3 and 4 defining a Local Landmark as set forth in Section 228-
3 of the Municipal Code, Landmarks Preservation, and be it further
Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission
Meeting Held Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Former Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Station
RESOLVED, that the Commission hereby recommends the designation of the former Delaware,
Lackawanna & Western Railroad Station at 701 West Seneca Street, and the adjacent
areas identified as tax parcel #73.-5-2.1, as a City of Ithaca landmark.
RECORD OF VOTE:
Moved by: K. Olson
Seconded by: D. Kramer
In favor: K. Olson, D. Kramer, S. Stein, E. Finegan, A. Smith, S. Gibian, M.M.
McDonald
Against: 0
Abstain: 0
Absent: 0
Vacancies: 0
212 Center St. Ithaca, NY HistoricIthaca.org (607) 273-6633
August 24, 2018
Waterfront Working Group
WHEREAS, the Waterfront Working Group was established to develop an area plan for the
waterfront study area, with the specific charge to “outline desired land uses for the waterfront area”
and “address issues related to a broad range of topics,” and
WHEREAS, as part of the execution of this charge, the group has reviewed the topic of historic
preservation as it relates to the study area and found the preservation of significant historic
resources an important part of the land use plan for the study area, and
WHEREAS, the group has identified a few resources that might have historical or architectural
value and has incorporated a list of these “historic resources worthy of further research” into the
draft plan for the area, and
WHEREAS, the former Delaware, Lackawanna & Western (DL&W) Railroad Station at 701 West
Seneca Street was identified as one of these resources and the consideration of its local designation
is included as a recommendation in the draft plan, and
WHEREAS, recent programmatic changes at the former DL&W Railroad Station could result in
physical changes to this potentially historic resource in the near future and before the adoption of
the draft plan by Common Council, and
RESOLVED, The Waterfront Working Group requests that the Ithaca Landmarks Preservation
Commission review the New York State Historic Structure Inventory Form for the former
Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Station at 701 West State Street to determine if this
resource meets criteria for local designation, and be it further
RESOLVED, that, if the resource does meet criteria for local designation enumerated in Section
228-3 of the City of Ithaca Municipal Code, the Waterfront Working Group supports and
encourages the local designation of the former DL&W Railroad Station as an individual local
landmark and encourages the ILPC to make a recommendation to Common Council to designate
the resource as such.
Moved by: Laura Lewis
Seconded by: McKenzie Jones
In Favor: passes unanimously
Steve Flash, Laura Lewis, Steve Flash, McKenzie jones, Sam Buggelin, George McGonigal, Cheryl
Barton, Patrice Lockert-Anthony
LOCAL PROPERTY TAX INCENTIVES
FOR
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
In July 1997, five years after Historic Ithaca, Inc., Tompkins County’s non-profit historic
preservation organization, began working to achieve such a program, Governor George Pataki
signed into law a bill permitting local property tax abatements for owners who invest in the
rehabilitation of a locally designated historic structure. Ithaca became the first city in New York
State to offer such incentives when Common Council voted to adopt the program in
December 1997.
How does the incentive work?
In brief, the tax abatement program allows property owners to increase the value of their buildings
through investment in repairs and renovation without suffering an immediate increase in local
property taxes as a result. The program provides for a ten-year window of tax relief following the
substantial rehabilitation of a structure. For the first five years after completion of the project, local
property taxes do not increase, except as they may be increased on a city-wide basis, regardless of
the additional value of the property resulting from the project. In the sixth year, only 20% of the
full value of the increase is added to the pre-project tax amount. In the seventh year, 40% of the
increase is added, and so on, until the full value of the property is again taxed in the tenth year
after completion of the project.
Who is eligible?
Anyone who owns a locally designated historic structure and pays property tax in the City of Ithaca
may utilize this program. Locally designated historic structures include individually designated
landmark buildings as well as “contributing” buildings in Ithaca’s local historic districts: DeWitt
Park, East Hill, Cornell Heights, University Hill, Henry St. John, Downtown West and the Clinton
Block. To find out if your property is eligible, contact Bryan McCracken in the Department of
Planning & Development: bmccracken@cityofithaca.org
What projects are eligible?
The proposed project must be approved by the Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission
(ILPC) prior to the commencement of work and must be for purposes of historic preservation. In
addition, the proposed work must meet one of the following requirements:
Only work on the exterior of the building is involved; or
Work on a designated historic interior which is open to the public is involved; or
At least 20% of the total cost of the project is directly attributable to exterior work,
and/or work that enhances the structural stability or integrity of the property; or
The project returns to use a building which has been vacant for at least two years.
Additional restrictions apply to projects involving the conversion of a single-family home or duplex
into a multiple dwelling. Contact Bryan McCracken for more information.
(over)
How do I apply?
Before proceeding, contact Bryan McCracken in the Department of Planning & Development,
City Hall, to discuss your project, obtain an application, and schedule a date for ILPC review. You
will also need to schedule a consultation with a representative at the Tompkins County
Department of Assessment, 128 East Buffalo Street, Ithaca, NY.
Properties undergoing rehabilitation, which are listed on the National Register of
Historic Places or are located in a Certified Local Historic District may be eligible
for a Federal and/or State tax credit in addition to the local property tax abatement.
More information on these programs is available from the New York State Office
of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation Field Services Bureau.
For More Information:
Bryan McCracken, Historic Preservation Planner
Department of Planning & Development
City Hall – 3rd Floor
108 East Green Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
bmccracken@cityofithaca.org
Tompkins County Department of Assessment
128 East Buffalo Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
Phone: 607-274-5517
Historic Preservation Field Services Bureau
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation
Peebles Island
P.O. Box 189
Waterford, NY 12188-0189
Phone: 518-237-8643
Above: The former C.W. Snow Warehouse in
Syracuse was an under-used industrial building
before being adapted for commercial space and
48 loft apartments with the help of investment
tax credits.
Below: The former Nurses’ Residence at Sea
View Hospital on Staten Island used a variety
of funding sources, including investment tax
credits, to adapt the complex for affordable
senior housing.
D IVISION FOR H ISTORIC P RESERVATION
NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF PARKS, RECREATION AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION
WWW.NYSPARKS.COM 518.237.8643
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Historic preservation tax credit programs
can help offset the cost of rehabilitating
historic buildings listed on the National
Register of Historic Places. (Buildings
can be listed during or after the rehabilita-
tion project.) The SHPO can assist you
with getting one or more of the five his-
toric preservation tax credits. A preserva-
tion tax credit is a percentage of rehabili-
tation expenditures subtracted from the
amount of state and federal income taxes
owed. (Under the NYS program, this can
be a tax refund.) It is very important that
you contact SHPO before plans are
drawn and especially before any construc-
tion work begins.
To begin the process, contact the SHPO
office at 518-237-8643, or visit:
www.nysparks.state.ny.us/shpo/state/
map.htm. In August 2010, the NYS Legis-
lature made changes to the tax credits. For
updates to the program, visit our website:
www.nysparks.state.ny.us/shpo/.
Note: For programs marked “*” the work
performed must meet Secretary of Interior
Standards, and must be approved by the
SHPO and/or the National Park Service.
The Tax Reform Act of 1986 allows a 20%
tax credit for the rehabilitation of historic
buildings. Owners of historic commercial,
office, industrial or rental residential build-
ings may be eligible for a 20% federal in-
come tax credit for substantial rehabilita-
tion projects. The final dollar amount is
based on the cost of the rehabilitation; in
effect 20% of the qualifying rehabilitation
costs will be borne by the federal govern-
ment. Buildings must be:
xIncome-producing, and
xIndividually listed on the State or
National Register of Historic Places, or
a contributing building in a historic
district that is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places or certified
by the National Park Service.
The preservation credit can be used in con-
junction with other state and federal reha-
bilitation grants for housing or facade work
such as the Low Income Housing Tax
Credits. (Note: The final credit amount
will be reduced when these additional
sources are combined.)
For more information, visit: www.nps.gov/
history/hps/tps/tax/brochure1.htm#10_20
Projects qualifying for the 20% Federal
Historic Preservation Tax Incentive Pro-
gram are automatically eligible for this
credit. Owners can receive 20% of the
qualified rehabilitation costs, up to a credit
value of $5,000,000. For more informa-
tion, see: www.nysparks.com/shpo/
investment/income.htm.
Continued
INVESTMENT TAX CREDIT PROGRAMS
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROJECTS
A 10% federal income tax credit is
available for the rehabilitation of non-
historic buildings for non-residential
use. Buildings must be:
xIncome-producing, and
xNot listed in the National Register,
or not listed as a contributing
building in a National Register
Historic District, and
xFirst placed in service before 1936.
For more information: www.nps.gov/
history/hps/tps/tax/brochure1.htm#10.
Buildings must be located in a census
tract designated as economically
“distressed.” Qualified rehabilitation
costs must exceed $5,000. The credit
will cover 20% of qualified rehabilita-
tion costs up to a limit of $50,000.
Houses must also be:
xOwner-occupied structures, and
xIndividually listed on the State or
National Register of Historic
Places, or a contributing building
in an historic district that is listed
in the State or National Register of
Historic Places.
SHPO staff can help with further in-
formation about eligible census tracts
and the program in general. See the
website listed at the end.
The income tax credit is equal to 25%
of the cost of rehabilitating historic
barns. Work cannot “materially alter the
historic appearance” of the barn which
must be:
xIncome-producing for agricultural
purposes, and
xPlaced in service before 1936.
For more information about barn cred-
its, contact the NYS Department of
Taxation and Finance at 800-225-5829.
National Register of Historic Places:
www.nysparks.com/shpo/register/
Publications on technical preservation
issues: www.nps.gov/history/hps/tps/
topics/index.htm
Federal Tax credit programs:
www.nps.gov/history/hps/tps/tax/
index.htm
Applications and whether a property
qualifies: www.nysparks.com/shpo/tax-
credit-programs/
Above: Financial assistance from investment tax
credits helped owners to undertake substantial
exterior repairs on this 1941 New York City
apartment building.
Below: This commercial and residential building in
Newburgh was a burned out shell before it was
rescued with the help of the federal historic
rehabilitation tax credit program.
Below right: The Philipsburgh Hall tax credit
project in Yonkers included the restoration of the
ballroom.
Both the ITC and Low Income Housing tax credits
were used for the remarkable transformation of 24
brick townhouses in Albany. The buildings had been
subdivided and neglected until the entire row was
threatened with demolition. In addition, one
individual property owner took advantage of the
Historic Homeowners Rehabilitation tax credit.
Staff helped to list these properties on the National
Register so that they would quality for tax credits.
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This material has been financed in part with Federal funds from
the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. However,
the contents and opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or
policies of the Department of the Interior This project has been
administered by the Field Services Bureau, Division for Historic
Preservation, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and
Historic Preservation. This bureau receives Federal funds from the
National Park Service, Department of the Interior. Regulations of
the U.S. Department of the Interior strictly prohibit unlawful
discrimination in departmental Federally Assisted Programs on the
basis of race, color, national origin, age, or handicap. Any person
who believes he or she has been discriminated against in any
program, activity, or facility operated by a recipient of Federal
assistance should write to: Director, Equal Opportunity Program,
U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, P.O.
Box 37127, Washington, D.C. 20012-7127. 8/11
RECORD OF VOTE:
Moved by: 0
Seconded: 0
In favor: 0
Against: 0
Abstain: 0
Absent: 0
Vacancies: 0
212 Center St. Ithaca, NY HistoricIthaca.org (607) 273-6633
TO: Planning & Economic Development Committee
FROM: Alexander Phillips, Planner
DATE: November 7, 2018
RE: NIIF: West Lewis Street Block Party
Attached is an application for the Neighborhood Improvement Incentive Fund (NIIF) from Victoria Armstrong,
on behalf of West Lewis Street Neighbors, for the group’s West Lewis Street ‘Get to Know You’ Block Party.
The event was held on October 27th, 2018 and brought area residents together for food, drink and seasonal
activities. This event was held to welcome the new residents who recently moved into the neighborhood and
intended to promote a sense of community within the neighborhood.
In past years, the Neighborhood Improvement Incentive Fund has supported celebrations in many city
neighborhoods that focus attention on neighborhood empowerment and solidarity. Expenditures related to this
event include food for the block party, which meets criteria for reimbursement. West Lewis Street Neighbors
members donated their time for event planning, promotion of the celebration, set up, food preparation, and clean
up. By putting together this event on behalf of the neighborhood, the residents are furthering the aims of the
fund to support initiatives that strengthen city neighborhoods.
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