Funding for Older Buildings (not only landmarks)
From Karen Ansis, Fund Manager, New York Landmarks Conservancy [email protected]
As you may know, the New York Landmarks Conservancy is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and reusing architecturally and historically important buildings in New York City. Its goals are accomplished in large part by providing financial and project management assistance to all owners of historic properties – individuals, religious and nonprofit institutions, and corporations. Much of the Conservancy’s work takes place in low and moderate income neighborhoods, demonstrating over and over again the positive effect of historic preservation on community development and revitalization.
Funds are now available to help finance exterior (and interior structural) capital work and related costs on older buildings. The properties need not be designated landmark buildings in all cases, as the funding programs have different guidelines. All of the programs are accompanied by project management assistance vis-à-vis fostering landmark quality work and facilitating public approval processes. Our website at www.nylandmarks.org provides more information on our programs. Please call me or any of the people listed below to ascertain preliminarily whether your project would be eligible to participate in any of the following programs:
Historic Properties Fund – a revolving loan fund for any type of property or owner. Low interest, collateralized loans for preservation work on buildings that are officially landmarks, within historic districts, or minimally eligible for listing in the State or National Register of Historic Places. (Conservancy staff can help you to obtain this determination from the State Historic Preservation Office; it involves little further public regulation or compliance cost.) Loans range from $20,000 to approximately $300,000 per project.
City Ventures Fund – a grant program for nonprofit owners/developers of properties that serve lower income people. (Previously, program eligibility was limited to affordable and special needs housing. It now includes such uses as employment and training space, arts and cultural centers, etc, so long as the beneficiaries are lower income people.) Capital grants of up to $30,000 are available for special preservation work on older buildings that generally do not have any landmark status but have good architectural quality and integrity; consulting grants of up to $10,000 are available for professional services.
Emergency Preservation Grants – capitalized by The New York Community Trust, a grant program for nonprofit owners of historic properties for emergency repair work. Grants of up to $25,000 are available for immediate work that addresses public safety, water penetration, or other issues that threaten the preservation of the property.
There is also a city and statewide matching grant program targeted specifically for houses of worship. All inquiries are welcome. Thanks.
Program Coordinators:
Andrea Goldwyn: [email protected]
Jim Mahoney: [email protected]
New York Landmarks Conservancy
One Whitehall Street, 21st Floor
New York, New York 10004
Telephone: 212-995-5260
Fax: 212-995-5268