Page 9 - Winter 2018 Digital inLEAGUE Vol.41 No.01

renovations. I am fully supportive of the proposed changes to the HTC. It is a key economic and community
development tool not only here in the Capital Region but throughout the state of New York.”
“The NYS Historic Preservation Tax Credits have been vital to the revitalization of our cities and main streets
throughout Upstate New York,” said Assemblymember Pat Fahy, D-Albany. “To build on this success, we must
ensure that the state program continues and unlink it from the federal tax credit to ensure our rich history has a
future.”
“The Historic Preservation Tax Credit represents one of the most effective preservation incentive available to
developers, driving private reinvestment for the redevelopment of historic buildings and communities,” said
Robert Simpson, president of CenterState CEO. “Without this program, local projects such as the transformation
of the Pike Block and the restoration of the Hotel Syracuse might not have been possible. Its long-term viability is
critical to revitalizing the historic cores of cities and towns across the state.”
“The NYS Historic Tax Credit has provided significant funding to projects throughout the Hudson River Valley
that have resulted in community revitalization, job creation, affordable housing and the preservation of our rich
heritage,” said Kevin O’Connor, Chief Executive Officer, RUPCO, Inc. “We urge the NYS legislature to adopt
these two changes that will extend this invaluable tool and leverage additional private capital for this important
work.”
“The effective use of the Historic Tax Credit at the state and federal level has propelled significant public-private
investment in New York State’s main streets and aging building stock, while creating good-paying jobs for the
design and construction industry. In order maintain our leadership position, we must come together to support
the continuation of the State credit as it currently stands and extend the program to provide certainty and
reassurance to investors in these properties,” stated Kirk Narburgh, AIA, President of the American Institute of
Architects New York State.
“The State Preservation Tax Credits were instrumental in restoring Macy’s and the spectacular Kings Theater in
Brooklyn, an economic engine for its area,” said Peg Breen, president of The New York Landmarks Conservancy.
“The credits also helped restore 22 buildings at the Randolph Houses in Harlem into 167 new and affordable
units,” she added. “There’s no doubt New York City has benefitted.”
“New York’s Rehabilitation Tax Credits are among the most common-sense development programs in our
state,” said Elizabeth Goldstein, President, The Municipal Art Society of New York. “By encouraging private
investment in historic properties, these programs create jobs, improve neighborhoods, and restore treasured
buildings that are emblematic of New York’s past and vital to its future. It is imperative that the State legislature
extend these benefits without delay.”
“Historic Tax Credits are potent financial incentives
for historic preservation on Long Island, especially
for buildings in and around historical Main Streets or
commercial centers, where many old structures are
at risk of demolition,” said Sarah Kautz, preservation
director of Preservation Long Island. “Recent projects
at the Second Street Firehouse in Riverhead and
the Bates House in Greenport provide excellent
examples of how Historic Tax Credits attract interest
and investment in the rehabilitation of historic
buildings in downtowns across Long Island.”
“The commercial tax credit was a key incentive
for the multimillion dollar Hotel Saranac project,”
said Amy Catania, executive director of Historic
Saranac Lake. “The reopening of the large 1920s
hotel last month marks a major step forward for the
The Park Theater, Glens Falls, NY revitalization of historic downtown. The residential tax
credit has spurred the restoration of several residential
properties. Last year, my family purchased and restored a National Register ‘zombie property.’ We would not
have been able to afford to rescue our ‘new’ home without the tax credit.”
“The NYS Historic Tax Credit program is an extremely important incentive for the revitalization of New York’s
communities, large and small,” said Steven Engelhart, Executive Director, Adirondack Architectural Heritage.
“Among the most important and visible of these projects in the Adirondack region is the restoration and
revitalization of the Hotel Saranac, which just reopened in January, and which would not have been possible
without these incentives. Other projects using these programs include the Lee House in Port Henry, the

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