Funding available to 13 counties that sustained damaged by Sandy
New York, NY – March 23, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced $4.9 million in grants are available to provide repair and assistance to historic and archeological resources that were impacted by Hurricane Sandy. With the money being made available by the National Park Service for a second time, not-for-profit organizations, municipalities, and state agencies can apply to the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to receive aid.
“New York has a rich history, and many places important to it were damaged in Superstorm Sandy, making them more vulnerable to future severe storms,” Governor Cuomo said. “These grants will help build back these significant sites and ensure they remain important parts of New York’s heritage, and tourism economy, for generations to come.”
Properties are eligible for grants if they:
· Are located in Suffolk, Nassau, Kings, Queens, Bronx, New York, Richmond, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, Sullivan or Ulster counties; and
· sustained Hurricane Sandy-related damage; and
· are listed on or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, or contribute to a listed or eligible historic district.
The deadline for applications is 4:00 p.m. on May 1. Work must meet the U.S. Department of the Interior’s standards for treatment of historic properties and be pre-approved by the State Historic Preservation Office. Eligible activities include:
· pre-development activities, including Historic Structure Reports, condition assessments, plans and specifications, and other related surveys and studies;
· archeological stabilization;
· building restoration, rehabilitation and stabilization; or
· restoration, rehabilitation, preservation and stabilization of a documented historic landscape.
Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner Rose Harvey said, “Sandy’s wrath did not spare countless properties listed on or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Under the Governor’s leadership, we are excited to offer a second round of assistance to historic properties impacted by the storm.”
Unlike other state historic preservation grants, no match is required from the applicant, although matching funds are encouraged. The minimum grant request for predevelopment costs is $5,000 while the minimum grant request for capital costs is $10,000. The maximum grant amount is $1 million. As with other state historic preservation grants, the program is reimbursement only and projects must be completed with all expenditures incurred and paid by December 31, 2018. Retroactive expenditures made from October 26, 2012 through July 23, 2013 may be eligible for reimbursement provided all approvals have been obtained and work meets National Parks Service preservation standards as approved by the State Historic Preservation Office.
Congressman Charles B. Rangel said, “Countless lives were affected by Superstorm Sandy across the tri-state area, as well as homes, businesses, and landmarks that define New York’s communities. These grants will help rebuild and preserve historic sites that have been devastated by this storm and will enable communities to continue their recovery efforts. I applaud Governor Cuomo for expanding what my Colleagues and I in the tri-state congressional delegations have been able to secure together for our constituents.”
Congressman Eliot Engel said, “More than two years removed from the initial devastation of Superstorm Sandy, and there are still some places dealing with the terrible aftermath. The $4.9 million in National Parks Service funding Governor Cuomo is administering through the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation will allow us to aid the repair of many historic and archaeological properties that are still suffering from storm damage. I thank the Governor for making the restoration of these important historical sites a priority in New York.”
Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey said, “It’s important to restore and preserve the Lower Hudson Valley’s historic treasures. As Ranking Member on the House Appropriations Committee, I led the fight to secure federal Sandy recovery aid, and I will continue to work with the Governor and local officials to ensure our recovery and resiliency needs are met.”
Congressman José E. Serrano said, “Sandy had a debilitating effect on some of New York City’s most precious historic sites. This federal funding will allow non-profit organizations, municipalities, and state agencies to continue providing technical and construction assistance to those places that have faced significant hardship in raising the necessary funds to cover the costs of repairs. It will also help areas that were hit the hardest fortify these structures so they are ready to withstand future extreme weather conditions. Historical sites play an important role in our communities and contribute to our local economy. I look forward to collaborating with the Governor to make sure local organizations take advantage of this important funding and to seeing all of the improvements to historic sites that will be possible thanks to it.”
Congressman Jerrold Nadler said, “I’m very pleased that New York historic properties will have the opportunity to apply for these much-needed federal dollars. Unfortunately, there are many not-for-profit organizations and cultural institutions that are still suffering the effects of Superstorm Sandy. These funds can make a huge difference in helping these organizations rebuild, repair and restore these vital properties in our communities.”
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney said, “New York is fortunate to be home to many historic sites of national significance. Unfortunately, many of those sites were damaged by Sandy and are in need of repair. The grant program Governor Cuomo has implemented is helping to ensure these historic places are restored so they can be enjoyed for generations to come. I was proud to support federal funding for this effort.”
Congressman Gregory W. Meeks said, “I fully support and thank Governor Cuomo for his efforts to restore and rebuild our state’s historical treasures. Superstorm Sandy left many of our community’s historic buildings severely damaged. These grants will contribute to greater investment to preserve the rich heritage of our great City and State.”
Congressman Joe Crowley said, “While we continue to help families and business owners across New York fully recover from Hurricane Sandy’s devastating impact, many sites which are an integral part our city’s heritage remain in disrepair. This second round of federal relief will ensure these historical landmarks and properties will be around for generations to come and I thank Governor Cuomo and the New York State Historic Preservation Office for ensuring these vital resources are there for our communities.”
Congressman Steve Israel said, “This second round of funding will provide much-needed resources for New York’s historic landmarks that were damaged during Superstorm Sandy. These sites are important to our culture and local economy. I am proud to work with Governor Cuomo to ensure the historical sites that highlight our state’s rich history are preserved and protected for future generations of New Yorkers.”
Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney said, “Many of our historical landmarks were hit hard by Hurricane Sandy – we must continue to work until these notable sites are fully restored and preserved for the millions of residents and tourists who visit the Hudson Valley.”
Congresswoman Grace Meng said, “When Sandy wreaked havoc on our region, many historic buildings and properties were among the infrastructure damaged by the storm. It is important that non-profits, agencies and municipalities have the necessary resources to repair these sites and project them from future disasters, and these funds will go a long way towards accomplishing that goal.”
Congresswoman Kathleen Rice said, “Sandy damaged not only our homes, businesses and critical infrastructure, but also many of the properties and landmarks that attest to the history and character of our communities on Long Island. These funds will help restore historic properties and better prepare them to withstand the future storms that we know are coming, and I encourage all eligible organizations in our district to apply.”
Congressman Lee Zeldin said, “When Super Storm Sandy hit, it left our community in a mess. These grants will allow our nonprofit organizations, religious institutions and local municipalities to restore our historic buildings and communities, allowing them to come back stronger than they were before the storm.”
Sectarian entities are eligible to apply for both planning and construction projects. Sectarian properties owned by religious organizations that are not currently listed on the National Register must be listed by December 31, 2018. Grant funds can pay for the preparation of the National Register nomination as part of a larger planning and/or construction project.
Round 2 program guidelines, grant application and Instructions, and related documents are available at nysparks.com/shpo. For assistance, contact: Merrill Hesch, (212) 866-2599 at Merrill.Hesch (at) parks.ny (dot) gov or Stacey Matson-Zuvic, (845) 786-2701, ext. 220 at Stacey.Matson-Zuvic (at) parks.ny (dot) gov.
In the first round of grants, New York State awarded more than $5 million to 14 historically significant properties that suffered severe damage from Superstorm Sandy.
The New York State Historic Preservation Office, part of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, manages all state and federal historic preservation programs that help communities, municipalities, and individuals identify, evaluate, preserve, protect, and revitalize their historic, archeological and cultural resources.
