Neighbors Of Watertown, Inc. and the Watertown Trust announce the
Public Square Historic District Façade Easement Program
Sponsored by the Local Development Corporation of Watertown

Implemented by Neighbors Of Watertown, Inc.

Purpose:
The Public Square National Register Historic District has many building facades that are unique, attractive and eligible for certification as "contributing to the District". These contributing building facades are deemed a public asset in the City of Watertown and are therefore eligible to be included in a Facade Easement program as established under the laws of the State of New York.

Program:
The Local Development Corporation of Watertown (WLDC) will provide funds to be invested in the District and used to rehabilitate eligible facades (Projects) to approved Standards and within Program guidelines. There will be no repayment component, however a Facade Easement will be required, subordinated to by all lien holders, with a term as required by the Program and enabling statute.

Oversight:
A Public Square Historic District Facade Easement Program Committee (Committee), appointed by the WLDC, will meet periodically to set policies and procedures for the Program and to ensure that it is operating in the best interests of the Public Square National Register Historic District and within all State and Federal regulations governing Facade Easement Programs.

Administration:
There exists in the City of Watertown, a Qualified 50l-C3 Not For Profit Corporation, Neighbors Of Watertown, Inc. (Neighbors), that will be the recipient of the Facade Easements, coordinate the rehabilitation of the Facades, perform annual inspections and oversee their long-term maintenance, as required by enabling legislation. Neighbors is eligible, within its purposes, to receive public and private funding for historically rehabilitating eligible facades in the District and has the demonstrated ability to do so.

Promotion:
Promotion and coordination of the Program will be done by Neighbors Of Watertown, Inc.. Neighbors will promote the program through brochures, press releases and meetings with downtown building owners.

Eligibility:
Properties eligible to participate are: a.) Located in the Public Square National Register Historic District; b.) Certified by the U.S. Department of the Interior as contributing to the District; c.) Determined by the Committee to be within Program guidelines and are able to meet Secretary of the Interior Standards for Historic Rehabilitation (Standards); d.) And that the owner grants a Facade Easement under the terms of the Program.

Term:
While this is to be a long-term program, it is anticipated that 10 facade units, defined as a single width storefront up to 3 stories in height, will initially be accepted into the Program for rehabilitation and preservation.

For more information on the Public Square Façade Easement Program contact:

Neighbors Of Watertown, Inc. - Gary Beasley at (315) 782-8497

or e-mail: gary@neighborsofwatertown.com

Public Square National Register Historic District Façade Easement Program

 The Public Square Historic District contains many facades that have been neglected or inappropriately modified but that still retain the basic fabric that made them contributing buildings to the district.

 The Public Square Façade Easement Program is unique in that it not only puts an easement in place to protect the contributing building into the future, but the program will also historically rehabilitate the facade at no cost to the owner.  The Watertown Local Development Corporation Board allocated $200,000 as an investment in these historic facades in recognition of their value as a “public asset”. 

  

Five examples of facades being targeted

 

 

Crawford & Stearns rendering

 As a condition of the owner receiving a beautifully rehabilitated façade, a Preservation Easement must be granted to Neighbors Of Watertown, Inc. a local Neighborhood Preservation Company experienced in historic preservation rehabilitation.  The Watertown Local Development Corporation funding will then be granted to Neighbors Of Watertown, Inc. for investment in the historic rehabilitations.

 

Contact Christine Hoffman, Downtown Development Specialist, at 785-7730

choffman@watertown-ny.com

 

Or contact Neighbors Of Watertown directly at 782-8497

 

Trust Providing Money To Fix Up Facades on Public Square

By Heather McRea
Times Staff writer
     After it failed to make the impact it wanted on how Public Square looks, the Watertown Trust has decided to throw more money into the business district.
     In 1999, the trust set aside $25,000 to provide $5,000 matching grants to downtown building owners for fixing up their facades.
     But there was little interest in the pro- gram because business owners had to match the money and many of the facade projects would have cost more than the grant cap, officials said So now the Watertown Trust will provide $200,000 to give to building owners in the Public Square historic district money to fix up their facades in return for easements on the front of the buildings.
     “The initial program really didn’t work that well,” said Donald W Rutherford, the Watertown Thrust’s economic development director. “We really want to do something that would have an impact on the downtown and deal with blight.”
     The easements will be given to Neighbors of Watertown which is managing the program for the Watertown Trust. Property owners will still own the buildings and be responsible for maintenance of the facades, but will have to get permission from NOW to do work and follow specific historic guidelines.
     In return for the easements, a property owner can claim about 15 percent of the buildings value as a tax-deductible donation and the assessment of the property would be reduced by that amount. Any increase in assessment because of the improvements should therefore be offset, said Gary C. Beasley, director of NOW
     “The essence of the program is to preserve and restore facades and in some cases
that may mean removing more modem facades that may be inappropriate to our historic district,” said Eve C. Holberg, director of the Downtown Development Office.
     And the program would allow facades that are close to the point of being structurally unsound to be fixed before they become a danger.
      "Nobody is in danger,” Ms. Holberg said. “But we have the opportunity to act. Imagine the visual impact we can have. It will just be so terrific for the city of Watertown."
      Ms. Holberg and Mr. Beasley will now develop informational handouts on the program and start to approach building owners about participating. It is estimated that about 10 could be done with the money available, Mr. Beasley said.
     They need to get into the buildings to see what improvements are needed, Ms. Holberg said. In some cases seeing a building from the inside is the only way to figure out what the historic facade looks like, she said.
“I would love to see something start this construction season,” she said. “With the cooperation from owners there is nothing that prevents us from hitting the ground running