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Saving Albany’s stories one brick at a time

Below is a comprehensive list of resources for budding preservationists, homeowners, & history-lovers …from tax information to our very own technical library, there’s a wealth of information at your fingertips!

Click the links for further information

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Affordable Housing Partnership

The Affordable Housing Partnership is a non-profit resource for homebuyers and homeowners in the Capital Region. Their programs include homebuyer education, savings and down payment programs, and partnerships with community development.

Albany County

Albany Institute of History & Art

The Albany Institute has a dedicated special-collections Library with over a million Albany-related items to comb through - including maps, photographs, posters & more. Check their website for opening times.

Contact: Douglas McCombs, mccombsd@albanyinstitute.org / Diane Shewchuk, shewchukd@albanyinstitute.org

Albany Public Library

The Local History Room at the Washington Ave branch of the Albany Public Library holds a large collection of books, newspapers, and photographs detailing the history of the city. Some the collection is available online. Check the website for opening times.

Contact: (518)-427-4376 or email localhistory@albanypubliclibrary.org.

Archaeologists

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City of Albany

The city of Albany has 17 local historic districts. To protect the structures that make up our architectural heritage, properties in locally listed historic districts (or individually locally listed) are subject to the Historic Resources Commission Ordinance.  This means any work done to the exterior of a locally listed building visible from a public right of way needs a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Resource Commission (HRC) in addition to a building permit before work commences.  Review by the HRC is also required for demolition of any designated structure and for new construction in or adjacent to historic districts.

Contact: Erin Glennon, Planning & Development, 200 Henry Johnson Blvd, First Floor  |  Suite #3, Albany, NY 12210
Phone: (518) 242-7714 Email:  hrc@albanyny.gov

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HAF’s Preservation & Technical Library

Historic Albany Foundation houses the Preservation Resource Center (a technical and research library) at 89 Lexington Avenue.  It holds copies of the Grantor/Grantee Indices from 1630-1894, a collection of City Directories from 1866 to 1989, & copies of historic maps of Albany from 1768, 1850, 1857 and 1876.  Additionally, we have property files on thousands of buildings in Albany. Our technical library offers books and magazines on different architectural styles to help historic property owners craft their restoration projects.  Additionally we have brochures and booklets on technical topics as well as the Preservation Briefs issued by the National Parks Service .

Using the library is free - call us to make an appointment on 518-465-0876

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John Leeke's Historic Homeworks

Maine preservationist John Leeke has created a website complete with a forum that allows restorers to ask questions, post replies, seek guidance and help others. Historic Homeworks also has a series of online workshops and reports on a variety of topics including window restoration and wood repair.

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Local Historical societies & Foundations

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National Trust for Historic Preservation

National Parks Service

The first Preservation Brief was published in 1975. Since then, over 40 more have been added to the series. They provide easy-to read guidance on preserving, rehabilitating and restoring historic buildings. More than 2 million copies of the Preservation Briefs are in print and the illustrated Preservation Briefs 1-43 are now available online.

For a full list of National Resources, click here

Neighborhood associations

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Oldest Building Survey

The Oldest Building Survey is an inventory of the oldest buildings in the city of Albany. It provides basic information, including the date of construction & the listing status. Click here to access it.

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Publications

We have 2 Albany-related publications on offer at our office: Albany Architecture: A Guide to the City, & Architects in Albany. Click here for more details.

  • Old House Web 

    Ideas, advice and community for old-house enthusiasts. A well researched collection of how-to stories and product information.

  • Old House Journal 

    The original consumer restoration and renovation magazine.

  • This Old House 

    America's favorite Home Renovation Show online content.

  • Traditional Building Magazine

    Product and supplier information for restoration projects of all types.

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Secretary of the Interior's Standards

‘The Treatment of Historic Properties’

These are straight-forward guidelines which provide information about “maintaining, repairing, and replacing historic materials, as well as designing new additions or making alterations”. Not highly technical in language, they are a great starting point for any project involving a historic building.

The standards are broken down into four categories, preservation (maintenance and general repairs), rehabilitation, restoration, or reconstruction. Click here for more details.

Statewide Links

For a full list of NY State links by area and in general (including NYC, Hudson, & Western NY) click here.

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Tax Abatement

There are two major tax abatement programs for historic homes: the Historic Home Rehabilitation Abatement Program & the Capital Improvements Abatement Program.

Tax Credits

Homeowner Tax Credit

A 20% tax credit is available for the rehabilitation of historic homes that are individually listed or are part of a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places.

More information, the application, and an FAQ about the 20% homeowner credit can be found here

Income Producing Properties

A 20% NYS and a 20% Federal tax credit is available for the rehabilitation of historic buildings that are individually listed or are part of a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places. These credits are coupled together in one application.

More information and an FAQ about the NYS income producing credit can be found here

More information and the application for the Federal credit can be found here

Contact Cara to check if your home is eligible or to discuss the tax credits

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Window repair/maintenance

A huge thanks to Landmark Consulting for putting together the following resources:

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