14th street and union square preservation plan - Columbia ...

Materials Assessment and Proposals for
Treatment
Selected case studies were chosen to provide a more
in-depth assessment of these conditions and others.
The specific problems affecting the built fabric were
analyzed in greater detail through the façade mapping
of the tenements at 628-640 East 14 th Street and the
photographic case study of 240 West 14 th Street. A
comprehensive glossary, which explains and identifies
various instances of material failure, also includes
suggested methods of treatment.
Just as conservation on 14th Street has not been
undertaken in any street-wide, coherent manner, it would
be very difficult to enforce or implement a street-wide
plan for conservation; the decision of how to maintain
a building is, by and large, left to each individual owner.
However, for the conservation-minded building owner,
there are indeed resources available to provide practical,
instructive, and financial assistance.
Certain organizations offer emergency loans to property
owners for critical situations, such as serious structural
problems. One of these available locally is through the
New York Landmarks Conservancy; their Emergency
Loan Program is available for those structures that are
either designated to the National Register or eligible for
designation.
Financial assistance for rehabilitation projects is largely
available to non-profit groups and to buildings already
listed on the National Register of Historic Places (or
within a National Register Historic District). As of now,
there are few buildings in the study area that are listed on
the National Register; however, for those that are or may
be in the future, the Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credit
program is a powerful tool.
On the national level, funding for the rehabilitation
of private residences is scarce; however, opportunities
do exist at the local level. The New York Landmarks
THE PLAN: ADDRESSING PHYSCIAL DETERIORATION
13. CONDITIONS REVEALED ON BUILDING FACADES BETWEEN SIXTH AND EIGHTH AVENUES.
Conservancy maintains a Historic Properties Fund. The
Fund offers low-interest loans and project management
assistance to owners of historic residential properties, as
well as non-profit, religious, and commercial structures
throughout New York City. Such structures must be
designated as a New York City Landmark, as a building
within a Historic District, or as eligible for inclusion on
the State and/or National Register of Historic Places.
Other underutilized resources for conservation in the
city are the local Business Improvement Districts. In
the past, many BIDs have held workshops and created
groups for the removal of garbage and graffiti, as well as
other general maintenance and upkeep issues. One option
for advocacy and education for conservation would be
to hold BID-sponsored workshops and lectures. Since
the 14 th Street BID is already involved in the screening
of potential contractors, it would be simple to develop
a database of those companies specializing in the
conservation and restoration of historic properties and
make this database available to the tenants and property
owners of the street. The proposed BID on the eastern
end of 14 th Street could advise building owners about
building maintenance as well.
There are currently workshops in New York that offer
basic instruction and technical assistance on a variety of
building materials and structural systems. One of these
is RESTORE, which offers introductory level classes on
subjects ranging from masonry to building ventilation
systems.
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