Rochester Business Journal

The New York State Board for Historic Preservation this week recommended a group of State Street buildings for inclusion in the state and national registers of historic places, which would qualify the buildings for financial aid for redevelopment.

The Urban League of Rochester Economic Development Corp., in conjunction with Eastman Kodak Co. and the city of Rochester, wants to rehabilitate the properties at 268-292 State St. into 21 apartments. The cost is pegged at $6.8 million.

The state board gave its recommendation to what is called the Teoronto Block Historic District and to 27 other properties at its meeting Tuesday. The Rochester buildings are considered to be among the oldest in the city.

“These historic properties contribute so much to the individuality and ‘quality of place’ of our communities,” Carol Ash, commissioner of the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, said in a statement.

“Listing on the state and national registers of historic places is an appropriate honor and will preserve these properties for the future.”

The listing would assist property owners in revitalizing the structures by making them eligible for various public preservation programs and services such as matching state grants as well as state and federal historic rehabilitation tax credits, the statement said.

The historic preservation board’s recommendations must be approved by the state historic preservation officer to be listed in the New York State Register of Historic Places, the statement said.

They will then be nominated for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, reviewed and, upon approval, entered in the National Register, the statement said.

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