Historic Properties List & Preservation Review

1. Overview

The Historic Properties List identifies historic properties within the City of Syracuse. The list includes properties that are in or are eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, and properties that are designated or are eligible for local designation as individual Protected Sites or Preservation Districts. The list is updated frequently.

Official determination of eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places is made by the New York State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). Eligibility for local designation is based on periodic surveys of the city's historic resources and staff assessment; the process by which properties become locally designated is specified in Article 6 of the City of Syracuse Zoning Ordinance. 

Click next to review the designation types found in the Historic Properties List and the preservation review requirements that apply to each type.

2. What preservation regulations apply to my property?

If you are planning a project involving a property on the Historic Properties List, determining the type of historic designation of the property is important. The historic designation will decide the type of preservation review required for your project.

National Register (NR) Status  Local Protected Site or Local Preservation District
Eligible (SHPO) Eligible
NR Listed Designated

Blue Box = Certificate of Appropriateness

Green Box = Zoning referral to Syracuse Landmark Preservation Board (SLPB)

Historic Properties List Key: 

National Register Status

Established by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Register of Historic Places is the official list of historic properties that have been recognized as significant in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, or culture.

NR Listed: There are close to 130 National Register-listed individual sites and historic districts in Syracuse. National Register-listed historic districts in Syracuse include Armory Square, Berkeley Park Subdivision, Comstock Tract, Hanover Square, Hawley Green, Montgomery Street-Columbus Circle, North Salina Street, Onondaga Highlands–Swaneola Heights, South Salina Street, South Salina Street Downtown District, Scottholm Tract, Strathmore “By The Park”, Walnut Park, and the Westcott-University Neighborhood.

Eligible (SHPO): This group of properties is eligible for listing on the National Register (NR), but the properties are not yet listed. The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) determines National Register eligibility.

Local Protected Site or Preservation District

Eligible: Eligibility for local designation is determined by periodic surveys of the city's historic resources.

Designated Protected Site: A Protected Site is a building, structure, site, landscape, or object that has an association with persons or events of historic significance, is illustrative of the historic growth and development of the community, and/or possesses unique architectural or artistic qualities. The Syracuse Landmark Preservation Board recommends properties to the Syracuse Common Council for local designation. There are 60 locally designated Protected Sites in Syracuse that include parks, cemeteries, residential properties, commercial, and religious properties.

Designated Preservation District: A Preservation District is a collection of buildings or sites that are united historically by past events or visually by plan or development. As with individual Protected Sites, the Syracuse Common Council designates Preservation Districts. Preservation Districts in Syracuse include Berkeley Park, Columbus Circle, Hanover Square, and Sedgwick/Highland/James.

  

 

3. Property Improvement Reviews

National Register (NR) Status Local Protected Site or Local Preservation District
Eligible (SHPO) Eligible
NR Listed Designated

Blue Box = Certificate of Appropriateness

Green Box = Zoning referral to Syracuse Landmark Preservation Board (SLPB)

 

The Central Permit Office cannot issue a building permit without the appropriate reviews:

Certificate of Appropriateness

Required for: Local Protected Sites and Preservation Districts (Blue Box Above)

A Certificate of Appropriateness is required for any exterior alteration to properties designated as Protected Sites or that are located within a Preservation District. The application must be approved by the Syracuse Landmark Preservation Board (SLPB) before work begins.

Learn about the Certificate of Appropriateness Application Process 

Zoning Referrals

Required for: National Register listed, National Register eligible, Protected Site/Preservation District eligible (Green Box Above)

Projects involving the properties of these categories do not require a Certificate of Appropriateness. However, if the project requires a Zoning application (such as Site Plan Review or Special Use) the Zoning Office will refer the project to the Syracuse Landmark Preservation Board for review and comment. Adverse comments from the SLPB, if not addressed, can result in zoning denials or delayed approvals.

 

A property may be both listed on the National Register of Historic Places and locally designated. In those cases, alterations follow the procedures for designated Protected Sites.

4. Demolitions

The SLPB reviews all projects involving the full or partial demolition of properties on the Historic Properties List regardless of the type of designation.

Property owners proposing to demolish part or all of a Local Protected Site or property located within a Local Preservation District must apply for a Certificate of Appropriateness before demolition begins.

Property owners proposing to demolish part or all of a property listed on the National Register or eligible for local designation or national listing must submit a Demolition of Non-Landmarked Historic Property Application to the SLPB for review before demolition begins. 

Contact Us

Phone

315-448-8108

Email

SLPB@syr.gov

Location

One Park Place
300 South State St., 7th Floor
Syracuse, NY 13202

Historic Properties List

View Historic Properties List(PDF, 538KB)

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