Syracuse Landmark Preservation Board

The City of Syracuse Landmark Preservation Board (SLPB) administers the Syracuse Preservation Ordinance, the regulatory framework for the City’s historic preservation program. The purpose of the program is to recognize, celebrate, and protect Syracuse’s unique cultural heritage, including buildings, landscapes, sites, and historic districts. The Preservation Ordinance requires that any exterior alterations to designated sites or properties within preservation districts must be reviewed by the SLPB through the Certificate of Appropriateness process.

The Syracuse Landmark Preservation Board (SLPB) is a 7-member, all-volunteer board appointed by the mayor. Board members serve 3-year, unpaid terms and have backgrounds in architecture, landscape architecture, historic preservation, and real estate. The SLPB’s primary responsibilities are to identify and recommend properties for designation as Protected Sites or Preservation Districts, and to review projects involving designated properties through the Certificate of Appropriateness application process.

Individuals who are interested in serving on the SLPB are encouraged to contact 315-448-8108 or SLPB@syr.gov.

Self-Services

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FAQ's

 

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What is the Syracuse Landmark Preservation Ordinance?

The Landmark Preservation Ordinance is a historic preservation law originally adopted in 1975 and revised under the new city zoning ordinance (Part 6) to recognize, celebrate, and ensure the protection of Syracuse’s built heritage, including buildings, landscapes, objects, and districts. To date, the City has designated four Preservation Districts and fifty-five individual Protected Sites. Many additional sites and districts are eligible for designation.

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Who administers the Syracuse Landmark Preservation Ordinance?

The Landmark Preservation Ordinance is administered by the seven-member Syracuse Landmark Preservation Board. These volunteers are appointed by the mayor and have expertise in history, historic preservation, architecture, landscape architecture, and real estate. The Board is responsible for making recommendations to the City Planning Commission and Common Council regarding the local historic designation of properties, and for reviewing changes to designated properties.

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What is a Preservation District?

A preservation district is a geographically definable area, which possesses a significant concentration, linkage or continuity of sites, buildings, structures or objects united historically by past events or united visually by plan or development.  There are two residential preservation district in Syracuse that include the Berkeley Park Preservation District and the Sedgwick-Highland-James Preservation District. There are also two downtown preservation districts: Hanover Square Preservation District and Columbus Circle Preservation District.

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What is a Protected Site?

A Protected Site is a building, structure, site, landscape, or object that possesses 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. There are currently 59 individual Protected Sites including residential, commercial and religious properties as well as historic landscapes/cemeteries.

Click here to view full list of the city's Protected Sites(PDF, 161KB)

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How do I know if my building is in a Preservation District or is a Protected Site?

To determine if your building is a in a Preservation District or is a Protected Site please review the historic properties list(PDF, 348KB) or contact preservation staff for the most up-to-date listing at SLPB@syr.gov or call 315-448-8108.

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What is a Certificate of Appropriateness?

A Certificate of Appropriateness is a certificate issued by the SLPB authorizing work that will alter the exterior appearance of a building, structure, site, landscape, or object designated as a Protected Site or within a Preservation District.

Click here for more information about Certificate of Appropriateness

Contact

Phone

315-448-8108

Email

SLPB@syr.gov

Location

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

Associated Departments

Zoning Department

Code Enforcement

Planning Department

Board Members

Julia Hafftka-Marshall, Chair

Jeff Romano, Vice Chair

Hilary Donohue

Nicole Fragnito

Kyle Gregory

Robert Searing

Howard Triche

 

 

Technical Assistance

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