The New York Landmarks Conservancy

The Conservancy's sacred sites program -helps congregations throughout New York maintain, repair, and restore their historic buildings with referrals, grants, workshops, and publications. Since its launch in 1986, the program has given 1,657 grants to 850 congregations. It is one of the only statewide programs in the nation responding to the preservation needs of historic religious properties.

The Conservancy's New York city historic properties fund -established in 1982, the New York city historic properties fund is the Conservancy's main financing vehicle for restoration work throughout New York city. With almost $10 million in assets, it is one of the largest revolving loan funds for historic preservation in the nation. Since its inception, the fund has made over $33 million in investments.

The Conservancy's public policy program -the Conservancy's advocacy protects and celebrates the buildings, streetscapes and neighborhoods that define New York. We support landmark designations, speak out on proposals that affect landmarked buildings and engage in campaigns to improve the regulations and processes that govern how our city grows and evolves.

The Conservancy's technical services department provides countless hours of one-on-one advice and technical assistance to building owners throughout the city. From site visits to referrals, we offer practical recommendations that address a wide variety of questions and issues. We also help owners navigate the city's Landmarks regulatory process.

The Conservancy's emergency preservation grants program largely funded by the New York community trust, provides funding to nonprofit organizations to address immediate repair needs and/or professional services to remedy dangerous exterior conditions (falling masonry, spot water leakage, etc.) And/or deteriorated interior structural elements of buildings. Most grants range between $10,000 and $15,000 and are accompanied by project management assistance from Conservancy staff. Over 80 nonprofit facilities have been helped to date, with an aggregate project expenditure total in excess of $900,000.

The Conservancy's nonprofit technical assistance grant program for non-emergencies assists the Conservancy's audience of nonprofit organizations whose programs operate a diverse range of community development activities such as nonprofit housing, social services, education, and arts & cultural programs. The program provides grants and assistance to maintain and restore their historic structures.

The Conservancy's endangered building fund was established in 1984 to safeguard significant buildings in imminent danger of destruction. When Landmarks are endangered, the Conservancy is there to help with financial, either grants or loans and technical assistance.

The Conservancy's preservation easements fund holds a total of 46 preservation easements. An easement is a voluntary legal agreement between a property owner and a nonprofit organization that restricts future changes to the property and requires cyclical inspections by the nonprofit. The easement stays with the property even if sold; this assures that the historic properties are well maintained. Property owners who give easements received a one-time federal tax. All the properties are listed on the national register of historic places.