Located in the Hanover Square Historic District, the flatiron building known as City Hall Commons has grown with Syracuse. Its first four stories were built in 1864, its upper floors and dramatically round corners were added in 1894, an exterior atrium was added in 1984, and the interior was renovated repeatedly. State and federal historic tax credits will be used to transform this nearly empty office building into mixed-use residential and commercial space.
To participate in the Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit program, buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of historic districts must prepare a Part 1 Application to determine whether the building contributes to the significance of the district. Though its interior has been heavily modified, EDR demonstrated that City Hall Commons retains historic integrity and significance, allowing the project to seek Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits.
Using original architectural plans and careful photo-documentation, EDR identified historic materials, layout, and architectural features that had been hidden or obscured by acoustic ceilings, ubiquitously applied “historic” wainscoting, and recent office partitions. EDR’s guidance on topics like these help developers meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for tax credit-assisted rehabilitation projects by identifying historic elements that should be retained and restored.