The News Apartments receives 2019 Historic Preservation Award

May 07, 2019 - Upstate New York
Before, The News Apartments - Troy, NY

 

After, The News Apartments - Troy, NY

 

Troy, NY The News Apartments has been named one of this year’s Preservation League of NYS Excellence in Historic Preservation award winners. The Excellence in Historic Preservation awards ceremony will be held May 9th at 6 p.m. at the New York Yacht Club, 37 West 44th St., NYC Along with seven other honorees, this project represents a shining example of historic preservation done well. The League’s statewide awards program has been honoring achievements in retaining, promoting, and reusing state’s architectural heritage.

Formerly the Troy Record Building, the original Dutch Colonial Revival building was developed between 1906-1908 on the east end of what is now the Central Troy Historic District; subsequent additions were constructed in 1924, 1935, 1947 and 1967. Serving the purpose of newspaper production continuously since its inaugural day of operation in 1909, The Record vacated the building in early 2015, leaving it unoccupied for the first time in over a century. The Rosenblum Co.’s rehabilitation included a total restoration of the Troy Record building, as well as construction of a compatible new building to create The News Apartments, a mixed-use redevelopment that extends the reach of the city’s ongoing revitalization. The News features 101 market rate residential apartments with onsite parking, amenity space and ground floor retail.

The News Apartments project team included: Seth Rosenblum, CEO, Rosenblum Cos.; Jeff Mirel, executive vice president, Rosenblum Cos.; Cindy Hamilton, vice president, Heritage Consulting Group; Brett Balzer, partner, Balzer & Tuck Architecture; Shawn Corp, senior associate/studio director, Balzer & Tuck Architecture; Eric Weatherwax, project manager, BBL Construction Services; Ryan Manikas, vp/project executive, BBL Construction Services; James Rymph, principal, director – landscape architectural services, The Chazen Cos.

“The Preservation League is excited that this project has ensured that this historic building will live to see another century,” said Preservation League president Jay DiLorenzo. “The News Apartments provide a great example of adaptive reuse, breathing new life into an urban area while staying true to its history.”

“The Troy Record property offered a formidable but singular opportunity to preserve one of Troy’s most significant landmark buildings while reversing the effects of urban renewal by reimagining the historic streetscape at Broadway and 6th Ave.,” said Jeff Mirel, EVP of The Rosenblum Cos. “We are grateful to the Preservation League for this recognition, which is a validation of our vision and a credit to the excellent team that helped us compose the Troy Record Building’s next edition.

This project has secured an important cultural asset while adding needed housing and commercial space to Downtown Troy. The thoughtful combination of historic preservation, new construction, sustainability, and modern conveniences makes this project a model for similar projects around the state. The Preservation League team is so pleased that this effort will receive statewide recognition.

Funding sources for this project included state and federal Rehabilitation Tax Credits administered by NYS Historic Preservation Office and National Park Service’s Technical Preservation Service Division respectively, and a National Grid Main Street Revitalization Program Grant.

2019 Awardees:

As the Preservation League honors excellence in historic preservation, they will also look toward preservation’s future with the inaugural Zabar Family Scholarship. Following the Excellence award presentation, three current students will receive a scholarship of $1,000 each in support of their studies in historic preservation. They are Tabitha O’Connell (SUNY’s University at Buffalo), Camille Sasena (Pratt Institute), and Ryan Zeek (Columbia University).

Since its founding in 1974, the Preservation League has built a reputation for action and effectiveness. Their goal has been to preserve historic buildings, districts and landscapes and to build a better New York, one community at a time. The Preservation League of New York State invests in people and projects that champion the essential role of preservation in community revitalization, sustainable economic growth and the protection of our historic buildings and landscapes. We lead advocacy, economic development and education programs across the state.