So you’re interested in listing a property in the National Register! Maybe you hope to qualify for tax credits, grants or other financial incentives. Perhaps you’re after the satisfaction that comes with knowing your building has made the “honor roll” of historic places. Or you may want to pursue National Register designation because you know that, although designation places no restrictions on property owners, properties listed in the Register often merit a higher level of consideration when federal, state, or local projects are planned that may affect them.
The level of effort involved in getting a property listed in the National Register can seem daunting. Fortunately, assistance is available at every step in the process.
Some people decide to hire an experienced consultant to conduct the necessary research and to complete the paperwork. If you are interested in finding out the names of consultants who do this type of work in western New York, please contact the Landmark Society at 546-7029 or mail@landmarksociety.org.
If you are interested in pursuing landmark designation yourself, one of the first things to do is to contact the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) as early in the process as possible. National Register program staff members there will be happy to assist you in determining whether your property qualifies for listing, and will guide you through the process from beginning to end. Each National Register program staff member covers a several-county area; call (518) 237-8643 to speak to the person in charge of your county.
Online resources are also available to help you understand the nomination process and understand the level of effort and commitment involved. The National Park Service, the federal agency that oversees the program, has an online guide to the National Register process. There you will find links to more detailed instructions, including National Register Bulletin 16A, How to Complete the National Register Registration Form, a step-by-step guide to completing every section of the nomination form. The OPRHP also has an online overview of the National Register process.
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