Gratz Grant -Adirondack Architectural Heritage
In December, 2012, the Preservation League made a $5,000 grant to Adirondack Architectural Heritage (AARCH), the nonprofit historic preservation organization for New York State’s Adirondack Park. AARCH was formed in 1990 to promote better public understanding, appreciation, and stewardship of the Adirondacks’ unique and diverse architectural heritage. This legacy includes not only Great Camps and other rustic buildings, but also the many other structures that embody the whole range of human experience in the region.
The grant was the second made from the Donald Stephen Gratz Preservation Services Fund of the Preservation League of New York State. This grant of $5,000 will support the cost of a financial pro forma model to compare adaptive use scenarios.
Port City Preservation of Syracuse was selected to produce this report, which included the evaluation of possible uses; prospective sources of financing including rehabilitation tax credits; preparation of a financial model to include construction and development cost, revenues, operating expenses, and financing; and assisting AARCH in finalizing an achievable development plan for the historic Stone Mill.
The Stone Mill, located on the Ausable River at 126 Ausable Street in Keeseville, NY is a vacant historic 10,500 square foot building that was constructed in 1849 for the purpose of producing iron nails. From the early 1900s until 1960 it was utilized as a furniture manufacturing facility. It has been vacant since that date other than being used for occasional storage. Revitalization of the building has been a high priority for the Village of Keeseville for nearly two decades and has been cited in various studies and plans.
The Stone Mill and the adjacent Stone Office Building were acquired in 2008 by AARCH with a goal of revitalization. AARCH has subsequently renovated and adapted the 4,500 square foot Stone Office Building as their headquarters with additional rental space for other offices. AARCH now wishes to reposition the Stone Mill as an anchor facility for Keeseville by restoring it for use by commercial, residential or institutional occupants.
The Preservation League believes that this report will leverage AARCH’s current and future investment in the historic Stone Mill and contribute to the continuing economic revitalization of Keeseville, a small village in the northeast corner of Adirondack Park.