Wall Street Historic District Listed on the National Register of Historic Places

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

Commissioner Carol Ash, along with U.S. Representatives Charles Rangel and

Jerrold Nadler, Headline Event at Federal Hall

    NEW YORK, March 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the Wall Street
 Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a
 federal designation that bestows honor and affords protection to one of the
 nation's most architecturally and historically significant business
 districts.
     The announcement was made this morning at New York City's Federal Hall
 National Memorial at a press conference hosted by the National
 Architectural Trust in partnership with the New York State Historic
 Preservation Office (SHPO) and the National Park Service. The event
 featured Carol Ash, incoming commissioner of the New York State Office of
 Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the agency of which the SHPO
 is a part, and two distinguished members of Congress: Rep. Jerrold Nadler
 (D-NY), who represents the Wall Street Historic District, and Rep. Charles
 Rangel (D-NY), the new chair of the House Ways and Means Committee.
     "The Wall Street Historic District contains a significant concentration
 of properties associated with the history of banking and commerce in
 America," said Carol Ash, acting commissioner of the New York State Office
 of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. "In cooperation with the
 National Architectural Trust, the State Historic Preservation Office is
 pleased to have assisted with listing the district on the State and
 National Registers of Historic Places. The designation recognizes the
 area's importance and will further its rejuvenation and redevelopment."
     In January 2007, the New York SHPO recommended the Wall Street Historic
 District to the National Park Service for listing on the National Register
 of Historic Places, following public input and a public hearing on the
 proposed nomination. The nomination was based on the District's fulfillment
 of two National Register criteria: 1) its association with significant
 historic events and 2) its embodiment of the distinctive characteristics of
 a time period, type of building or method of construction and its
 representation of the work of master architects.
     "It's an honor to be here, on such a historically significant day for
 this city, when the Wall Street District is recognized for its tremendous
 role in shaping our nation's identity," said Rep. Rangel. "Through the ups
 and downs, one constant will always remain true about Wall Street -- it
 helps keep America and the world moving forward."
     The impact on properties in the Wall Street Historic District will now
 be considered during planning for federal, federally-licensed or federally-
 assisted projects because of the listing. In addition, property owners in
 the District may be eligible for federal tax benefits, and properties in
 the District may qualify for federal historic preservation grants when
 funds are available.
     The site of the morning event -- Federal Hall National Memorial -- was
 ideal because the building showcases the quality of the District's
 architectural treasures. Built from 1833 to 1842, the former Customs House
 exemplifies high-style Greek Revival architecture and serves as a prime
 example of the rich diversity of architectural styles in the Wall Street
 Historic District. In 1789, George Washington was inaugurated on the site
 of Federal Hall National Memorial.
     "I am proud to represent Wall Street today," said Rep. Nadler. "It has
 a rich heritage as a center of commerce, economy, community planning,
 politics and government. And its architecture is world-renowned. Today is a
 day to celebrate all that Wall Street represents to our nation."
     Although the Wall Street Historic District is the site of New York
 City's earliest settlement, New Amsterdam, almost nothing other than the
 street pattern survives from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries
 because of the Great Fire of 1835. Yet, the District is rich in
 architectural treasures from that moment forward. It includes significant
 buildings from as late as 1967, and a world-class collection of
 late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century styles such as French Second
 Empire, Renaissance Revival and Beaux-Arts. More commonly recognized, the
 District contains a world class collection of early skyscrapers
 representing revival styles as well as early modern styles such as Art
 Deco, Moderne and the International Style.
     "It's possible that no single area tells the story of America's
 progression from a primarily rural nation to a diverse industrial society
 as well as the Wall Street Historic District," said Steven McClain, emcee
 of the press conference and president of the National Architectural Trust.
 "The buildings of the District tell us who we are as an industrialized
 nation. As an organization committed to the preservation of American
 architecture, we commend the National Park Service for listing the Wall
 Street Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places, and
 we are proud to help celebrate this momentous occasion."
     About the National Architectural Trust
     The National Architectural Trust advocates voluntary preservation
 through its support of the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentive
 Program. As the leading historic trust in the nation committed to this
 Program and the acceptance of historic preservation easements, the Trust is
 dedicated to championing preservation efforts that protect America's
 architectural heritage for future generations.
 
 

SOURCE National Architectural Trust