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2005 Endangered Buildings List
Utica State Hospital "Old Main" Building
Guard (was Watch) • Greek Revival, ca. 1843
"Old Main" at its May 25th official reopening as the New York State Office of Mental Health Record and Artifact Center.
Landmarks is pleased to announce that the renovations to the first floor of the Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center’s “Old Main” building to accommodate the Records and Artifact Center of the New York State Office of Mental Health have been completed. On May 25th a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house were held, allowing the public to tour the facility.
In addition, the City of Utica has been promoting the reuse of other floors for a proposed New York State Homeland Security Training Facility. The Old Main Redevelopment Advisory Committee will continue to work to help find the best and most compatible reuses for the remaining portions of the facility, as well as some of the other historic buildings on the campus
Rutger-Steuben Park Historic District & Vicinity
1 Rutger Park (priority #2)
Threatened • Italian Villa, ca. 1854
Munn House, designed by A. J. Davis. This building is currently vacant due to the death of the primary occupant and the closing of the adult home it housed.
3 Rutger Park (priority #1)
Emergency (was Threatened) • Greek Revival, ca. 1830
Designed by Philip Hooker. This structure is a National Historic Landmark, the only one in the City of Utica other than the “Old Main” building. The Miller or Roscoe Conkling house is one of the most significant structures in Oneida County. The house’s exterior surfaces and their components, especially the west exterior wall, and including the roof, walls and wood trim still suffer from severe deterioration. However, acceptable court-mandated reuse plans have yet to be presented. In November 2004 it was the scene of an estate auction during which some of the contents were sold. In the days preceding the auction, prospective buyers previewed items to be auctioned and in doing so had the opportunity to tour the first fl oor of the home. It was the first time in many years that the structure was opened to the public.
4 Rutger Park
Guard (was Watch) • Italian, ca. 1854
The Bagg House or as it is currently known, The Swancott Home for Women. This building is currently well cared for. Operating a facility such as this is always a challenge in today’s economy. The Landmarks Society wishes the operators well in their endeavors and encourages them to “keep up the good work.”
7 Rutger Park / Former Teamsters' Building
Guard (was Watch) • Italian, ca. 1854
Built in front of 5 Rutger Park is the former Teamster’s Office Building. Opened in 1977, designed by the late local architect Edmund Booth, it has been vacant for the past several years. Once despised for intruding upon the unspoiled greenspace, it is now considered to be among only a handful of significant modern Utica-area landmarks. Hidden beneath the spandrel glass façade is a huge box truss that supports the cantilevered wings. Landmarks will monitor.
Rutger Park Greenspace
Watch • Landscape, ca. 1830
The deep setback of the buildings is indicative of their importance in the community. But time and deferred maintenance have taken their toll on the park-like setting in front of the structures. The Landmarks Society encourages the owners to work toward re-establishing the Park as a preeminent urban greenspace.
215 Rutger Street
Guard (was Watch) • Italianate, ca. 1869 Vacant
217 Rutger Street
Guard (was Watch) • Italianate, ca. 1869 Vacant
219 Rutger Street
Guard (was Watch) • Second Empire, ca. 1870 Vacant
223 Rutger Street
Guard (was Watch) • Queen Anne , ca. 1880 Vacant
In 2004 the City of Utica marketed the properties at 217, 219 and 223 Rutger Street in partnership with GroWest to help revitalize and redevelop the Rutger-Steuben Park Historic District. The selling process began after the exterior envelope of each house was secured. The new owners must develop plans for interior restoration and preservation. At last report, acceptance of the bids and closings were pending.
1001 Miller Street
Watch • Shingle Style, ca. 1885
The City has ownership and has added this structure to the Rutger Street renovation project.
22 Steuben Park (priority #3)
Emergency • Queen Anne, ca. 1872
The City of Utica acquired this property for nonpayment of taxes. A substantial portion of the side masonry wall has collapsed, leaving the structure open to the elements. Immediate action needs to be taken to prevent further collapse. Landmarks will monitor.
Corner of Hobart and Oneida Streets ("Oneida Street Castle")
Watch
The City has “mothballed” this building until it can be included in the next phase of work in the Mayfield District or an alternative plan can be established.
1005 Park Avenue
Watch • Italianate, ca. 1885
With help of the City of Utica and personnel from the DPW and Urban Renewal Agency, Landmarks sponsored a clean-out in November 2002. The building is structurally sound and Landmarks hopes to assist in its marketing through our expanded web site.
1003 Park Avenue
Watch • Italianate, ca. 1885
Adjacent to 1005, Landmarks also hopes to help market.
1025 Park Avenue
Watch • Italianate, ca. 1885
The owner had begun exterior painting, but no further progress has been noted. Landmarks will monitor.
100 South Street
Threatened • Queen Anne, ca. 1885
While some progress has been made at repairing the front porch of this important building, there is considerably more that needs to be done.
Downtown
3 Hopper Street (Priority #4)
Threatened • Neoclassical, ca. 1895
Roof repairs by the City of Utica have helped to stabilize this important building, but long-term water damage to the rear brick wall is cause for major concern. Negotiations between the City and the owner to date have been unsuccessful. Landmarks continues to encourage the owner to develop a renovation and reuse plan or else sell it to someone who will.
“Genesee Streetwall” (Priority #8)
Watch
It is the density of the urban fabric that makes a city a “place,” that makes a city a city. In today’s modern city, it is nearly impossible to escape the voracious appetites of the automobile. Among the most demanding is the need for convenient parking. Genesee Street, as the lifeline of the Scenic and Historic District, must be preserved from parking lots that directly abut the streetscape. Parking, if it must be provided, needs to be well-planned, well thought-out and placed behind structures and/or in multi-level parking facilities. The bottom line is that the urban streetscape must be preserved as much as possible, and sensitive, contextual infill buildings need to be considered to replace those which we have lost, to help reconnect the soul of our fair city.
Lafayette and Columbia Street Commercial Districts (Priority #7)
Threatened
Last year’s demolition of the former Utica Plumbing Supply and the recent loss of the Ferriss Building, both on Lafayette Street, were upsetting. Yet with the welcome addition of Utica National Insurance to the downtown area, it is imperative to aggressively market the existing vacant structures to entreupreneuars and business persons who have a preservation-oriented mentality. Of special interest is 326-336 Columbia Street, the Jones-Haberer Building. The “urban renewal” model of “demolition by the block” to provide potential opportunity for businesses to relocate and redevelop does not work well in a downtown setting. Also disturbing is the trend to replace upper level windows with inappropriate substitutes and panels that destroy the scale and aesthetic of the façade. Some cities, such as Buffalo, have had success with maintaining existing facades to preserve that all-important and historic streetscape, while gutting the interiors and creating brand new, modern facilities behind and within. It is not often easy and it takes vision, commitment and perseverence; but in the end, the results are well worth the effort.
Neighborhood Commercial Districts (Priority #9)
Threatened
It is important to allow businesses to thrive in and around our vital neighborhoods. However, we must not let the “tail wag the dog.” The commercial districts are there to serve the neighborhoods, not vice versa. Therefore, they need to be regulated and not allowed to consume valuable residential properties in an effort to produce ever-larger, boxier and more obnoxious stores, with vast seas of parking that is never even remotely utilized. Despite what the chain stores contend, there are acceptable ways for all parties to win without desecrating the neighborhood.
Parkway
Swan Memorial Fountain
Saved! (Was Threatened) • Sculpture, by Frederick William MacMonnies, ca. 1910.
Marianne Russell-Marti of Russell Marti Conservation Services and Landmarks President Mike Rizzo inspect the Swan Memorial Fountain at the April reception at Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute which marked the fountain's official unveiling after its six-month restoration.
Landmarks is pleased to announce the successful restoration of this magnificent memorial fountain. In a spectacular show of community support and solidarity, $20,000 was raised through donations and was matched by the City of Utica to finally refurbish and restore this classic Utica monument to its original grandeur. Major contributors included the CONMED Corporation, The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties and the William F. Locke family. The newly restored sculpture will return to its spot at Elm Street and the Memorial Parkway in July. Because it was discovered that some missing elements must be replaced, there is still a shortfall. You can still help the Landmarks Society in this "Adopt a Monument" campaign. Click here for more information.
Valley View Vista (Priority #10)
Watch
Maintaining beautiful urban vistas is comparable with other forms of historic preservation. The Landmarks Society will continue to monitor potential infringements, particularly to those vistas looking north.
Removed From the 2004 List
Cathedral Church Of The Theotokos Of Great Grace
Saved! • Gothic Revival, ca. 1870-72, corner of South Street and Howard Ave.
401 Rutger Street
Saved! • Italianate, ca. 1886.