Historic Homes
Ithaca has eight historic districts and these districts are governed by the Landmark Preservation Ordinance (LPO), which protects the exteriors of homes located in these districts. If you are considering buying a home in a historic district, or already own a home in one of these districts, it is important to understand the details of the LPO governance. We have provided links to resources and we can assist in answering questions you may have concerning your property.
Historic Ithaca
Historic Ithaca‘s mission is to promote the value & enhancement of our historic buildings & neighborhoods through education, advocacy, & action. Their vision is for Tompkins County to be a community where historic places are treasured & preserved by all.
About Historic Ithaca:
Established in 1966 as a community response to threats to downtown Ithaca landmarks, Historic Ithaca is the non-profit voice for preservation in Tompkins County and the Finger Lakes Region. We engage in Advocacy and provide Preservation Services to individuals, businesses, and municipalities throughout the Finger Lakes Region. We maintain a Library of the Built Environment, sponsor tours and lectures, and conduct hands-on workshops. Since 1991 we have operated Significant Elements, our non-profit architectural salvage store, through which we provide job training to youth and young adults with barriers to employment in our Work Preserve program.
Historic Ithaca Guide for Owners, Historic Districts, Ithaca, NY
Historic Preservation in the City of Ithaca
Bryan McCracken is the Historic Preservation Planner at the City of Ithaca. The City of Ithaca historic preservation page has Bryan’s contact information and other important links.
Other Important Historic Landmark Information:
- Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission
- Historic Landmark Design Guidelines: This document details what alterations/improvements may be done to homes designated as historic in the City of Ithaca. There are two levels of review covered in the document for alterations to a property, with one being a staff level review for smaller projects such as replacing a roof in-kind or re-paving a driveway, and with the second being a commission review for smaller projects or projects that would specify a change in materials used.
- Historic Properties by Address: This lists all the addresses in the City of Ithaca that are designated as historic.
- Historic Districts: Maps of where historic districts are located in the City of Ithaca.
State and Local Tax Incentives
According to the City of Ithaca, there are fairly robust tax incentives available at the state and local level for rehabilitation work done on historic properties, including the following: