Byway Partners with Federal and State Governments to Restore Historic Building

A byway organization interested in developing an historic property as its headquarters and as a byway visitor center secured a federal scenic byway enhancement grant and partnered with the state historic preservation office to accomplish a shared mission.

Who/What/Where:

Seaway Trail, Inc., a 501-c-6 organization, and the Seaway Trail Foundation, Inc., a 501-c-3 nonprofit organization, received a $1.19 million federal scenic byway grant to restore an historic building in the Lake Ontario waterfront community of Sackets Harbor, NY. When an historic building of first interest was determined not to be available, Seaway Trail staff and board members developed a partnership with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to restore the former Union Hotel building owned by the State. That building had been operated only part-time by the state as a visitor attraction.

When:

The federal ISTEA grant application for development of the building was submitted in 1991. The building opened to the public as the Seaway Trail Discovery Center in July 2000.

How:

By partnering with Seaway Trail, Inc., the State was able to take advantage of the grant funding available to the byway organization through the federal scenic byway program to bring the historic three-story limestone structure into compliance with public accessibility requirements. In return, the State provided the byway organization with a 20-year, $1-a-year lease arrangement and pays for the heating costs. The byway organization pays the electrical costs.

The building is now known as the Seaway Trail Discovery Center and holds nine rooms of byway exhibits, including a gift shop operated by Seaway Trail, Inc. It also houses Seaway Trail offices in four office spaces plus storage. The State has two office spaces that it rents in a new section of the building.

Funding Potential:

Many factors affect the funding potential of this type of project – the size and condition of the historic building of interest, the interest and enthusiasm of the building owner, and the internal capacity of the byway organization to pursue site development over a long period of time.

For a project that partners a byway organization with government funders, see the Cherokee Foothills National Scenic Byway case profile.

Why Historic Preservation Projects for Byways:

• Capitalize on the public interest in historic preservation to leverage funds for restoring buildings as byway headquarters and welcome centers

Resources:

Seaway Trail Discovery Center