A proposal to expand the City of Norwich’s historic district could create extra regulatory hurdles for the county's $35 million building project. (Photo by Shawn Magrath)

NORWICH – Chenango County officials could face new regulatory roadblocks on a $35 million building project under a proposed expansion of Norwich’s downtown historic district.

An amendment to Norwich’s historic district was sought by the city in an application submitted last year to New York State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation. Subsequently, the city was awarded a $20,000 grant from Preserve New York for a survey of historic and architectural resources.

City officials have contracted with Clinton Brown Architecture, a Buffalo-based firm, to pinpoint structures in Norwich’s downtown district that have historic value. The Norwich Common Council approved an extra $7,500 last month to pay the company for unanticipated additional work to comply with State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) requirements. Ultimately, city officials say their objective is to help preserve old buildings to attract new investments.

While much of downtown Norwich is already on the state’s historic registry, the amended district would include properties on both sides of South Broad Street, south to Hayes Street on the west side, and to the Colonia Theater on the east side.

Norwich Mayor Robert Jeffrey said the changes, if greenlighted by the New York State Board for Historic Preservation, will bear a long-term impact as efforts forge ahead to spur economic revitalization and development in the downtown area.

“We obviously have a significant amount of really historical buildings located within the area, and we want to preserve that character. It has a great charm,” said Jeffrey.

The historic district expansion would open up benefits for both residential and commercial property owners within the district, including state and federal tax credits for restoration and improvement projects. It will also allow the city to apply for New York State historic preservation grants in the future.

“Hopefully it can attract additional developers later down the line,” Jeffrey said.

But the proposed expansion also includes properties west of Court Street, including Guernsey Memorial Library and, more notably, the Chenango County Office Building. That’s triggering some uncertainty about how county officials will move forward with their plan to tear down the 1960s-era building, which is likely to be added to a roster of other buildings in Norwich’s historic district. Properties that meet the criteria for register listing receive a measure of protection from state and federal undertakings regardless of their listing status.

“It will make us jump through some extra hoops with the state preservation office to show why building a new building and tearing this one down is appropriate,” said Chenango County Attorney Zachary Wentworth, noting that the inclusion of the county office building was a “surprise” for the county. Nevertheless, it’s not a concern that would stop construction of a new $35 million facility, he said.

“We weren’t aware that this was submitted as part of that plan,” said Wentworth. “Right now, it’s only under consideration to be included in the historic district. Whether it’s an historic district or not, while it’s under consideration we still have to go through the steps.”

Mayor Jeffrey clarified that the aim of the city was not to interfere with the county’s building project, but to use information from the Clinton Brown survey to preserve the city’s landscape.

“It wasn’t a factor,” Jeffrey said. “It was a building that was eligible within the district, and that was it. We wanted to include as many properties as we possibly could.”

The city’s historic district expansion will be considered by the New York State Board for Historic Preservation at its next meeting on September 9. If approved, buildings lumped in the proposed amendment will be added to the National and State Registers of Historic Places.