Newburgh's unique architectural wealth was first recognized in 1973, when the Montgomery-Grand-Liberty Street Historic District was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1977, that district was expanded by the City Council as the East End Historic District, which was then enlarged and added to the National Register in 1985. The City's Architectural Review Commission (ARC), a certified agent of New York's State Office of Historic Preservation (SHPO) is charged with protecting and promoting the enhancement of this cultural resource.
In February 2008, the City Council adopted updated Design Guidelines for the East End Historic District.
Historic District Design Guidelines (PDF, 4.2 MB)
Permitting Process
All work affecting the exterior of buildings in the East End Historic District and the Colonial Terraces Design District falls under the review of the ARC, including:
- New Construction
- Exterior Alteration
- In-Kind Repairs or Restorations
- Signs
- Demolition
Once a project is submitted and ARC finds that it meets the criteria set forth in the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Historic Preservation and/or local guidelines, ARC issues a Certificate of Appropriateness. The applicant may then proceed to a full plan review by the Building Department for the necessary permits to perform the work.
The ARC also reviews zoning-variance and special-use applications made to the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Planning Review Board, advising these boards as to the effect that a proposed project will have on the City's Historic and Design districts.
The Commission
Commission members are appointed by the City Manager to 5-year terms. The Commission must include:
- At least one historian
- At least one architect
- At least 3 residents of a historic district or building
- All individuals who have shown interest in and commitment to architecture and historic preservation
For information on applications, fees, and meeting agendas, please contact the Code Compliance/Building Dept at 569-7400.
For the code establishing the ARC and defining its responsibilities, see Section 300.22 of the City Code.
Note: In January 2008, Ordinance 2008-1 revised the code to allow the architect of the ARC to be a non-resident of the City.
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