New York Main Street Program
The New York Main Street Program emphasizes the preservation of the entire building facades of historic, mixed-use buildings and rehabilitating dilapidated interiors. Matching (one-to-one) reimbursement grants of up to $10,000, provided by funding from New York State's Division of Housing and Community Renewal, as well as technical assistance with establishing the scope of work and managing construction, are available to assist avenue property owners. Below are projects that have participated in the NY Main Street program.
Completed Projects
572A Myrtle Avenue
Completed August 2006
Total Renovation Budget: $25,015
Grant Amount: $10,000
In February 2006, construction began on MARP’s first NYMS façade renovation project at 572A Myrtle Avenue. Included in the scope of work was the replacement of damaged windows and solid security gates, cornice repair, washing of the bricks, installation of a new storefront cornice, new awnings, custom signage, and custom made wood doors for the residential entrances.
446 Myrtle Avenue
Completed September 2006
Total Renovation Budget: $62,726
Grant Amount: $20,000
This building is a 19 th century Italianate cast-iron building, whose rehabilitation gave a striking impact for Myrtle Avenue. Pictured to the left is the historic photograph of the building from the 1930s. Notice that the upper fire escape has since been removed, along with the theater awning on the bottom right.
Located on a prominent corner at Myrtle and Waverly, the building was once a vaudeville theater, then marriage parlor and town hall before becoming a fourteen-unit cooperative apartment building above two commercial condos.
The scope of work included repairs to all the cast-iron elements; paint was removed from the masonry side of the building to expose bricks, which were hidden behind paint for over 100 years; missing or damaged cast-iron details were recreated and all cast-iron elements and fire escape were primed and painted. Pigeon spikes were also installed along the upper cornice.
The building’s colors reflect the period’s style by accentuating the restored cast-iron façade and upper cornice. The building is eligible for designation to the State and National Historic Registers.
MARP is now working with the retail tenants to improve storefront signage so that it conforms to the historic character of the building.
560 Myrtle Avenue
Completed December 2006
Total Renovation Budget: $20,000
Grant Amount: $10,000
The scope of work at this site included restoration of the upper cornice and the fire escape; installation of new, dark cladding on the window frames; installation of a new storefront cornice; and pigeon spikes installed along the upper cornice. The photo below shows the building before and after rehabilitations.
505 Myrtle Avenue
Completed March 2007
Total Renovation Budget: $20,000
Grant Amount: $10,000
At 505 Myrtle Avenue, MARP rehabilitated a 19 th century brick building. This building exhibits the most historically intact façade of its kind on Myrtle Avenue: a wood and glass storefront and wood cornice. Repairs included new brownstone lintels, restored upper and lower cornices, and new mortar joints to support the historic brickwork. The wood storefront was scraped, primed, and painted. MARP helped to attract a new business to the location, which opened in January 2007.
Projects Currently Underway
469 Myrtle Avenue
Projected Completion: October 2007
Total Renovation Budget: $27,000
Grant Amount: $10,000
MARP began rehabilitation of 469 Myrtle Avenue in June 2007. This project will remove paint from the façade’s bricks, restore damaged brownstone, and repair the upper and lower wood cornices.
478 Myrtle Avenue
Projected Completion: December 2007
Estimated Renovation Budget: $20,000
Grant Amount: $10,000
MARP has just finalized the scope of work to begin the rehabilitation of 478 Myrtle Avenue. This project will remove paint from the façade’s bricks, fix loose bricks and repoint, repair the upper and lower wood cornices, fix the fire escape, and create an entirely new storefront.
