Project Planning Resources

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Hi All! It’s been a while since I’ve posted here, but I wanted to put all of the links discussed in today’s Technical Tuesday video somewhere easy to find.

Today I talked about beginning the planning for your 2021 house projects now that spring is on the horizon. Here’s a super quick recap.

-Make a list of your projects, start to prioritize them looking at immediate needs, what is impacting something else (making it deteriorate too), and what you think you can financially tackle this year.

-Start getting some quotes to flesh out an accurate budget.

-Take a look at funding resources like tax credits, energy programs (good for storm windows and sometimes window repair), and ADCA’s home repair grants. See what you qualify for and get some applications in BEFORE you begin the work.

-Know what permits you need. Don’t ignore building permits thinking that you don’t need one and try to skate by. It can wind up biting you big time with stop work orders and trouble getting through regulatory boards like the Historic Resources Commission (for you historic district property owners) or Board of Zoning Appeals (everyone else). Get your applications in early so you don’t get held up at the end of construction season.

Links and Contacts
So now that you’ve got a plan, who do you call or how do you find the forms you need??

Need contractors?
HAF’s annual membership includes access to our list of preservation friendly contractors. Do you need this? Nope. Is it helpful? A lot of the time, it’s a good place to start. Know someone who has done great preservation friendly work in your neighborhood, send their info our way! We love to keep our list current!

Tax Credits
NYS Homeowners & Income Producing Properties Tax Credits: https://parks.ny.gov/shpo/tax-credit-programs/
Federal Tax Credit for Income Producing Properties: https://www.nps.gov/tps/tax-incentives.htm

Energy Programs
Affordable Housing Partnership, http://ahphome.org/energy.html
Albany Community Action Partnership (ACAP): https://www.albanycap.org/menus/energy-services.html
Cornell Cooperative Extension: http://albany.cce.cornell.edu/energy

Albany Community Development Agency
https://www.albanyny.gov/748/Home-Improvement-Programs

Buildings & Regulatory Compliance
Building Permit Applications can be emailed to codes@albanyny.gov. To drop off your applications in person, make an appointment by calling 518-434-5996. Don’t know what you need a building permit for? Check out our webinar from the 2020 Restoration Faire about permitting. https://www.facebook.com/124957917535671/videos/309256240258972

Building Permit & Certificate of Appropriateness Forms: https://www.albanyny.gov/687/BRC-Forms-Informationals

Historic Resource Overlay Ordinance (this is now a part of the USDO, go to page 67): https://www.albanyny.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3724/Unified-Sustainable-Development-Ordinance

USDO (check this before altering your porch or making major alterations to the exterior of your house even if you’r not in a historic district): https://www.albanyny.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3724/Unified-Sustainable-Development-Ordinance

Historic Resource Commission
Questions? We can help, but sometimes you do need to talk to the Planning Department staff. Email Erin Glennon at eglennon@albanyny.gov.