Town of Jay awarded grant for AuSable Forks historical survey

AU SABLE FORKS | The town of Jay has been awarded a grant for a Cultural Resource Survey and study to be conducted with the goal of creating an Au Sable Forks Historic District. The $9,500 grant was announced Aug. 1 by the Preservation League of New York State, which is funding the award with the help of the New York State Council on the Arts. Town of Jay Supervisor Matt Stanley said in a prepared statement that the grant represented a significant step toward a national historic nomination. "This designation will augment the work previously done to place the Tahawus Cultural Center and Graves Mansion on the National Register," he said, noting he was "excited" about the grant award. Town of Jay officials will be working with consultants from the nonprofit organization Adirondack Architectural Heritage of Keeseville to survey the town's buildings and infrastructure as a step towards applying for the designation. The scope of work includes historical research, site work, and photography, in preparation for submitting a nomination for Au Sable Forks to be designated as a state and national Historic District. This grant to the town of Jay is one of 21 awarded in 17 counties across New York State by an independent panel to receive such support from the Preservation League with help from the New York State Council on the Arts. AuSable Forks sits on the border of Essex and Clinton counties, and this grant award to the town of Jay, which is in Essex County, was the only one allocated to either of these two neighboring counties during this grant cycle of the Preservation League. Jay DiLorenzo, The Preservation League's president, said that projects like this funded by his organization often spark bigger local preservation efforts. "The League takes tremendous pride in helping to jumpstart this important work," he said. Designation of a National Historic District typically provides opportunities for homeowners and owners of commercial properties within such districts to utilize historic tax credits and grants to offset the costs of maintaining their vintage buildings. In an interview nine months ago, Stanley told a news reporter that if downtown Au Sable buildings were upgraded and their second-floor spaces were rehabilitated to accommodate apartments, downtown foot traffic would increase, sparking new commercial activity — leading to the hamlet's revitalization.

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Town of Jay awarded grant for AuSable Forks historical survey

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