Northport House Recommended For State, National Landmark Status

The historic Stanley H. Lowndes House in Northport was part of 17 sites recommended by the State Historic Preservation Board to become state and national landmarks.

Built in 1895, the Queen Anne-style home was built for Lowndes, a prominent regional figure and renowned oyster baron.

According to his obituary published in the New York Daily Eagle in 1914, Lowndes was "one of the wealthiest and most widely known oyster planters in this country."

The nominations were announced today by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and "reflect the striking diversity of New York State's history, and range from the city's first cooperative apartment building to a resort community developed by African Americans on Long Island," according to a news release.

"These nominations pay tribute to some of the most exceptional and fascinating sites in New York State history," Governor Cuomo said. "By placing these landmarks on the State and National Registers of Historic Places, we can ensure these locations have the funding they need to preserve and promote the very best of New York's past, present and future."

A State and National Registers listing can assist property owners in revitalizing buildings and make them eligible for various public preservation programs and services such as matching state grants and state and federal historic rehabilitation tax credits. Since the Governor signed legislation to bolster the state's use of rehabilitation tax credits in 2013, the state and federal program has spurred billions of dollars in completed investments in historic commercial properties and tens of millions of dollars in owner-occupied historic homes.

The State and National Registers are the official lists of buildings, structures, districts, landscapes, objects, and sites significant in the history, architecture, archeology and culture of New York State and the nation. There are more than 120,000 historic buildings, structures and sites throughout the state listed on the National Register of Historic Places, individually or as components of historic districts. Property owners, municipalities and organizations from communities throughout the state sponsored the most recent nominations.

Once the recommendations are approved by the state historic preservation officer, the properties are listed on the New York State Register of Historic Places and then nominated to the National Register of Historic Places, where they are reviewed and, once approved, entered on the National Register. More information and photos of the nominations are available on the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation website.