In the Village, the Fairport Historic Preservation Commission (FHPC) is charged with implementation of the Fairport Historic Preservation Law. The Commission seeks to protect, enhance and perpetuate Fairport landmarks and historic districts, in a manner consistent with our changing society, and by so doing promote the economic, cultural, educational and general welfare of the Village of Fairport and its residents.
The Fairport Historic Preservation Law was passed in June 2007. Since that date the Commission has developed a consistent set of procedures for a designation process, ensuring proper consideration of individual properties and to preserve structures that provide architectural beauty and significance to an area.
These structures have received landmark designation:
First Baptist Church of Fairport, 92 South Main Street
Fairport Historical Museum, 18 Perrin Street
Wilbur House, 187 South Main Street
Kraai House, 84 South Main Street
Kraai Carriage House, 84 South Main Street
Bank of America, 58 South Main Street
DeLand House/Green Lantern Inn, 1 East Church Street
Reed-Hulburt House, 106 Hulburt Road
Abner-Wight House, 234 South Main Street
Sperbeck House, 200 South Main Street
First Congregational United Church of Christ, 26 East Church Street
McAuliffe-Fisk House, 100 West Church Street
Martin Wood House, 42 West Street
Lift Bridge, Main Street and the Erie Canal (Route 250)
A property may be designated as a landmark based on one or more of the following criteria:
Possess special character or historic or aesthetic interest or value as part of the cultural, political, economic or social history of the locality, region, state or nation;
Is identified with historic personages
Embodies the distinguishing characteristics of an architectural style
Is the work of a designer whose work has significantly influenced an age; or
Because of a unique location or singular physical characteristics represents an established and familiar visual feature of the neighborhood.
Landmark designation applies to the exterior of a building that is visible from the public right of way. This law is designed to be flexible - a landmark property owner may apply for a certificate of appropriateness to make exterior alterations to his property.
The FHPC works with landmark property owners if any exterior change is desired once a property has been designated. A change might be an exterior alteration, renovation, reconstruction, demolition, new construction, or moving of a building or any changes in material or appearance of the exterior of the property that is visible from a public way. The Historic Preservation Law does not apply to paint color of a house.
Meetings of the commission are on the first Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the at the Fairport Municipal Commission building, 43 Liftbridge Lane East. The meetings are open to the public; agendas and minutes are posted on the Village of Fairport web site. For more information on the law or the commission, visit the Village website.