National Endowment for the Humanities Public Notice of Section 106 Review for renovations to the Everson Museum of Art of Syracuse and Onondaga County
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has offered the Everson Museum of Art of Syracuse and Onondaga County, in Syracuse, New York, a Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections grant (PF-293495-23) for renovations and repairs.
NEH is an independent grant-making agency of the United States government dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities. This public notice is issued as part of NEH’s responsibilities under 36 C.F.R. Part 800, the regulations which implement Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966, as amended, 54 U.S.C. 306108. NEH, a funding agency, is required by regulation to identify and assess the effects of any proposed actions on historic properties. If any proposed action will have an adverse effect on historic resources, NEH works with the appropriate parties to seek ways to avoid, minimize, or mitigate any adverse effects. Additionally, the Section 106 regulations require NEH to consider the views of the public on preservation issues when making final decisions that affect historic properties.
The Everson Museum of Art, located at 401 Harrison Street, Syracuse, New York, was designed in 1968 by I.M Pei., and is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places under criteria B, people, and C, Design. The proposed undertaking will include the demolition of the gallery existing plaster ceilings and gallery lighting system, updates and/or replacement of electrical wiring original to the building to ensure proper code compliance, structural repairs to the underlying concrete, the installation of a new insulation and drywall ceiling, and the installation of new gallery lighting tracks and fixtures.
On May 28, 2024, Robyn Sedgwick, Historic Site Restoration Coordinator with the New York, State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), provided a conditioned no adverse effect. After reviewing Section 106 documentation and SHPO finding, NEH issues a determination of no adverse effect to historic properties, conditioned on providing the following information to SHPO and NEH:
* The Museum will submit photographs illustrating all areas to be affected by work. Photos of the general project area should be accompanied by detailed images where work is
proposed, particularly when a potentially historic feature is planned for replacement or
alteration. The photos will be labeled and a include a reference key to the site or building plan
indicating the location and direction of each image. The photos, reference key and plan will be submitted as a single .pdf document.
* Provide specifications detailing how spalling of the historic concrete and condensation issues will be addressed. The SHPO will confirm if the treatment method is appropriate.
* Specify the existing ceiling material, the reason for its proposed replacement, and if the proposed ceiling will be installed at the same height as the existing.
As required by Section 106, NEH is providing the public with information about this project, as well as an opportunity to comment on any knowledge of, or concerns with, historic properties in the proposed project area, and issues relating to the project’s potential effects on historic properties. Comments may be submitted to the NEH by e-mail to [email protected]. The deadline for submitting comments is 2/14/25.