Preserving Our Village Heritage:

The Fairport Historic Preservation Commission

The Commission’s Role

In the village, the Fairport Historic Preservation Commission (FHPC) is charged with implementation of the Fairport Historic Preservation Local Law which was passed in June 2007. The Commission seeks to protect, enhance and perpetuate Fairport landmarks in a manner consistent with our changing society, and by so doing promote the economic, cultural, educational and general welfare of the village and its residents.

The Commission has developed a consistent set of procedures for the designation process, ensuring proper consideration of individual properties and to preserving structures that provide historical significance and architectural beauty to Fairport. Properties under consideration must meet at least one of the criteria specified by the law and in many cases meet several of these criteria.

Landmark Designation

Stabilize & Increase Property Value

Studies show that local designation of landmarks can stabilize and often increase property value. Landmark status can increase sale potential and loan value, due to lending institutions’ perception of greater value.

There is also the gratification in owning an identified structure of architectural and/or historic integrity. Designation insures that the building’s special historic, architectural or cultural character will be protected from destructive or insensitive rehabilitation in the future.

Special History or Architecture

A landmark is a property or building designated by the FHPC as significant to the village because of its history or architecture. When a property has been designated as an historic landmark, the village of Fairport officially recognizes that the property has special historic and/or architectural value and that the property is an important part of our heritage.

Martin Wood house at 42 West Street is regarded as the best example of Greek Revival architecture in Fairport. Martin Wood was a local farmer and built the house in 1851. The farm extended from West Street to Woodlawn, which was named for him.

Criteria for Designation

Once a landmark has been tentatively designated, the Commission will conduct a public hearing to determine if the property meets one or more of the standards for designation. The property owner is notified and encouraged to attend and participate in the hearing.

A property may be designated as a landmark based on one or more of the following five criteria:

• Possesses 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 characteristic, represents an established and familiar visual feature of a neighborhood.

Per the Landmark Society of Western New York, the Main Street Lift Bridge is "...one of the most unusual bridges in NYS". F. P. Williams designed the circa 1914 circa bowstring structure.
It has no two angles the same and there are no square corners on the bridge.

Changing Landmark Buildings

Maintaining an Historic Property

Normal maintenance that does not alter the appearance of a landmark property would not require approvals from the FHPC. Examples are repairing windows or replacing a roof with like material. A change in paint color would NOT require review of the Commission.

Changes That Require Approvals

Any change in appearance of a landmark property including exterior alteration, restoration, reconstruction, demolition, new construction or moving of a landmark property, that is visible from the public way, will require the property owner to apply for a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA).

This does not mean changes cannot be made, but the FHPC must review the proposed changes and find them to be appropriate. The FHPC will look at overall design and scale of the project to determine whether it is compatible with the landmark building. Materials, window size and arrangement, roof shape, consistency with architectural features and placement will be reviewed.

If an element of the property, such as a brick fence, has been specifically mentioned in the landmark designation, the Commission would require a COA application to determine how the proposed change might alter that element.

The Commission is knowledgeable about architectural styles and materials and can suggest resources and style details that would enhance a landmark structure’s new construction or restoration project.

Martin Sperbeck bought 100 acres in 1817 and built a blockhouse of squared timbers at 200 S. Main. His brother, a trapper, built a cabin where the Village Hall is now. Legend states that the path between the two residences became South  Main Street. Since designation in March 2009, the front porch has been lovingly recreated.

Application Process

A Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) is needed before any work on exterior changes to a designated landmark begins.

Application forms are available from the Village Building dDepartment and will require plans, maps and drawings of the proposed project. The applicant or agent will appear before the FHPC to explain the proposed changes. This process ensures that special qualities of landmark buildings are not compromised or destroyed.

If a COA is required for a project, it is in addition to and not in lieu of any other permits or approvals that may be required for a project of that type. If a proposal also requires Zoning and/or Planning Board approval, the applications can be made at the same time.

Commission Meetings

Regularly scheduled meetings are generally on the first Thursday of the month at the Village Hall Board Room, 31 South Main Street Fairport, 14450 and are open to the public.

For more information on the FHPC and designated landmarks, go to the village website.

Designated Structures and Historic Sites in the village of Fairport:

Fairport Historical Museum 18 Perrin Street Designated locally 2008 National Register	Fairport National Bank 58 South Main Street Designated 2008	1st Baptist Church 94 South Main Street Designated locally 2008 National Register	Kraii House 84 South Main Street Designated 2008	Kraii Carriage House 84 South Main Street Designated 2008
Wilbur House 187 South Main Street Designated Locally 2008 National Register	Deland House - Green Lantern Inn 1 East Church Street Designated Locally 2008 National Register	Reed - Hulburt House 106 Hulburt Road Designated Locally 2009 National Register 2016	Martin Sperbeck House 200 South Main Street Designated Locally 2009 National Register 2022	Abner Wight House 234 South Main Street Designated 2009
McAuliffe - Fisk House 100 West Church Street Designated 2009	Main Street Life Bridge Main & Erie Canal Designated Locally 2009 National Register	Congregational Church 26 East Church Street Designated Locally 2009 National Register 2018	Martin Wood House 42 West Street Designated 2009	Potter Memorial 53 West Church Designated Locally 2010 Included in National Register District 2017
Seeley House 83 West Avenue Designated 2010	John E. Howard House 70 South Main Street Designated 2010	Daniel, Minerva Deland House & Barn 185 North Main Street Designated Locally 2011 National Register 2020	Newman - Dean House 11 West Church Street Designated 2011	Hitching Posts & Mounting Blocks 18 Locations Designated 2011
Trolley Station 23 North Main Street Designated 2011	Warner - Golia House 25 Woodlawn Avenue Designated 2011	Cook - Ewell House 182 West Church Street Designated 2012	Dobbin House 141 West Avenue Designated 2012	Parker Street Bridge Parker & Erie Canal Designated Locally 2012  National Register
Greenvale Cemetery East Church Street Designated 2012	Filkens - Carroll House 110 Hulburt Road Designated 2012	Pure Oil Building 99 South Main Street Designated 2013	Kellogg House 126 West Avenue Designated 2013	Newman - Cotter 112 West Avenue Designated 2013
Rochester Telephone 56 West Avenue Designated 2013	Davis - Starenko 155 South Main Street Designated 2014	Yawman House & Barn 42 Woodlawn Avenue Designated 2014	Eldridge House & Barn 48 West Church St. Designated 2014	Cole - Briggs House 116 West Avenue Designated 2015
Silver House & Carriage Barn 53 Roselawn Avenue Designated 2016	Conant - Boyland House & Carriage Barn 30 West Street Designated locally 2016 National Register 2016	Cornelia Kraai House 10 Clinton Place Designated 2017	Potter Historic District Potter Place & W. Church St. National Register 2017	Howell - Lee House 44 West Church Street Designated 2018
William B. Bly House 20 Woodlawn Avenue Designated 2018	Filkins - Templeton House 160 South Main Street Designated 2019	Cobb Preserving 1000 Turk Hill Road Designated 2020	Filkins - Howes House 164 South Main Street Designated 2020	Baumer House 208 South Main Street Designated 2022

Architectural Styles Tour Guide & Quiz

Download the Introduction to Architectural Styles in the village of Fairport brochure and have fun learning about some of the many architecture styles found in our community.

The guide was prepared by the FHPC using A Field Guide to American Houses, by Virginia & Lee McAllester as a reference. 

Enjoy your tour!

For an index of additional  styles that can be found in the Perinton area go to the Architectural Styles page in the History section.

For the Town of Perinton landmarks and historic districts visit the Town of Perinton website.